News: Bob’s Art Blog: Holiday Art Outposts (A Gallery Gift Guide)

For that hard to buy for person on your holiday shopping list there is the exhilarating, often unexpected gift of a work of art. In some ways, it’s a roll of the dice but always more welcome than a fruitcake. Santa experiences the same rush of adrenaline every time he goes down the chimney, never knowing what’s waiting at the other end. To simplify your art search, here is a bag full of places, sampling galleries across central Pennsylvania. Support your local artists whenever possible. From Perry County to York, Lebanon, Lancaster, Carlisle, Boiling Springs, Camp Hill, Hershey and of course, Harrisburg.

Headed north to Newport finds Perry County Council of the Arts bursting at the seams. On the square at 1 N. 2nd St., PCCA takes a wide-angle lens with its expansive holiday windows showcasing the range of giftware, from pottery to jewelry, sculptures and artisanal clothing. Erin Sparler, gallery manager, revealed “PCCA is home to over 170 artists. In addition, 200 hand-crafted items just arrived, perfect for that special someone. A holiday treat for the season is a series of ‘Unboxing’ videos online.” Special featured artist for December is Deborah Smith whose exhibit ‘Hand-hooked Wool Rugs’ is hung at the gallery from now through Jan. 8. Be sure to hitch up your reindeer to see the wonder of it all.

Checking in with the Lebanon elves, Melody and Eric, of Lebanon Picture Frame and Fine Art Gallery located at 847 Cumberland St., shared they are “celebrating 25 years in business anchoring a town known for its bologna that art plays a part at the very heart.” This Friday, Dec. 6 is the opening night reception, from 5 to 8 p.m., for First Friday in Lebanon. A half dozen local ceramic artists light up the kiln for “Fired Up! A Celebration of Wood Fired Ceramics and Friendship,” on view through Feb. 1. The gallery is a gem with its magical layout and visual tour-de-force inside with offerings from A to Z. It’s well worth the drive, especially on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays with the Lebanon Farmers Market open close by.

You would think it was still baseball season in York and Lancaster with double-header art venues close to each other. The White Rose City of York finds Venture Gallery holding court on the corner at 128 E. King St. with its levitating art. Susan, Karen and JoAnne await your arrival with your art requests, from jewelry to felted pieces, treasures of handbound books, and paintings. All one needs to do is Venture a guess and you will probably find it there. Next door at 126 E. King is Hive founded by the art queen bee herself, Susan Scofield. Excitement abounds as the buzz about town…holiday gifts start at $2; you read it right. The caveat, think of all the gifts you could buy at that price. And if there is any art from Alana Beall, that’s a deal, you should buy with zeal.

With gifts on your list, make a beeline to Hive.

The Red Rose City of Lancaster boasts two blockbuster galleries on Queen Street, one recently opened, The Lancaster Art Vault at 100 N. Queen, and one soon to close, EsoArts at 317. Lancaster Art Vault’s owner, Victoria Abadir brings a special insouciance to the art menu at her establishment. Lancaster’s new kid has a hip representation with a young vanguard of artists from points within Lancaster and beyond. Harrisburg transplant, Amie Bantz is featured through the end of the month and art icons like the Huckle Buckle Boys have shone their lineup of characters on its walls. It is fast becoming the go-to place to show and see art.

The phenomenon EsoArts shown as bright as Sirius for its two-year existence in Lancaster and will close its doors for good on Dec. 15. We wish them the best.

Headed to the capital, Harrisburg, the beltway to I-81-South lands us in Carlisle at the Carlisle Arts Learning Center for its annual Holiday Gift Gallery. They fill the entire downstairs floor with giftware, from paintings to ceramics to jewelry and more. Cathy Stone, executive director, promises the best selection to date. Artists from all over Cumberland County pulled out all the stops at 38 W. Pomfret St. for spectacular holiday shopping.