Susquehanna Heritage will host works from Columbia artist Diana Thomas through June at Columbia Crossing River Trails Center, 41 Walnut St., Columbia.
The collection will showcase her journey to paint 55 paintings of the Lower Susquehanna, one painting a week for more than a year as part of her project "Current Color - A Year on the River." Also as part of the project, Thomas wrote a weekly journal entry that portrayed life lessons found in her body of work. The "Current Color" paintings are mostly acrylic on canvas, and a few are mixed media. The journal entries will be presented alongside each week's piece.
Partway through the project, Thomas' daughter lost her long battle with substance overuse. Soon after, the same tragedy befell her daughter's significant other, leaving behind their then 8-year-old son. In response, Thomas created pieces called "River of Tears" and "Even the Moon Cried."
Thomas will also lead Creative River, a riverfront art series that will offer journaling, sketching, and painting experiences in small groups for people age 15 and older. Session one will take place on Saturday, April 13, from 1 to 4 p.m. and will give instruction and suggestions for writing about the river and nature. Participants will receive a writing journal. Session two will take place on Saturday, May 18, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will give instruction for sketching and creatively noting river surroundings. Attendees will receive a nature journal. Session three will be held on Saturday, June 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will include instruction on use of acrylic medium, color basics, composition, and painting techniques to create a small river painting. Participants will receive a mounted canvas. Each session includes an introduction, a tutorial, and a question-and-answer session with Thomas. Supplies and materials including watercolor pencils, pens, paint, and brushes will be supplied. Group and individual instruction will be offered during each session. Classes will take place rain or shine. Participants may register for just one class or all three, and separate costs have been set. To register, readers may visit http://www.susquehannaheritage.org/events or call 717-449-5607, ext 0.
Entrance to the gallery is free, but donations are appreciated. Columbia Crossing is open on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. through Memorial Day, Monday, May 27. After Memorial Day, the center will be open on Tuesdays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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