PA Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding and his wife, Nina, were among the barn art patrons who perused the collection of fine art pieces and photographs of barns, past and present, at the 15th annual Historic Gettysburg Adams County show and sale that opened with a reception at the Gettysburg G.A.R. Hall Friday.
Fifty artists from Pennsylvania and surrounding states exhibit their works at the event, which will continue until 4 p.m. Sunday. Thirty percent of the sales will go to the HGAC Barn Preservation Project and Grant Program, which has provided more than $76,000 for repairs to 48 Adams County barns since 2013.
In addition, long-time Gettysburg photographer Darryl Wheeler displayed a collection of his own past photographs of barns that no longer exist. Titled “Gone but Not Forgotten,” the pictures are a reminder that without help, many of the county’s existing barns could realize the same fate, said Bob McIlhenny, event coordinator and director of development for barn preservation.
Prizes were awarded in fine art and photography, selected by judge Tony Cervino and patrons and artists attending the reception picked the People’s Choice and Artists’ Choice awards. Winners included:
First Place, Fine Art, Jaci Rice of Weirton, WV, “Grey Before the Blue,” sponsored by Monica Oss and J. Jay Mackie
Second Place, Fine Art, John McNulty, Camp Hill, PA, “McClure’s Gap Road Barn.”1st Place, photography, Andrew Muenzfeld, Gettysburg, PA, “Barns and Bales,” sponsored by David and Cynthia Salisbury
2nd Place, Photography, Dawn Whitmore, Fredericksburg, VA, “Beasely Homestead,” sponsored by ACNB Bank.
People’s Choice Award, the late Jim Lauritsen, “Trostle Barn.”
Artists’ Choice Award, Paul W. Flury, “The Dream.”
Paul Mangan, event chair in charge of artists relations, hosted the event and reminded people that without barn preservation, the barns could be lost “through fires, accidents and sometimes intentionally. Once they’re gone, they never come back. So what we’re doing here is just a small effort to do what we can to save these iconic structures and all of the stories they hold for future generations.” The preservation project and grant program have documented 400 of Adams County’s almost 1,500 barns. The process includes photographing the inside and outside, taking measurements, creating sketches, and trying to establish when the barn was built. Once it is documented, the owners are presented with a special plaque. More information about HGAC and the barn preservation program can be found at HGAConline.org.
He said the word was sent out to artists in January, and this year, for the first time in the history of the exhibition, the barn preservation project reached its goal of having 50 artists represented. Some artists, such as Andy Muenzfeld, 1st place photography winner, donate all of the profits from the sale of their art to HGAC. Menzfeld, who currently has an exhibit on display at the Adams County Arts Council, said this was the third time he donated his art to the cause.
Judith Cameron Seniura is a freelance reporter. She began her journalism career in the early ‘70s and has written for newspapers, magazines, and other media in Ontario, Canada, Alaska, Michigan, Nebraska, San Antonio, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.