Image: Tioga Grange watercolor by Kathy Pilling-Whitney
“REMEMBERING TIOGA” EXHIBIT AT THE GMEINER
The Gmeiner Art & Cultural Center is delighted to announce the Atrium Gallery exhibit for February 2025, “Remembering Tioga featuring watercolors by Kathy Pilling-Whitney.
The exhibit will open on Saturday, February 1st with a reception from 2-4PM. The reception is free and open to the public, who are invited to come enjoy light refreshments provided by the Friday Club and to meet the artists. This exhibit will remain on display until Sunday, February 23rd . Throughout the month of February, guests who come to the Gmeiner and fill out an entry form will have a chance to win a beautiful handmade quilt as well.
Kathy Pilling-Whitney is a retired art teacher, having taught in New York state for 40 years. She lives in Tioga township, with her husband, Mark in a house they built. Kathy considers herself lucky to have been affiliated with the Gmeiner for 35 years now, having had individual shows, taking part in Regional Shows, teaching classes here, working as a docent and volunteering with Arts Friends. Last fall, Kathy taught a House Portrait in watercolor workshop at the Gmeiner, and, as one of her samples, she painted a portrait of the Berry House, in Tioga, as it appeared in the early 1900’s. That was the start of an idea to raise money for the Tioga Grange No. 1223, and hence the Tioga Roller Rink.
The Grange is a family, community organization with its roots in agriculture. Founded in 1867, the Grange was formed as a national organization with a local focus. Members are given opportunities to learn and grow to their full potential as citizens and leaders.
Throughout its history, the Grange has played pivotal roles in national agricultural and rural policy and is a leading voice for rural America. About a year and a half ago, the Tioga Grange (which is one of only two Granges left in Tioga county) had been shut down by the State Grange due to lack of membership. With no Grange there is no Roller-Skating rink for kids in Tioga. Kathy and her husband Mark joined the Tioga Grange along with a few other locals determined to keep it and the Roller Rink open.
This exhibit is a collection of watercolor renderings of architecture from Tioga, Pennsylvania. Kathy has painted 16 buildings, some still standing and some lost to time. Tioga has a rich history not only of triumph in the form of industries and great fortunes, but also of tragedy in the form of fires and floods. All information and some of the images of now absent buildings in Tioga have come from a Facebook page called “Remembering Tioga, Pennsylvania”, administered by Debora Enderle Clark, a native Tiogan and local historian extraordinaire. Deb has been beyond generous in supporting Kathy in this project. The purpose for the show is to make calendars and postcards to be sold during Old Home Day to raise money for the Tioga Grange.
The Gmeiner is open from 12-6PM Tuesdays through Sundays and is located at 134
Main Street in Wellsboro behind the Green Free Library. Admission to the gallery is
free.
Credits:
Writing: Kathy Pilling-Whitney and Carrie Heath,
General information about the Grange from the organization’s website:
Artwork: Kathy Pilling-Whitney
