JACQUELINE DORMER / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Sets of cards of watercolors and prints featuring Pottsville by Kathy Connelly, of Mar Lin, on a shelf for sale during her exhibit of Pottsville watercolors at Pressed Coffee & Books in Pottsville. The pop-up shop featuring her work along with prints and cards for sale runs from September 3rd to the 22nd. Photo taken on Monday, September 2, 2019.
BY AMY MARCHIANO
Visitors to Pressed Coffee & Books now have another reason to go to the shop on Pottsville’s Mahantongo Street — artwork.
Kathy Connelly, Mar Lin, is displaying watercolor prints from now to Sept. 22. Connelly selected the artwork, which is of well-known buildings in the city. They include: the Garfield Diner, Club 18, Union Station, the Greystone, Pressed Coffee & Books, the former Maroons Sports Bar & Grill and Centre Street in old downtown Pottsville. Prints and cards of the artwork are also on sale.
The idea for the showing arose after Abby Weaver, co-owner of the business with her husband, Robert E. Weaver Jr., who owns the building, noticed the prints of the originals hanging in a local business. Weaver said the infusion of art with the coffee is a natural fit.
This is not the first time art has been displayed at Pressed, which opened in 2018, as art was featured during this year’s Block of Art. Weaver said she sees the possibility of bringing in more county artwork.
“I want them to take it for how it appears and the subject matter,” Connelly said of visitors who come to see the art.
Connelly finds inspiration from real life experiences. For example, the original watercolor of the Garfield Diner, which was sold to a Pottsville resident, was done five years ago after Connelly recalled having been at the diner after a date.
It can take days for Connelly to finish a painting. Achieving different shades of color are accomplished by adding layers of color on top of recently painted areas.
“Water color is not a very forgiving medium,” she said.
Pressed is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.
Contact the writer: 570-628-6028
