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Mountain Home Guide In early April 1956, the Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Chamber of Commerce and the YWCA had the idea to hold an outdoor art show at the Way’s Garden Park at the corner of West Fourth & Maynard streets. Because spring weather was so variable and unpredictable, the date was moved to the second Sunday in June. Permission to use the park has been granted each year since by the Way’s Garden commission. On the 30th anniversary of the art event in 1986, the committee decided to invite creative crafters and to incorporate the established Strawberry Way’s Garden, in the historic district of Williamsport, was once the site of a magnificent house called “White’s Castle.” The layout of the park is typical of the 1910 period, although several changes have taken place in recent years, including the replacement of flagstone walks with concrete, the installation of numerous benches, and the planting of flowering trees and shrubs. Surrounding Way’s Garden are many gorgeous Victorian mansions, the beautiful stone Trinity Church, and the grandly restored Park Place—once a four story hotel where trains stopped to drop off their passengers. Located behind the church and the Tabor Museum is the new Transportation Museum, which features a variety of modes of transportation from days gone by. During the show’s first half-century, the life force on the Way’s Garden committee had been Eve Archer. In 2007, after more than five decades of working to make sure that the Way’s Garden art show continued to be an annual event, Eve retired from the committee and asked the Bald Eagle Art League Board of Directors if they would take over the sponsorship and planning of the show. Last year was the first year the league hosted the show and, with unanimous board approval, The Way’s Garden Art & Craft Show is unique in that all artists and artisans are invited to participate regardless of ability or experience. The fee is only $15, which helps to cover the costs of printing and mailing. All exhibitors, whatever their standing in the art world, experience the benefits of being able to meet and share with other artists and the public, as well as having the opportunity to sell their work and generate commissions. This year for the first time, the Bald Eagle Art League is offering memberships in the league for the remainder of the year as a benefit of applying to the show. In addition to receiving The Quill monthly newsletter and email notification of upcoming events and exhibits, membership allows artists to participate in all league exhibits. WHAT: 52nd Annual Way’s Garden Art and Craft Show Lynne Maietta is president of the Bald Eagle Art League in Williamsport.
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Festival held at Trinity Church across the street. The public was treated to works of art from local artists, music from the Repasz Band, and a roaming barbershop quartet. Though the exhibit has evolved over the years, inviting artists from far and wide to participate, the community’s enthusiasm and participation continue to make this a wonderful day for the public to enjoy the arts as well as for the artists and artisans to be recognized by the many supporters in the city, including Mayor Campana, who has been enthusiastic in his support of the arts.
initiated the annual Eve Archer Award. This award is given to the artist or artisan who garnered the most votes of visitors to the show. In 2007 this award was won by Jack Strouse, a woodcarver from the Trout Run, Pennsylvania, area.
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