IN Greensburg Salem Summer 2018 | Page 14

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Alive

The Greensburg Art Center brings unique opportunities to cultivate creativity to Greensburg and surrounding communities .

By Nicole Tafe
Pottery Instructor Ben Eisaman .

For years , a small group of dedicated artists has been keeping art alive in the Greensburg area . The Greensburg Art Club brings the Greensburg Art Center ( GAC ) and all of its enrichment to the community year round .

The original Greensburg Art Club was a local painting group that began in 1929 , under the leadership of Alex Fletcher . At that time , the club was called the Kinderhook Group . In 1952 , they became the Greensburg Art Club .
The club purchased Todd Schoolhouse from Hempfield School District in 1955 , resulting in one of the few art centers owned by an independent arts organization nationwide . The Greensburg Art Center is located in the Hempfield School District on Todd School Road , but reaches beyond those boundaries to all of Westmoreland County , Fayette County , Indiana County and even into the greater Pittsburgh area , according to club president Renie Pollock .
“ The Greensburg Art Center boasts a permanent collection of many of our former members , teachers and students with some very notable names including Henry Koerner who was the main illustrator for nearly every Time magazine cover for more than 40 years ,” says Pollock .
The exterior grounds feature a growing “ garden ” of large-scale sculptures highlighted by an immense sculpture — originally located at the former Greengate Mall — by international recognized Virgil Cantini . Additionally , many well respected area professors and awardwinning artists at the national and international level have taught at the center and are represented throughout the collections as well .
A lending library of art books is used by students and visitors alike , while the center ’ s classrooms , studios , full kitchen and gallery are rented by outside groups and individuals alike , for meetings , parties , showers and even weddings . The facilities serve homeschoolers , scout groups , 4H , IDD ( Intellectual and Developmental Disabled ) persons and nursing home residents .
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