Out & About: Greensburg, Latrobe artists join for 'Art Neighbors' show

They say fences make good neighbors — and apparently so does art.

Or maybe it’s that neighbors make good art.

Either way, there’s plenty of good art to be seen in “Art Neighbors,” the annual joint exhibition of the Greensburg and Latrobe art centers, which opened with a Saturday reception in the Greensburg facility.

Open to members of both organizations, it features 129 pieces from 68 artists.

The centers alternate hosting the show, which takes “a massive group effort” to present, said chair and exhibiting artist Sarah Hunter.

Shirley McMarlin | Tribune-Review

Artist Sue Archer (center) of West Palm Beach, Fla., with Latrobe Art Center Assistant Director Joe Bellack and Executive Director Michael Tusay at the opening reception for "Art Neighbors," April 23 in the Greensburg Art Center.

Hunter and Michael Tusay, executive director of Latrobe Art Center, announced these awards:

• Best of Show — “Greensburg Courthouse,” Brian McCall

• First Place — “Notions of Spring,” Diane Preus

• Second Place, — “Onion Trio,” Betty Trout

• Third Place — “She Reigns,” Sarah Hunter

• Honorable Mentions — “Spike ‘n Louis,” Larry Brandstetter; “Wetland,” Randi Hansen; “Amazing Amazon,” Eileen Stoner; and “JFK, You’ve Got a Soul,” Richard Stoner.

The juror was Barbara Jones, recently retired as the longtime chief curator at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg.

Shirley McMarlin | Tribune-Review

Artists Richard and Eileen Stoner, both Honorable Mention winners in the "Art Neighbors" exhibition running through June 11 in the Greensburg Art Center.

Hunter said Jones spent several hours in the gallery choosing the winners, as it was hard to narrow her choices down to just eight pieces.

Reception guests were invited to cast ballots for their own favorite pieces, with their votes and those submitted by visitors throughout the show’s run to be tallied for a People’s Choice Award. The award will be announced after “Art Neighbors” closes June 11.

Seen at the reception: Joe Bellack, Don and Pat Majcher, Jerry Scorpion, Rosemary Sovyak, Patricia and Kim Elliott-Rentler, Olga Herbert, Tom Niggel, Phil and Mary Ellen Raneri, Pamela Cooper, Suzanne Panchura, Shirleah Kelly, Gene and Nancy Dalverny, Dennis and Kathy Rafferty, Tami Krusper, Buck and Brenda Papas, Sherry Anderson, Debbie King, Carl Castille, Matt Monroe, Maria Wilson and Sue Archer, an artist from West Palm Beach, Fla., in the area to teach a workshop at Latrobe Art Center.

Clint Van Demert sang and played the upright bass to entertain reception guests.

For more information, including hours for the gallery at 230 Todd School Road, Hempfield, call 724-837-6791 or visit greensburgartcenter.org.