Photo courtesy of the State Museum of Pennsylvania /
Ebensburg native Brandon Hirt’s piece “You’ve Got a Friend in PA” is featured in the State Museum of Pennsylvania’s Art of the State exhibit.
A Bedford County woodworker has received the State Museum Art Docents’ Choice Award during the Art of the State: Pennsylvania 2023 exhibit.
George Radeschi’s piece, simply named #188, was inspired by the ancient art of Egypt, Greece and Native America. No stains or dyes are used; instead, he works with a combination of light and dark woods, cut in different ways to show off varying grains and wood colors.
“I love working with wood,” Radeschi said in his artist statement. He makes his turnings, bowls and cutting boards/serving trays with woods from all over the world, including rosewood, goncalo alves and bubinga from Brazil and zebra wood from Africa.
“The oak, maple, ash, hickory and walnut I use come from my property,” Radeschi said. “I cut down the trees, cut them on a sawmill and stack them to dry.”
Photo courtesy of the State Museum of Pennsylvania /
Bedford County native George Radeschi’s “#188” won the museum’s Docents’ Choice Award and is featured in the Art of the State exhibit.
A piece by photographer Brandon Hirt of Ebensburg is also included in the Art of the State exhibit. The Art Institute of Colorado graduate’s photo, “You’ve Got a Friend in PA,” features old Volkswagen Beetles under trees on a fall day.
“My luminous landscapes are a way for me to find beauty in our region in the oddest spots,” he said in a statement. “We are filled with tremendous scenery in Western PA, even if some of it might be rust.”
Art of the State is an annual juried exhibition that has showcased the work of Pennsylvania’s artists at The State Museum of Pennsylvania since 1968.
“This year’s Art of the State exhibition continues a 56-year tradition of diversity,” said State Museum Director Angelica Docog. “The artists find inspirations from diverse backgrounds, and each has a unique style. While some artists are deeply rooted in Pennsylvania traditions, others bring inspiration from around the world. Some artists have decades of experience and others are new or returning to creative pursuits. Despite these varied perspectives, all artists seek to engage with viewers. We look forward to sharing these artists’ stories with our visitors.”
Winners were chosen from 86 finalists selected from 1,850 entries representing 29 Pennsylvania counties. Selection jurors reviewed and scored all of the submitted works. Those with the highest ratings in each category are featured in the exhibition. The awards juror then determines the first place, second place and third place winners in each of the categories.
Art of State runs through Jan. 7 at The State Museum of Pennsylvania, adjacent to the State Capitol in Harrisburg.
The museum, at 300 N. St., Harrisburg, is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and noon to 4:30 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for adults 65 years old and older, $5 for children ages 1-11 and free to active military and their immediate family with a military ID. Retired military personnel are also admitted free with a valid ID.
Planetarium shows are $3 extra.
Metered parking spaces and city parking garages are available within a three-block radius of the museum.
For more information, visit statemuseumpa.org/artofthestate/.
