Norwin Art League renovates studio
The Norwin Art League’s studio in downtown Irwin has undergone a significant transformation, offering a completely refurbished space for artists to learn and create. The recent renovations, which began in June, included a full overhaul of the facility.
To create a more open and natural environment, the league removed old posts and bulkheads, repainted the walls, and installed new carpeting and LED lighting. The project also included the creation of a new gift shop that sells items from local artists and craftspeople, as well as a retail area with art supplies. The studio now features two small galleries to display a variety of work from both professional and student artists.
According to Norwin Art League president Cara Zanella, the project was completed entirely by volunteers and through donations for materials. Zanella described the effort as taking “a lot of blood, sweat, tears and money.”
The league, which has about 110 members, plans to celebrate the reopening with a ceremony on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at its studio at 306 Main St. The event will feature entertainment and the new retail shop will be open to the public. The ultimate goal of the project, Zanella said, is to help the organization thrive for another 71 years and support new generations of artists.
Joe Napsha is a TribLive reporter covering Irwin, North Huntingdon and the Norwin School District. He also writes about business issues. He grew up on Neville Island and has worked at the Trib since the early 1980s. He can be reached at jnapsha@triblive.com.
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.