As we move closer to show time and everyone converges on our humble town, I'd like to make a friendly reminder to be kind to the area while you're visiting. Refrain from littering to keep the Allegheny National Forest as pristine as possible. There are a great many flora and fauna that call the woodlands home, including us humans! It's named the 'Land of Many Uses' because, while beautiful to look upon, this is a working forest. The ANF produces timber, wood products (which Kane is known for Black Cherry wood), watershed protection, access to underground minerals, cultural history, and diverse wildlife habitats. So, keep the land healthy for everyone and keep waste products in waste receptacles.

At the show, you'll find several places to deposit trash as well as Port-a-Johns with hand sanitizing stations nearby. We will continue to carry on providing health and safety measures for everyone visiting us in the park. Remember, should you need anything, stop in the Hospitality Tent and one of our volunteers will do what they can to help out.

On to our artists!

Straight out of Cambridge Springs, PA, Amy Hahn has an incredible talent that bridges two art styles into one challenging medium. Her art is glass mosaics but they are unlike anything you've seen before. Each carefully chosen piece of stained glass is used like a brushstroke on canvas. Some of the most original animal portraits are 'painted' in a mosaic you'll want hanging in your window splashing color in your home.

Lana Heckendorn is an Art in the Wilds favorite. Not only are her functional porcelain pots beautiful to look at, a wonderful addition to anyone's home, but they bring a bit of nature right into your home in the classiest way. Make sure to give her tent a thorough visit. You're sure to find a new piece for the kitchen or a whole new set you'll want to show off to your guests at home!

Rocky Holland calls Kane home though he's traveled all over hunting down new subjects for his photographs. He has a way of capturing images that encapsulates the moment with more than just imagery. You get a sense of life and movement that might stimulate your other senses for how powerful the scene is laid out. I have one of his prints of a young coyote pup howling for the first time and it takes me right into the quiet mossy woodlands as if I'm there right in that instance. There is a whole array of wildlife photography to be found under this tent!

Kane has several options if you're staying overnight or for an extended visit. Make sure to book early when you visit as it is the town's busiest weekend with alumni weekend occurring on the same days as the art show. From rooms at the beloved Kane Manor Inn and the Spoonwood Inn on Rt. 6, to one of the many campsites around the area, you'll find a place to call your temporary home while you visit us here in the PA Wilds.

Mark English is another of our metalwork sculptures that brings a unique energy to his work. As a self-taught artist, having been honing his craft for nearly 50 years, he works primarily with welded steel and other metals, often incorporating glass, enamels, and other accents to his pieces.

Hailing from Liverpool, NY, Gerina Faison creates elegant jewelry pieces that are truly one-of-a-kind. You'll be able to find her at the show this year and on her website Jewelry by Gerina all year round. 'Made with love', each piece is created with the finest materials such as precious and semi-precious stones, sterling silver, 14kt gold, freshwater pearls, and all sorts of Swarovski crystals. It is wearable art that can magnify your natural beauty.

​Megan Gillis creates limited edition jewelry crafted by hand in her studio in Pittsburgh, PA. Inspired by nature, her designs reflect some of the daintiest flowers to majestic woodlands with raw stones such as ruby and peridot to accentuate the metal with sparks of color. This jewelry makes great gifts for anyone of all ages.

If you are a nature lover that enjoys getting out on the trails, be sure to check out the Knox & Kane Rails to Trails. The trail head is right on Rt. 6 across from the Country Fair where the old train depot sits. It is a 4.5 mile trail open to biking and hiking.

This is part of a larger project under construction that is aimed to connect from the Kinzua Bridge State Park to the Clarion Junction, eventually totalling 73.8 miles along the old rail corridor.

Now, let's roll onward to some more Art in the Wilds award winners. These gems have been with us in past shows and shine bright as ever in 2022.

​Chandler Beatty, hailing out of West Middlesex, PA, is a professional wildlife artist working mainly with acrylic paints. His work is highly detailed and can give the illusion that the subjects might escape from the canvas at any moment. Any piece would look great within your home that creates a natural aura you'll want to show off.

Al Dornisch is a self-taught artist that has a long list of achievements from awards, travel, published books, and even several state conservation stamps he designed in Minnesota, South Carolina, and Maryland. We are happy to have him with us again this year with his incredible high quality oil paintings.

Heather Thompson creates impressive jewelry inspired by aspects of nature. From leaves, to twigs, to flowers, you'll find those elements designed in her electroformed metal pieces. They appear delicate yet strong at the same time, sure to go great with any outfit to give yourself a kick of confident energy!

Denise Drummond makes some of the most fine detailed graphite and watercolor paintings of nature that will make you think you haven't seen the world quite as clearly as you thought. There is a vivid sense of life in each piece you'll want to brighten up the space in your home. Her love of travel translates into her work. You might the itch to get out and explore, too!