We are a hub of activity all year long. With classes, visiting artists, theater, concerts, performances, workshops, storytelling, yard sales, benefits, fundraisers, movie screenings, bike sales, there is always something going on. The community formed a number of groups (a writers groups and women’s group) in addition to the groups of friends that have been established. And we now have “Billtown Bazaar” – a once monthly arts and crafts event.
A few call-outs are noted below:
Summer Artists-in-Residence Program
For nine years now, the Pajama Factory’s Artist-in-Residence program, a collaboration between Factory Works, the Pajama Factory and Lycoming Arts, has provided opportunities for artists from around the world to join our vibrant creative community to create and be inspired. Each year the program culminates with an exhibition of each participants’ work. This year’s theme was We Come From Afar, and featured works in a variety of media, including: sculpture, painting, printmaking, jewelry, and photography. The seven-week residency program included six participants from the local region, as well as others from Nevada and Florida. They worked in our community wood shop and printing studios and utilized the Gallery as a shared workspace. The program continues to be a wonderful way to introduce the Williamsport area to new art from emerging artists from all around the country.
About 30 artists have participated in the Artist-in-Residence program to date, which has seen participants from all around the United States, as well as Germany and the Netherlands.
Kid-friendly Event
The Cyanotype process turns 175 years-old this year! To celebrate this historic photography process, the Williamsport Community Darkroom hosted a workshop in the Pajama Factory Courtyard, led and instructed by Ralph Wilson. This kid-friendly event had a great turn out and produced some truly wonderful images
Theater
The creative team and performers of Studio 570 created an immersive and interactive production here at the Pajama Factory that took audience members on journey through Wonderland. From walking through Alice’s tears, running in the Dodo’s caucus race, to sipping tea with the Mad Hatter and the March Hare… it was truly a unique, one-of-a-kind experience.
6th Annual Blues Bash
And what better way to end the year than with our 6th annual blues bash- great music, dancing and merriment! (Pictures compliments of our wonderful MC for the night- Rick Mason)