Mercer art show showcases community artists old and new
Apr. 15—MERCER — Brynn Conroe is a Mercer artist with a knack for leaf presses. He has been making and selling works of art for the past five years.
"Ever since I was little, my dad and I would go for walks with each other," Conroe said. "I would pick up leaves as we went and do leaf presses when I got home. Eventually people started telling me that I should take them more seriously."
For people like Conroe, the Mercer Area Library art show is a chance to show off their artwork to others.
The event ran this weekend on Friday and Saturday.
The show has been held for about seven years, with a gap during COVID. The event is always free, but artists are permitted to sell their work for some extra money.
"It's a way for us to highlight some of the local artists around here," Matthew Goldyn, the library director, said. "We always look for ways to show off talented people and their work."
The event featured artists with all different levels of experience.
For Beth Turner, it was her first time showing off her work to anyone.
"I honestly thought that it was a contest when I first heard about it. So I only brought one piece of art." Turner said. "I then learned it was a whole show and that we could sell them, so I grabbed a lot more. It just makes me happy to do this."
Turner's art has a focus for the happy things of life. It features bright and vibrant colors, butterflies, hearts, trees and scripture.
It was also the first time for Logan Gwynn, an artist from Grove City who has been learning over the past few years.
For Gary Schwebs, the art show was just another step in his long career. Schwebs has been doing art for the last 20 years, including time he spent selling art in Las Vegas.
"A long time ago I had this intern who was an art student. On his last day he brought me a canvas and some supplies to give it a try," Schwebs said. "After a few months of thinking about it I gave it a shot. I went somewhere that I can't even explain. From that moment I realized something had been missing in my life. My wife told me to take an early retirement and do what I had been meant to do."
After teaching art in California and selling art for upwards of $10,000 in Las Vegas, Schwebs and his wife moved to Mercer to be closer with family. Schwebs' wife passed away shortly after the move, and he needed something to do.
A friend introduced him to the art show and he saw it as a chance to meet people.
"I really just needed to see and talk to new people," Schwebs said. "When artists are able to talk to other artists, it's just a win for everyone."
Schwebs wasn't the only professional, as Alban Wester, a retired Hermitage art teacher, also came to show off his line of pottery.
"You know pottery isn't really what I'm best at. I just wanted something to paint on," Wester said. "I usually start out with some kind of an idea on what I'll make or paint, but it never ends that way."
Another longtime artist, John Falvo, now 83, has been doing art since he was just a kid.
"I used to make all the comic book characters when I was younger. Batman, Snow white, characters like that," Falvo said. "Then I started with more religious drawings and now I draw anything. I have one that I saw in my friend's coloring book and decided to make it myself."
The art show will return again next year, so keep an eye on the Mercer Area Library's event calenter. The library has several events upcoming in April such as a quilting club, a phone and computer help class and a book discussion.
