This year, the Block of Art is extra special because it is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
The free event will take place April 22, 23 and 24 in downtown Pottsville. The city will come alive with art, music, poets and photos from Pottsville’s past. Artists will create their own inspired, creative masterpieces, musicians will play outside the numerous venues and a 17-piece orchestra will entertain visitors.
“I’m very excited. The Block of Art is a wonderful event,” Kay Jones, co-chairwoman of the Block of Art Committee, said.
The three-day event is well-attended, with hundreds of people taking in the culture that Pottsville has to offer.
Kathy Connelly, co-chairwoman of the Block of Art Committee, said the event started at 205 W. Market St. and grew from there.
“It grew beyond just local,” she said.
The opening reception is from 6:30 to 10 p.m. April 22 at the Porter House Grill at the Ramada, 101 S. Progress Ave. There will be music from the 1940s from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Artists in Motion from 7:30 to 8 p.m. and The Moonlighters will perform big band music from 8 to 10 p.m.
Some of the new things this year include musicians playing on the streets and the silent art auction being held all three days. It has been held on Saturday in the past. Jones said the art auction held at different times during the event will give a chance for more people to participate in the experience. The auction is being held from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. April 22, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 23 and 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. April 24 at All Things Good Art Gallery, 209 W. Market St. Winning bidders can collect the art they purchased at a later date.
Other events include a folk music/art exhibit at the Schuylkill County Historical Society; John O’Hara Walking Tour; inaugural Youth Talent Show and Workshop at the Majestic Theater; Anthracite Philharmonic playing at The First United Methodist Church, 330 W. Market St.; and brunch to meet the artists at The Greystone Restaurant, 315 N. Centre. St.
Art galleries are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and noon to 3 p.m. Sunday. Other locations during the Block of Art include Mud & Maker, 6. S. Centre St., Pottsville Senior Center, 201 N. Centre St., Peter Nein Gallery, 207 N. Centre St., and the Pottsville Free Public Library, 215 W. Market St.
Student artwork from students at Gillingham Charter School and Avenues will be featured at City Hall, 401 N. Centre St.
Photos of 20th century Pottsville will be displayed in different locations downtown. Those photos include Pomeroy’s the Hollywood and Capitol Theaters and Imschweiler’s ice cream parlor, Christine Romanko, a member of the BOA Committee, said.
The deadline for artists to submit their work is 4:30 p.m. Friday. They may do so by calling Jones at 570-622-6097 or by registering at www.block-of-art.org.