My felted work was recently juried into an inspiring space: The Green Drake Gallery & Art Center in Millheim, PA. Starting in April, I’ll have work there. It’s a beautiful old space in the village of Millheim, where Amish buggies drawn by horses clip-clop along Main Street through town, past Elk Creek Cafe and Aleworks, past the IngleBean Coffee House.
When I was in my 20’s, I imagined that I would have my art work in some gallery like The Green Drake: a large, old place with interesting alcoves and stories of its own to tell. But as I recently told a friend, I imagined that this gallery would be in NYC, in the Village. My friend replied “Well, your work isn’t in THE Village, but it is in A village.”
And it seems only natural that after living in rural central PA for over three decades, and loving this region so much, that my work would find its way to gallery shops in three villages in the heart of PA: The Gallery Shop in Lemont; Contempo Artisan Boutique in Boalsburg; and soon, The Green Drake in Millheim.
I do feel that I’ve arrived “back at the beginning.” My current self recognizes my 20 year old self, who has been waiting for me to show up here, to collaborate in creating new work — grateful to participate with others who’ve been nurturing the arts in central PA; eager to help preserve places that need our energy and stewardship; and happy to celebrate through art so much that is good and beautiful right here and now.
Wooly Bliss 