New In the Studio
1st Place Sculpture Award at Schuylkill River
Greenways Annual
"Scenes of the Schuylkill"
Art Show
What an absolute honor and thrill it was to attend the annual "Scenes of the Schuylkill", Schuylkill River Greenways Art Show celebration with my husband Kent, my mom and many artist and community friends. The icing on the cake was receiving First Place in the sculpture category for three of my walking sticks!
This amazing river can best be viewed along the SRT (Schuylkill River Trail), This multi-use pathway will ultimately span 120 miles from the headwaters in Frackville to Philadelphia!
Again in 2024, I look forward to placing new sticks (information below) on the trail monthly to support river stewardship and community engagement!
The "Walkabout
Talk About Stick Project"
The Walkabout Talk About Stick Project is community engagement forum involving a collection of walking sticks found by the artist in Lenapehoking (Land of the Lenape – of eastern Pennsylvania). Each stick has been illustrated with a painting that tells an environmental story, memory, or message that the artist has learned from hiking the land during her 44 year-long habitation of the area.
Knowing full well that boundaries in nature are somewhat ambiguous and because nature belongs to its community and its community to it, these sticks not only belong to the land and the artist, but to everyone and everything living in our community. With this in mind, during Earth Month - April, 2023, each stick will be placed for others to use at a local trailhead located near the illustrated story depicted upon the stick. Anyone who encounters a stick is invited to read about its story (accessing it via a website address provided on the stick) and then take their own journey with it. Community members are encouraged to sign the stick and add to the project, if they like, in the following way:
When you come upon one of 10 sticks placed at area trailheads, please:
1) take it for a hike!
2) at the end of your hike, sign it and
leave it on the trail, wherever you like
for the next person.
3) if you wish, share an inspiration realized
on your journey. Your "story" (digital
submissions only please) can be in the
form of:
- a photograph taken on the hike
- an artwork, poem, song or dance
inspired by the hike
- or simply thoughts and comments
in response to the hike.
These submissions (digital only please) can be emailed to: jchylack@joliechylackstudio.com .The submissions will be added to "The Walkabout Talk About Stick Project" Page at Joliechylackstudio.com .
Here all may access and engage!
Click Here to Learn More About the Project
Click Here to View a Map of the Stick Locations
Click Here to Read the 10 Stick Stories
We've Moved Downstairs
-to Studio 100!
Early last spring, we realized that in order to best provide art and nature programming to kids, we would need a space on the first floor. A light-filled corner studio became available and it seemed just right. We are gearing up now to welcome
students of all ages for autumn curiosity classes!
Exhibiting at the
Episcopal Cathedral
In Harrisburg!
The Riverfront Gallery at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. Stephen is exhibiting images of oceans, rivers and streams as they explore connections between environment and life. I am showing two of my more recent oil paintings:
"Return to the Sea" and "Blue Lagoon Silica Springs at Grindavik, Iceland".
Memorial Award at Studio B Gallery
Flora and Fauna
Show
I received the Boyer Memorial Award at the Flora and Fauna show hosted by Studio B Art Gallery in January of 2022. I called the painting "Milkweed - Make a Wish for Monarchs".
It was such an honor to receive the award not only because of the show's subject but also because of the kind community steward and fellow nature lover Nancy Boyer for whom the award was named.
Thank you Studio B!
Honorable Mention at Schuylkill River Green Ways Show
In late October of 2021 I received an award for my painting of local environmental hero, John Carre and his grandson. I named the painting "Generational Stewardship on the Schuylkill River". I met John about a year ago as he was cleaning stream side. I was thrilled to learn that he and his wife and their grandchildren have weekly clean-ups to keep this waterway clean. Here are a few paintings that resulted from an eco-stewardship photoshoot we had together. The award meant a lot to me because I love the Schuylkill River we live on and and organizations like Schuylkill River Greenways who take care of it!
Maritime Inspired
Environmental Art
The wrack line on any shore is filled with treasures - natural and not-so-natural. Environmentalists spend lots of time scouring this edge to keep unwanted litter from making its way back into the sea. Environmental artists often see what is there that can be incorporated into their artwork. Here are a few pieces I've been working on.
"What the Hex?"
Harrisburg Newspaper Interview
It was thrilling to be with my uncle, Lane Schultz and cousin, Priscilla Schultz as they showcased their barn which now houses Priscilla's "Hidden Springs Integrative Health" wellness life coaching. My hex sign was commissioned to provide good luck in 2021 as the endeavor moves forward. Follow this link to read more about the project,
