Joan Maguire
Taking a page from the 15th-century saint, Joan of Arc, modern-day gallery owner Joan Maguire agrees with her quote, “Life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it and then it’s gone.”
In the vernacular of our day—live your dream while you can.
Hershey is a far cry from Orleans, France, where Joan of Arc led a momentous victory against the English in 1429 during the Hundred Years’ War. For Joan Maguire, that battlefield fades in the background of history as she hopes to gather the troops to visit a much more genteel setting. The troops are a battalion of art lovers marching to her newly opened art emporium housing the many moods of the artist mere yards from her home.
As a self-taught artist specializing in watercolors, Joan splits time between her Hershey home/gallery and summers spent in the Outer Banks painting beach scenes, flora and fauna all brightly colored, capturing the joie-de-vivre that infuses and informs her art.
The gallery’s inviting ambiance begins upon entering the haven that incorporates a farmstead kitchen, retrofitted with a vintage refrigerator as well as modern-day amenities. Its cozy charm comes full cycle as the hostess puts you at ease immediately, with eyes twinkling and a generous smile.
Pine Creek Construction literally raised the roof creating an expansive studio gallery/shared space, perfect for the artist’s aesthetic, with beauty and backdrop blending as one. As one works through the rooms, the unique layout promises hospitality downstairs and delivers a warm atmosphere upstairs. You may feel transported to a leisurely stroll along the Seine with artists and their paintings lining the river’s banks. In the upstairs gallery, surrounded by a bevy of floral paintings framed for future homes and businesses, Joan creates a bouquet of beauty much like the scene on the Seine.
Joining in the esprit-de-corps are woodworker Jason Smeltz and artisan Jason Lyons, whose forte is repurposing sculpture. Jewelers are comprised of Patricia White, Lynn Shirk and Jan Lipensky, all offering different treatments in their edited collections. Specializing in artisanal, herbal soaps and culinary salts are Jana MacGinnes and Barbara Kline, who round out the coterie with élan. Bath scrubs and soaks made by Joan complete the picture. It all makes for “A Movable Feast,” as Hemingway referred to his years in Paris as a young man.
Replete with a comfortable white sofa, the second floor showcases Joan’s plentiful watercolors that line the perimeter’s walls and complement the bounty of art books. Visitors are encouraged to sit and browse and drink in the surroundings while enjoying refreshments. Being in the moment of peace and discovery simultaneously completes one’s sense of contentment. Joan’s gracious demeanor encourages art lovers to escape the outside world, if only for the time they are part of the experience. The warmth of American chestnut and wormwood used by Pine Creek kept historic features in the building intact with additional restoration by Joan and husband Tom, leading up to the soft opening in December. That weekend enabled them to fine tune presentation and promotion.
As a former restaurateur, Joan instinctively knows that relationships are what make the world go round, and the natural manner extended to first-time visitors exudes genuine warmth and caring for all. In her 20-year career as an artist, Joan has made watercolors her calling card and stock in trade. Amidst images of beaches and oceans, sea life and floral, colors explode on the canvas, buoyant and joyous. An invitation to travel exotic waters or walk through lush gardens of imagination becomes the focus, allowing serenity to seep in and soothe the soul. Experimenting with different surfaces, key elements become visually distinctive, dependent upon choice of paper, board, wood and Yupo. A grand opening celebration this month will offer some surprises in store for art lovers and first-time gallery-goers. Classes in various mediums of painting, collage and more will take place once the gallery is in full swing.
To paraphrase Joan of Arc, Joan of Hershey states, “When you find out what makes you happy, you are a very fortunate person.” Her good fortune becomes ours as we enter the world of Joan of Art.
Hershey Art Gallery and Studio is located at 1077 Swatara Rd., Hershey. The grand opening takes place April 15 to 16 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information on Joan Maguire and her artwork, visit www.joanmaguireart.com.
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