Photo submitted to the Times Observer
Shown are some of the artists participating in the Lens to Canvas: Warren Reimagined exhibit that opens Friday at the Liberty Street Marketplace.
From Lens to Canvas: Warren Reimagined will debut Friday, June 6, at Liberty Street Marketplace, blending photography and painting in a heartfelt tribute to the region’s landscapes, landmarks, and everyday life.
Created by artists from Kimberly Slocum’s Creekside Art Studios, the exhibit features original paintings by both youth and adult students. Each work is inspired by photographs originally captured and shared on social media by the Warren County Visitors Bureau. The artists, some new to painting and others more experienced, selected images that personally resonated with them–transforming them into vivid, one-of-a-kind works of art.
“When Kim approached us a while back asking if her students could use our photos as inspiration, we were honored and excited at the opportunity,” said Casey Ferry, executive director of the WCVB. “Seeing an artist begin with something from our perspective and reimagine it through their unique vision is exciting. I found it very interesting to see the variety of photos selected.”
Opening night for the exhibition coincides with Warren’s First Friday Art Walk. The public is invited to the Liberty Street Lunch from 5 to 8 p.m. to explore the art on display at Creekside Gallery, meet the artists, enjoy local food, and celebrate the creative energy that continues to flourish in downtown Warren.
The full From Lens to Canvas exhibit will remain on view throughout June at the Liberty Street Marketplace. In July, a special rotating series called Warren Through Our Eyes–featuring three selected works–will be displayed monthly at the Warren County Visitors Bureau, giving locals and visitors alike the opportunity to enjoy the artwork throughout the summer.
Slocum, owner and instructor at Creekside Art Studios, emphasized how deeply the collaboration reflects the spirit of the Warren community.
“The constant barrage of beautiful photographs from the Warren County Visitors Bureau is what sparked the idea of doing paintings. The WCVB staff do a remarkable job of capturing Warren County. And then it makes it even easier to have somebody like Casey Ferry as the director who’s open to the community and ideas that foster events like this,” she said. “Then we got a connector likeMichelle Peterson who connected me with First Friday and Liberty Street Marketplace and Liberty Street Lunch. It’s this type of connection with the community that makes Warren County great.”
According to Slocum, the project was about more than painting–it was a learning experience that deepened the artists’ relationships with their home.
“What makes this project really special is how much the artists have learned throughout the entire experience. It wasn’t just about painting a picture,” she said. “They spent time looking through local photography, choosing scenes that meant something to them, and in the process, they connected more deeply with the place they live. They also worked on technical painting skills, learned to look at things creatively, and discovered what goes into presenting their work in a professional way. I think a lot of them were surprised by how much is involved, and they’ve all really stepped up.”
The show includes work from about 17 to 18 artists, with a mix of experience levels–from first-time painters to more seasoned artists who have studied with Slocum for years. Visitors will also be able to purchase notecards featuring the artwork, printed by Moments in Time Studio.
“This has been a true community collaboration,” Slocum added. “The Warren County Visitors Bureau helped us source the photography. Liberty Street Marketplace offered their space. Liberty Street Lunch is staying open for the reception. And Moments in Time Studio helped us print the artists’ note cards. Being able to tie it all into Warren’s First Friday event just brought everything together. It feels like a celebration of art, community, and local pride.”
For more information, contact Casey Ferry at the Warren County Visitors Bureau at 814-726-1222 or email director@wcvb.net. Slocum can be reached at 814-730-2490.
