Alumni, Art in Kane This Weekend

While enjoying a get together with family and friends this weekend or participating in the uptown Kane, Alumni, and Art in the Wilds venues, be sure to tour the renovated Kane Depot and explore it's many treasures. Admission is free.

The Depot Preservation Society, ArtWorks at the Depot, and Holgate Toys welcome alumni and other visitors to the Depot this weekend. Come tour the Depot and take a step back in time in the restored 1873 Railroad Depot.

Enjoy the Railroad and Kane area history and artifacts. (You'll find a brand new display about CCC Camps in the baggage room. Also, Chief Robert Carson's family recently brought in a device that may demonstrate how Dr. Evan O'Neill Kane practiced for his famous self surgeries.)

Buy Holgate Toys or purchase Depot preservation items (such as wooden postcards of the area or Kinzua Bridge Rail clocks. (You might even find a clock with your initials carved in the rail, but you won't be the first to do so.)

ArtWorks at the Depot is an artist-run cooperative gallery. ArtWorks is a group of artists and art lovers, inspired by the natural beauty and historic significance of our northern Allegheny region.

The opening show of ArtWorks' fourth season, entitled "ArtWorks Treasure Map", is a celebration of the arts in the upper Alleghenies. The Community Project for this year's show produced a treasure map of the area, inspired by local artists in conjunction with the Kane Chamber of Commerce. The original art submitted for the treasure map and many additional art pieces of area-inspired art are featured in the opening show that runs through July 30.

The inspirations speak to our community, our heritage, our natural resources and our life out-of-doors. The map unfolds treasures of local architecture, landmarks, area vistas, flora, fauna and attractions and releases their memories.

As ArtWorks Director Merry Ryding reminds us, “Some treasures, like our national forest and our parks, are obvious. Some are hidden away and visited only by a few knowing residents. We value our hospital, churches, schools, our Community Center and Senior Center. Some local businesses like Bell’s Market, Kane Lumber, Kane Hardwood/Collins Company, Texas Hot, and Zook Motors have a long family legacy in our area. Some treasures have been discovered by those who travel to our area for Holgate Toys, to sample wine at the Flickerwood Winery and to enjoy the “Art in the Wilds” fine art show.”

Be sure to pick up a copy of this year's show program, the "treasure map" designed by Ryding from the inspirations of many artists. It is a tribute to the passion and energy invested in our community by members of the Kane Area Chamber of Commerce, artist and art lover members of ArtWorks at the Depot, and members of the Depot Preservation Society who have been preserving our treasures for years.

ArtWorks is located at the Depot at 1 South Fraley, at the light in Kane. It is a pleasure to share both old treasures (railroad and historic memorabilia) and new treasures in works of art with our visitors.

ArtWorks Gallery and store, Holgate Factory Store, and Museum are open every Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. from the end of May through December. For more information and calendar of events go to www.alleghenyartworks.org.

Photos and info provided by Ruth Gentilman Peterson