The Exchange

06/03/2026

"Exchange of Talents" artist spotlight

Melissa Matthews of Bloomsburg has made a name for herself in the art scene in this region for decades now. A native of Canada, she has shown many pieces at The Exchange Gallery; for "Exchange of Talents" she brought these three:

"Exchange of Talents" has 76 pieces by 29 artists who live in six central-Pennsylvania counties. The show runs through the 12th of June, with a reception during Bloomsburg, Inc.'s First Friday on June 5th -- this week!

Since 2014, the Exchange Gallery has hosted about 90 open-call shows, and almost 1,800 people of all ages have exhibited work here. We have immense gratitude for each and every one of them; we very literally would not have a Gallery without the artists who have shared thousands of artworks and thousands of stories. They bring life life to this space; they are the heartbeat of The Exchange.

We asked artists to reflect on us: What do The Exchange and the Exchange Gallery mean to them? How has exhibiting in this space changed their experience of art, whether making art or displaying art or looking at art or thinking about art? Have they formed new relationships through their experience at The Exchange?

Some brought new work, some brought things that they'd exhibited before -- perhaps the very first piece that they'd showed here, which for many people means the first piece that they ever showed publicly anywhere.

06/02/2026

Laurie McCants has started her tales of Oklahoma -- "It's Complicated". We'll put it out on YouTube later.

06/02/2026

We've caught up on making our videos, and we've got more music for you: youtube.com/watch?v=FwFIZ3OQYOI

The Big Frank and Mike Smith Juke Joint Duo played the Listening Room in May -- a great night of solid Blues!

Coming in June, The Exchange's Listening Room presents David Pulizzi; coming in July, The Exchange's Listening Room presents Sara Rachel Scott. Mark your calendars, and we'll see you here.

As part of its mission to bring the arts to all communities through...

06/02/2026

"Exchange of Talents" artist spotlight

Another frequent exhibitor at the Exchange Gallery, Amy Ikeler of Danville brings beautiful oil paintings like these three. Clockwise from the top: "White Flowers", 10-1/2 inches high by 12-1/2 inches wide overall, $85; "Pink Hydrangeas", 9 inches high by 11 inches wide overall, $38 (sold); and "Little Wren", 9-1/4 inches high by 7-1/4 inches wide overall, $38 (also sold).

"Exchange of Talents" has 76 pieces by 29 artists who live in six central-Pennsylvania counties. The show runs through the 12th of June, with a reception during Downtown Bloomsburg, Inc. , Inc.'s First Friday on June 5th -- this week!

Since 2014, the Exchange Gallery has hosted about 90 open-call shows, and almost 1,800 people of all ages have exhibited work here. We have immense gratitude for each and every one of them; we very literally would not have a Gallery without the artists who have shared thousands of artworks and thousands of stories. They bring life life to this space; they are the heartbeat of The Exchange.

We asked artists to reflect on us: What do The Exchange and the Exchange Gallery mean to them? How has exhibiting in this space changed their experience of art, whether making art or displaying art or looking at art or thinking about art? Have they formed new relationships through their experience at The Exchange?

Some brought new work, some brought things that they'd exhibited before -- perhaps the very first piece that they'd showed here, which for many people means the first piece that they ever showed publicly anywhere.

06/01/2026

Check out the arts and culture coming your way this month!

It's June! A new month means more great art! Check it all out. https://mailchi.mp/exchangearts.org/your-arts-filled-we44ekend-thanks-to-artofpaorg-15176471

05/31/2026

"Exchange of Talents" artist spotlight

Meave Morris first got involved with The Exchange during COVID, when she painted one of the picnic tables on the Josiah Hess covered bridge (facebook.com/events/605426187002607?post_id=625807294964496&view=permalink). In addition to the acrylic painting "A Fall Path" (14 inches high by 18 inches wide, not for sale), Meave brought a photo collage with these wonderful words:

"In the fall of 2016, my oldest daughter was venturing out to college. Unbeknownst to me she was worried that I would become more of a recluse so she asked one of my best friends, Mary Rose, to make sure that I got out to do art. This encouraged Mary to ask me to join her art class that had an opening and I agreed.

"I had always been interested in painting, but I didn't know if I could really do it. I have an art degree but concentrated on charcoal pencil drawing and was very much a perfectionist. I wanted to try to loosen my perfectionism and thought painting could do this.

"I absolutely love painting! Art class is my fun expressive time. My best friend began to include me in all things art with her. I believe it was in 2020 that The Exchange was looking for artists' submissions to paint the picnic tables on the covered bridges throughout the area. Mary asked me to submit and she submitted as well. We were both accepted and painted two of the picnic tables on the Josiah Hess covered bridge. This was definitely a first for me and the biggest area to paint. I had chosen one of my first paintings, "A Fall Path".

"It was an amazing time learning to work big! I always brought my daughter Julianna with me. She has Down syndrome and loves to paint! She did her own paintings on canvas while we ere painting. The Exchange has opened so many opportunities for so many artists in the area! I'm proud to show my work and I thank The Exchange for the opportunities!"

"Exchange of Talents" has 76 pieces by 29 artists who live in six central-Pennsylvania counties. The show runs through the 12th of June, with a reception during Downtown Bloomsburg, Inc.'s First Friday on June 5th -- this week!

Since 2014, the Exchange Gallery has hosted about 90 open-call shows, and almost 1,800 people of all ages have exhibited work here. We have immense gratitude for each and every one of them; we very literally would not have a Gallery without the artists who have shared thousands of artworks and thousands of stories. They bring life life to this space; they are the heartbeat of The Exchange.

We asked artists to reflect on us: What do The Exchange and the Exchange Gallery mean to them? How has exhibiting in this space changed their experience of art, whether making art or displaying art or looking at art or thinking about art? Have they formed new relationships through their experience at The Exchange?

Some brought new work, some brought things that they'd exhibited before -- perhaps the very first piece that they'd showed here, which for many people means the first piece that they ever showed publicly anywhere.

05/30/2026

Another Storytelling video has gone live!

youtube.com/watch?v=Z-XwyxDFEU0

In association with the Exchange Gallery exhibition "Exchange of Talents", we invited people to come tell their stories about The Exchange -- a story about the first piece of artwork that they displayed here, or about a friend whom they met here, or a memory of the Moose Exchange.

The event took place in the Gallery on the evening of May 19th; participants included John Sweeney, Anne Cosper, Jane Klaus, Bill Klaus, and Julie Ridings, hosted by The Exchange's executive director, Oren B Helbok. Thanks as always to our soundman and videographer, William Jay.

"Belief" in the Gallery runs through June 12th -- 76 pieces by 29 artists from six central-Pennsylvania counties.

Music in the video: "Happy All The Time", written by Joseph Spence and adapted and performed by Brooks Williams; released with the "Suddenly Summer Shines" 2025 playlist, and used with permission. Find a lot more at BrooksWilliams.com.

To watch our earlier storytelling events, visit us at ExchangeArts.org/storytelling. Our YouTube channel -- youtube.com/ -- also has dozens of live musical performances recorded here at The Exchange and at the Coffeehouse Series in Berwick.

If you have a story that you would like to tell and/or a theme that we should consider for a future event, please get in touch: 570-317-2596 and [email protected]. Visit the Gallery at 24 East Main Street in Bloomsburg.

05/30/2026

"Exchange of Talents" artist spotlight

Exemplary of the diversity of work in all of our shows, we present two pieces by Jessica Rightnour-Miller of Bloomsburg and Amy Ikeler of Danville. Jessica's "Honeybee" in resin and mixed media measures 10 inches square and has a price of $60; Jessica's " #4" in acrylic measures 8 inches square and has a price of $26; and Amy's "Just Breathe" in oil measures 11 inches high by 13 inches wide overall and has a price of $85.

"Exchange of Talents" has 76 pieces by 29 artists who live in six central-Pennsylvania counties. The show runs through the 12th of June, with a reception during Downtown Bloomsburg, Inc.'s First Friday on June 5th.

Since 2014, the Exchange Gallery has hosted about 90 open-call shows, and almost 1,800 people of all ages have exhibited work here. We have immense gratitude for each and every one of them; we very literally would not have a Gallery without the artists who have shared thousands of artworks and thousands of stories. They bring life life to this space; they are the heartbeat of The Exchange.

We asked artists to reflect on us: What do The Exchange and the Exchange Gallery mean to them? How has exhibiting in this space changed their experience of art, whether making art or displaying art or looking at art or thinking about art? Have they formed new relationships through their experience at The Exchange?

Some brought new work, some brought things that they'd exhibited before -- perhaps the very first piece that they'd showed here, which for many people means the first piece that they ever showed publicly anywhere.

05/29/2026

Mark your calendars and bring your kids to this great event in Town Park in July -- you'll find the Art Cart there with art kits to take home with you!

05/29/2026

The latest video of Storytelling at The Exchange has gone up! In April, we had the "Belief" show up.

youtu.be/qLYJ_q9HsSE

Elaine and Bob Walz shared their thoughts on persistence and mortality.

Don't forget to mark your calendar for this coming Tuesday, June 2nd, and Laurie McCants's storytelling about her origins: "It's Complicated: Oklahoma and Me". The Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble founding member will share stories of her family's deep, tangled roots in the "Sooner" state. And, she says, "songs will be sung (mostly Woody Guthrie songs)." All ages welcome, $10 suggested donation at the door, BYOB permitted.

In conjunction with the exhibition "Belief" at the Exchange Gallery in Bloomsburg, Pa., in Spring 2026, The Exchange hosted an evening of spoken word as our ...