In Lititz, Art Is an Occasion

Concerts, cotillions, even fine dining.

Art pairs well with everything. But good art also possesses the power to stand alone on its own merits.

"My favorite part of this show is seeing all of the incredible creativity on display," said Barb Daggett, the public relations coordinator for the Lititz Art Association (LAA). "Because artists constantly evolve, you never know quite what to expect from year to year. It's a joy to witness the artists' growth as they mature."

LAA's former Lititz Outdoor Fine Art Show is now the Lititz Art Show, and the annual event also has a new venue. No longer located at Lititz Springs Park, the Lititz Art Show will be held at historic Lititz Moravian Church, 8 Church Square, in downtown Lititz.

This year's show will be staged from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3. The show is free to attend and the public is invited, but dogs are not permitted.

"The goal of the Lititz Art Association is to continue providing an outlet for artists to display and sell their work in Lititz, where the show began 59 years ago," said Daggett. "That aligns directly with our mission to foster and promote the arts in our community.

"It will be a fun day for the whole family," she added. "Of course, being in downtown Lititz, visitors can easily make a full day of enjoying all the attractions that Lititz has to offer."

The Lititz Art Show will feature the work of 84 artists - 25 of whom are LAA members and some of whom come from as far away as Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and Virigina - in the mediums of metalworking, woodcarving, fiber arts, pottery, mixed media, jewelry, acrylics, pastels and oils. Some of the art will be for sale, but all of the art will be available for appreciating.

"The artists are always excited to share their work and talk with old friends and new acquaintances," said Daggett, a resident of Lititz who will also be participating as a presenting artist. "It's fun to watch visitors who visit every year gather in friendly groups and enjoy a beautiful fall day outdoors together.

"Artists create from a deeply personal place, but they also must consider what resonates with buyers," continued Daggett. "Having someone appreciate and compliment your work is extremely satisfying and validates all the effort put into creating it. These are exceptionally talented individuals, with several also participating in high-quality juried shows up and down the East Coast."

In addition to a kids' crafts station, the event will feature several food trucks offering an array of delicious hot and cold dishes.

"A move (from Lititz Springs Park) was required, and remaining in Lititz was a top priority," said Daggett. "Thankfully, the board of the historic Moravian Church worked with our organization to provide a beautiful new setting for our art show. This year, the association reviewed the show guidelines and agreed to expand the types of art accepted into the show. Even though this continues to be a juried fine art show, the expanding art fields prompted a less restrictive name, thus becoming the Lititz Art Show."

LAA was established as the Village Art Association by Floyd Hackman in 1966, and the group began a sidewalk art show a year later before moving it to Lititz Springs Park. Today, LAA is headquartered at Gallery 51, which is located at 51 N. Broad St., Lititz.

"We support the Quick Draw event organized by Venture Lititz," said Daggett, "partner with the Lititz Public Library and donate to several local nonprofit organizations."

For additional information, go to http://www.lititzartassociation.com.

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