By The Sentinel staff, April 26, 2005

Last updated: Tuesday, April 26, 2005 12:26 PM EDT

Cumberland Valley Gallery & Studio Council presents its "Spring Arts Celebration 2005" this weekend throughout Cumberland County.

This year's theme is "About Town," with many galleries and studios reflecting their town or area as subject matter or with local artists.

The annual tour, free and open to the public, is designed to showcase the area's finest artists and master craftspeople.

Area restaurants are also participating with artistically-themed specials.

Participating galleries and studios include:

Carlisle

• Patricia Walach Keough Studio, 437 N. College St., 249-2397. Watercolor monotypes, painterly prints of gardens and people in outdoor settings, woodcuts, etchings and oils.
• Nancy Stamm's Galleria, 201 N. Hanover St., 240-0551. Fine original paintings of Carlisle by artist Nancy Stamm.



• Downtown Antiques, 152 N. Hanover St., 249-0395. Fine art from the 19th and early 20th century. Also, original work by local artists, all displayed in seven rooms of fine antiques.



• Carlisle Arts Learning Center, 19 N. Hanover St., 249-6973. "Miniature Show" with 82 works from 36 artists from 17 states as well as England, Australia, Israel and South Korea. Various media are represented, including oil, acrylic, watercolor, mixed media, encaustic beeswax and gold glass.



• Antiques On Hanover, 17 N. Hanover St., 249-6285. Gallery emphasizes 1820s through 1920s American and Pennsylvania-made furniture, arts and crafts; featuring Judi Shunk photographs of Carlisle festivals, architecture and people "About Town."



• Artist's Studios, 7 N. Hanover St., 243-4754. A working studio for local artists, with a variety of artwork by Guy Freeman, Kim Krammes, Angela Yarbrough and others. Pieces include weavings, oil paintings and pastels as well as alternative and traditional forms of photography.



• The Garden Gallery, 10 N. Hanover St., 249-1721. Featuring "A Small History of Carlisle," framed mementos, souvenirs, postcards, plates and other charming items from the past of Carlisle, Dickinson College, the U.S. Army War College and Dickinson School of Law.



• Pat Craig Studios, 30 W. Pomfret St., 245-0382. Featuring unique art and jewelry, quirky cards and gifts. Tour-goers may watch artists Pat Craig and Fran Piper painting new additions for the shop.



• Letort Glass, 405 N. East St., 218-8300. Demonstrations on glass bead making using special torches, wrapping hot glass onto a stainless steel rod, creating various shapes and decorative techniques. Explanations on different types of kilns, procedures and techniques to create unique fused glass art.

Boiling Springs

• The Village Artisans Gallery & Studios, 321 Walnut St., 258-3256. On Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m., the gallery will host watercolor artist Kathy Maxwell, known for her watercolors of Cumberland Valley architecture and scenery.

Mechanicsburg

• Mechanicsburg Art Center School & Galleries, 18 Artcraft Drive, 697-2072. Featuring "Pennsylvania Scenes," showcasing a variety of styles and techniques by artists throughout south central Pennsylvania, including oil paintings, watercolor, sculpture, wood carving, photography and fiber art.



• 2nd Floor Gallery, 105 S. Market St., 697-0502. Fine art from international and local artists. The first floor also houses working artist studios, a gift gallery, sculptural gardens and live music concerts.

Summerdale

• Cathy Mabius Studio, 2 Americana Lane, 579-1419. Featuring landscape paintings by Cathy Mabius, including local scenes of the Susquehanna River and the surrounding Central Pennsylvania woodland and countryside.

Shippensburg

• The Kauffman Gallery, Shippensburg University, 477-1530. Featuring works by senior art majors through May 7.



• The SHAPE Gallery, 39 W. King St., 377-8842. "Ephemera," an exhibition of "ephemeral moments" captured on digital photography by Anna Drallios; oil paintings by Rebecca Lee; and an exhibition of Mary Hickman's oil paintings, watercolors and pastels of downtown Shippensburg in celebration of Shippensburg's 275th anniversary.



• Blue Mountain Gallery, 45 W. King St., 532-7306. Featuring hand-blown art glass by Michael Peluso.

FYI

Cumberland Valley Gallery & Studio Council's "Spring Arts Celebration 2005" will be held Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. For more details, call 240-8747.

On the Net: www.artsofcv.com