Norwegian Students Study Street Art in Williamsport

Thirty-two students and three teachers from Skjeberg folk high school in Norway recently enlivened our hallways after a stay in Brooklyn, NY, where they studied under prominent graffiti artists, including the Mad Hatter. Here at the Pajama Factory they focused on photography, mural art, graffiti art, and they contributed a new mural to the courtyard. Tenants who worked with the students during their trip included Alida Frey, Chad Andrews, Jeremiah Johnson, Jim O’Connell, and Ralph Wilson.

The trip, a brainchild of Michael Pilato, Director of the Public Art Academy, and Mona Sandberg, teacher at Skjeberg folk high school, was the first of an anticipated new collaborative learning exchange program with Norwegian schools and the Public Art Academy, so it’s exciting to think that we may play host to more international students each year.

Events @ the Pajama Factory

There is always something going on around the ‘factory,’ so we try to keep folks updated on weekly events and activities on our Facebook page. With over 800 members (and growing) it’s proving to be a popular place for Williamsport’s artists and art-lovers to connect, communicate, and stay in touch with the happenings inside and outside the Pajama Factory.

April First Friday

The Pajama Factory hosted and co-sponsored the 2011 Lycoming County Student Art Exhibition. Working together to celebrate the value of art education for children, the event was co-sponsored by the Pennsylvania Arts Education Association. The exhibit showcased some of the best artwork produced from the more than 20,000 students, ages five through 20, across Lycoming County. More than 1,000 pieces of art hung on walls, and collaborative art projects kept young visitors busy. We were excited to see so many families visiting for the first time.

May First Friday

May 6 is Fiber to Fashion Night, beginning at 5PM. Come for spinning, weaving, and carding demonstrations by members of the Susquehanna Valley Spinners and Weavers Guild, pattern-making demonstrations and a “Pajama Lab” in honor of the Pajama Factory’s history, and fashion illustration instruction with live models. Enjoy food, beverages, and other not-to-miss exhibits, demonstrations, and events including:

• The Penn College of Technology’s ‘Green’ architecture exhibit
• Jewelry, pottery, arts, and crafts for sale by the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsman
• Susquehanna Greenway Partnership’s traveling photography exhibit
• Williamsport Civic Ballet dance and music performances
• After-party with a live rock band

Workshops and Classes

Art is for the masses, and many of the Pajama Factory tenants are sharing their skills with the community through workshops and classes. From glassblowing to printmaking, pinhole camera workshops, and an upcoming Design-to-Garment workshop hosted by tenant Joanne Landis and Woolrich, Inc. clothing designer Valerie Beggs, the opportunities to learn a new craft abound! Stay tuned to “What’s Happening” on the Pajama Factory website.

Building & Tenant Update

Now that the snow has melted and temperatures are warming up a bit, we are continuing work on the elevator to the roof. The materials for the next step – the skylight sections that will complete the elevator shaft way – have arrived. We're hoping to get it all in place this summer so we can enjoy beautiful evening sunsets on the roof.

A new tenant has taken over the former Treasure Hunt location in building 10. Tanya’s, selling formal wear and dance apparel, is a classy mix of industrial and chic with exposed ductwork, steel beams, and glittery chandeliers. The 6,000-foot showroom offers a variety of formal and bridesmaids dresses, with a private dressing area for brides to be. A line of garage doors was recently replaced with showcase windows, offering the perfect display of formal wear to all who pass by the building. Visit Tanya’s website to learn more.

There are still a few larger studio spaces available; however, until we build our next floor of studios spaces, we are pretty full. Don’t let that stop you from getting your name on a waiting list!

Introducing the Pajama Factory Center for Creativity

We are extremely excited to announce the formation of a non-profit (501c3) organization: The Pajama Factory Center for Creativity. This organization was established to support community spaces for ceramics, wood/metal and glass working, a digital photography lab, and workshops for theater, writing, and poetry. The Pajama Factory Center for Creativity will also support the artists at large by scheduling events, sponsoring educational seminars and lectures, maintaining an art gallery space, offering classes to the community, and working with local organizations to promote Williamsport and the Pajama Factory as an arts destination.

Janet Harris is the Director of this new organization and Chad Andrews, who occupies studio 30, Paper +, is Director of the Community Studios. We are currently donating space and start-up costs for this very worthwhile organization. Additional donations, including supplies, clay, wheels, and kilns, are still needed to get the ceramics studio up and running. Contact Chad Andrews by email with any leads.