CLEARFIELD – Although it has been in existence for several decades, the Susquehanna River Art Center (SRAC) of Clearfield has never had a permanent place to call home and to open its doors to artists as well as to members of its local community.
SRAC is a 501(c)3 non-profit art center that shows exhibitions of original works of art, conducts educational programs on creating arts and crafts, provides encouragement of visual arts (painting, drawing, photography, sculpture and crafts) and helps with fostering true appreciation of art.
SRAC offers forums for the exchange of information and ideas for the furtherance of social activities and good will among its members. It currently hosts art exhibitions locally at places, such as the Joseph & Elizabeth Shaw Public Library and Ethan’s Café.
However, SRAC members desire to have a permanent home in the future and have an ideal place with historical significance in mind, according to Jody Grumblatt, SRAC president.
Although it hasn’t been secured by SRAC at this time, its members desire to pursue the opening of their own art center in the former café at the Dimeling. They would like to hold onto its historical characteristics while also restoring it. “We don’t want to disturb history but add to it,” she said.
“We have a desire to make it into a working art center … We want to encourage the growth of arts. We could host a wider variety of art shows and exchanges, increase participation in local arts, as well as host other events, such as reading plays, and performances by the Clearfield Choral Society. We want it to encompass all arts.”
Grumblatt said SRAC members would like a permanent working art center in order to bring artists and community members together to share their love of art and their abilities. She added, “It’s delightful to have people who understand the joy, the love and the importance of art in our culture.”
She said once it opens, SRAC members also have hopes of creating an array of interactive art programs for everyone in the Clearfield community and beyond from small children to senior citizens. “We want it to be a warm, friendly environment for our community to enjoy art,” she said.
“We have other options if we cannot open our center at the Dimeling, but that’s really where we would love to be.” Grumblatt said SRAC is currently seeking a $10,000 grant for the restoration project, which requires matching funds that the SRAC will have to raise on its own.
Artist Denny Karchner, who was born in Clearfield and who is best known for his western art, has shown his support and enthusiasm about SRAC’s plans to open a working art center in his hometown, she said. He has given SRAC an artist proof to sell in order to help raise funds, and it is on display at The Liddle Gallery in downtown Clearfield.
She also mentioned Karchner had this artist proof featured on the cover of the Backwoodsman magazine. “When we talk about having our own art center, we, as SRAC members, really get excited about it. And, it’s really exciting to have Denny, a local artist who is as close to being famous as he is show this much enthusiasm,” she said.
Grumblatt said SRAC currently has around 100 members and she encourages people to get involved in the art center. “You don’t have to be an artist and just need a desire to see arts grow in our community,” she said. Grumblatt invited interested persons to attend SRAC’s next members meeting at 6 p.m. March 3 at The Liddle Gallery in downtown Clearfield.