FRANKLIN, Pa. — Artists are invited to enter their diverse artworks in the February 3 – 4, Second Annual Nature Art Showcase coordinated by the Council on Greenways and Trails. The Showcase will be held inside the Barrow-Civic Theatre lobby during Franklin On Ice.

Desired items are 2-D and 3-D original art pieces depicting outdoor natural scenes and recreational activities conducted within Clarion, Crawford, and Venango Counties. There is no entry fee involved, and there are no limits on the residency of the artists who participate. Each artist may enter up to three items, and each artist sets the retail selling price for those pieces which are for sale on site.

In order to be included in the printed Exhibition Booklet which all attendees will receive, artists need to register by January 17. Registration instructions and forms are available online at www.nwpagreenways.org, or by calling Mrs. Marilyn Black at the office of the Oil Region Alliance, (814) 677-3152, mblack@oilregion.org.

This relaxing free exhibit will open on Friday, February 3 at 6 p.m. with a reception recognizing participating artists, and continue until 8 p.m. that evening; a new highlight this year is that the Erie Arts & Culture will at 7 p.m. announce the recipients of grants of Pa. Partners in the Arts awards, and introduce their representatives. Saturday, February 4 hours for the Nature Art Showcase are 10 a.m. through 9 p.m. Last year’s inaugural event at the same location included paintings, drawings, sculptures in wood and metal, fabric arts, photography, jewelry, pottery, coasters, woodburned items, woodcarving, watercolor, and mixed media pieces.

Sponsors for this Second Annual Nature Art Showcase include the following: Barrow-Civic Theatre; the Be Here Initiative of Venango Area Chamber of Commerce; Erie Arts & Culture; Franklin Fine Arts Council and Franklin On Ice; Oil City Arts Council; Oil Region Alliance; Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce; Titusville Council on the Arts; and Victorian City Art & Frame. The attending public will vote for a “People’s Choice” award, which is a handmade sunflower vase provided courtesy of Campbell’s Pottery.

The Council on Greenways and Trails is a non-profit corporation comprised of municipalities, agencies, and non-profit entities which manage or advocate for year-round recreational use of natural resources in Venango, Crawford, and Clarion Counties of Pennsylvania.