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WILKES-BARRE — Wilkes-Barre’s 60th Fine Arts Fiesta “A Diamond in the Square” will once again bring a sense of culture and beauty to public square May 14-17.
Gary T. Womelsdorf, a board member and visual arts chairman, is busy preparing for the event’s adult and student juried art exhibitions and wants to remind artists that delivery of artwork is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday at Fiesta Central, Midtown Village, 41 S. Main St. near Katana Restaurant.
Any artist living within a radius of 100 miles is eligible to compete.
Artwork can be submitted and judged in six specific categories: crafts, graphics, paintings, photography, sculpture/construction and water color.
There is a fee of $9 for the first entry and $6 for each additional entry to a maximum of five.
He said receipt of the finished pieces sets the stage for energy and enthusiasm that marks the four-day festival. Those selected will grace the city’s square during the fiesta. Judges will also award ribbons.
“After a cold winter, our event introduces the season,” said Womelsdorf. “We’re the first springtime event on the square.”
He said the event celebrating its 60th anniversary will “have some big things.”
“We’re the oldest outdoor art festival in the state,” he said. “In addition to juried artwork, we have an artist market, crafts, children’s events and wonderful food vendors.”
When asked if he was excited, he said, “I’m always excited, kind of crazed. After the artwork is deliver, I will have 400 plus pieces of artwork to go through.”
Womelsdorf said the fiesta started 60 years ago as a gift to the community from Annette Evans and continues in that spirit.
“The event is free and open to the public,” he said. “People can spend four days taking in artwork in the midst of a visual, aesthetic, and auditory cultural celebration at no cost.”
After all these years, the Womelsdorf’s enthusiasm and the enthusiasm of the entire board has not waned.
He lauds fellow board members for their hard work and commitment to the arts, the event and the community.
“There are many facets to the event,” he said, “we found out recently the poetry society will again be joining us and, of course, the Osterhout library also provides story telling for the children.”
“I have been doing this for about 27 years a wonderful opportunity to provide area residents with a spirit of beauty and culture, ” he said. “This is why we do the work.”