March 2-24, 2018
Opportunity Associates of the Poconos is pleased to present ART AS SPIRITUALITY, a special exhibition in the ARTSPACE Gallery. The mission of Opportunity Associates is to develop a more just and humane society, increasing the appreciation of diversity and creating opportunity for all.
Art as Spirituality is an opportunity for artists to express their personal and/or universal understanding of spirituality. An artist’s reception will be held on Saturday, March 10, 2018 from 2-4 p.m. Regular gallery hours are Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
The juror for this year’s show is Rev. Michael Barnett, M.Div., M.Ed., an ordained interfaith minister, educator, and spiritual artist/writer. He earned his Master of Divinity Magna Cum Laude at Moravian Theological Seminary in Bethlehem, PA and his Master of Education at Gwynedd Mercy University where he taught religious studies. Michael creates spiritual art, poetry, and essays which have been exhibited in “Muse: The Inspirations of Our Lives,” Studio B Art Gallery, Boyertown, PA; “To Be: Know Thyself, You Do You,” Studio B; “From the Soul: Word & Form from the Hearts of Moravian Theological Seminary,” Moravian College, Bethlehem, PA; “Agony & Ecstasy: Reflections Inspired by Our Lives,” Studio B; “In Response to Healing,” Traveling Exhibition: Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA; Gallery 908, Reading, PA; Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, PA; Ohio State University, Newark, OH; and University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; and First AIDS Festival, Painted Bride Arts Center, Philadelphia, PA. With artist Claire Marcus, he facilitated poetry-writing, journaling, and story-writing as a teaching artist with middle-school students for the Urban/Suburban Afterschool Arts Program through the Lehigh Valley Arts Council.
Michael teaches “Discover Your Intuitive Self” in Community Education in the Souderton Area School District. His spiritual writings and poetry have been published in American Spirit, The Universalist Herald, The Journal of Unitarian Universalist History, the exhibition books published by Studio B listed above, Spiritus, Church of the Holy Spirit, Harleysville, PA, red lights haiku journal, “In Response to Healing” exhibition catalog, Bahnson Banter, Moravian Theological Seminary, and Tarnhelm Literary Magazine, The Pennsylvania State University, Penn State Harrisburg, PA. For 30 years, Michael intuitively counsels and empowers people to realize their creative and spiritual gifts.
The watercolor paintings of Elizabeth Hulswit-Green are on exhibition at Pocono Eye Associates in East Stroudsburg, PA through the month of March. Pictured is PoconoArts Executive Director, Sue Randall and Liz Green in one of the waiting rooms.
Long time PoconoArts member and former board member, Gina Bertucci, will receive the 2018 Buzz Bensinger Lifetime Achievement Award at the Rotary Club of the Stroudsburgs Not Just Another Auction at Shawnee Inn on March 22. To join Gina in the celebration, and get some great buys at the auction, visit the club’s website.
