Downtown Shippensburg celebrated the arts on Friday night with the SHAPE Gallery’s 2016 art sale and membership drive fundraiser.

While walking through the gallery’s door, a bell softly jingled. A guitarist stood in the corner, strumming and serenading the large crowd that wandered about the room. They sipped wine and chatted happily under dimmed lights, deeply invested in conversation about the artwork surrounding them.

Kurt Smith, a founding member of the gallery for 17 years, stood at his post at the door to greet everyone with a smile and a flyer.

Smith founded the SHAPE Gallery with local artists and businesspeople when he noticed a strong lack of artistic representation in the town.

“There was never anything like this at all. There wasn’t any art presence in downtown Shippensburg,” Smith said.

The gallery was created alongside the Annual Solstice Arts Festival, which will be celebrating its 11th year this June. Designed to let people celebrate art with music, dance and creativity, it was the fuel for creating the art gallery that stands in downtown Shippensburg today.

SHAPE had been forced to move out of its previous building, but the move became a blessing in disguise. The new facility boasts 2,500 square feet, enough to house a main exhibit gallery, a classroom, a boardroom office and even a small kitchen with plenty of room to spare. Complete with long glass windows, passersby can easily gaze into the gallery and see the featured artwork.

Tony Diehl, an alumnus of Shippensburg University and longtime supporter of the arts, was happy to explore what the new building had to offer.

“I’m excited to see the new space that SHAPE has and meet other art enthusiasts,” Diehl said, “It’s going to provide extra opportunity for them to expand.”

Visitors were encouraged to go on a self-guided tour around the gallery to explore all of its features. A map on the back of a flyer guided guests throughout the establishment and people could be seen exploring even the remote corners of the gallery with excitement.

The tour began in the exhibit gallery, the large entrance room of the building.

A long table of raffle items sat along the right wall, topped with donated items from various businesses.

Musical performers took turns singing and playing instruments near the table, providing entertainment and setting the mood for the event.

Most of the artwork on sale was also located in the exhibit gallery. Donated by local artists, the pieces were sold at an affordable price and directly benefited the gallery. While some guests talked happily with others over the artwork, others took the solo route and gazed at them in silent observation.

Among the artwork was a mixture of pottery, photography, paintings and sculptures. The pottery ranged from large dishes to small jugs and every size in-between. Many paintings featured forest and meadow landscapes, while some depicted still-life portraits of flowers and fruit. A large sculpture fashioned from tree branches sat in the middle of the floor, attracting curiosity from passersby.

A second exhibit gallery, which also acts as a classroom, held a buffet to guests. Pita bread, hummus, meatballs and a vegetable tray were among the array of cuisine. Visitors picked their way among the snacks throughout the evening. A cash wine bar was also available and many guests could be seen enjoying a glass to pair with the elegant evening.

A long hallway led visitors to more rooms. The hallway was deemed, “The Hall of Needs.” Along it hung an assortment of framed certificates asking for specific donations. Some of the donations listed art supplies, while others listed building fixtures, such as track lights and folding tables. Guests were invited to pick a frame off the wall and make the donation at the cashier.

Shawn Richardson, another founding member of the gallery, wants the gallery to be a place where people can freely express themselves. Having experienced art only through school programs in his youth, Richardson wants to give the community another opportunity for artists to bloom.

“We really wanted to focus on offering more classes for kids and adults,” Richardson said.

Although they have always offered classes, SHAPE now has the room to expand upon them. This will be the first time the gallery has a designated classroom for its visitors.

As the evening came to a close, raffle winners were announced. Guests cheered happily when their names were called, rushing to the table to claim their prize. Others could be seen with their newly purchased artwork in hand, ready to display it in their homes. With new funds for the gallery, SHAPE is off to a wonderful start in its new location, shining light on a bright future for the arts in Shippensburg. 

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