Times Leader Correspondent
What’s new or coming soon on Main Street, Pittston? Restaurants, antique and collectible stores, a Boden clothing outlet, signage and facades, sidewalks and period lighting. What’s next? An art gallery. Kathleen Godwin, of Arts YOUniverse, and Mike Burnside, of the Cultural Council of Luzerne County, who are partners of the Arts SEEN Gallery on Public Square in WilkesBarre, are looking forward to opening a similar gallery in downtown Pittston. Burnside said the gallery charges artists $20 per month to display their work and requires they also take part in staffing the store a half-day per month. Artists are then able to keep all money for the sales of their work. He noted this not only makes it possible for artists to sell their artwork, but to be integrated into the spirit of the gallery itself. Burnside said there are still “some numbers to work out” before the Pittston gallery can open.
Burnside said he was originally skeptical about opening up a second gallery in Pittston, but upon touring the site at 71 S. Main St., he thought that it would be a very appropriate spot because of its accessibility to foot traffic and general structure and wall space. He also said Pittston’s Streetscape project will be adding some more lighting and doing some major renovations, which will serve to make it an especially attractive spot for the second gallery. The storefront is between the Coffe Table Restaurant and the Open Space which will be opening soon featuring a Boden clothing outlet. The gallery will accept various types of artwork including photographs, paintings, sculpture, jewelry and even painted furniture. “The vision that both Kathleen and I have is one of accessibility for both local artists and the people of Northeast Pennsylvania,” said Burnside. “We want to support local artists and increase cultural awareness.” Pittston’s Downtown Manager Rose Randazzo said16 artists are on board, but few of them are
An art gallery to open before Christmas is planned for this storefront next to the CoffeeTable at 71 South Main Street, Pittston. PHOTO BY JACK SMILES
from the Pittston area. Four more artists are needed. She encourages local artists to contact Godwin
at kathgodwin@epix.net or 9702787, or Burnside atcclcarts@gmail.com.
Jack Smiles contributed to this story.
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SUNDAY DISPATCH, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2011 PAGE 4
Local artists: new South Main gallery wants you