ASHLAND - The Mothers Memorial in the borough, a statue of Whistler's Mother, has caught the eye of numerous photographers and artists over the years.
Among them was Eric J. Meyer.
Meyer, who died in 1994, lived in Ashland for many years and sketched or painted a few of its iconic structures, including the historic Buck Mansion at 435 Centre St.
The Pottsville-based Allied Artists of Schuylkill County will be showcasing a collection of Meyer's art at a special event at from 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 11 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 35 N. Ninth St., Ashland.
His artistic impressions of those iconic Ashland sights are part of the collection, according to Allied Artists President Madlen Piccioni, Pottsville.
"The items will be for sale and the monies will go to support Allied Artists," she said.
Allied Artists inherited a collection of artwork, a total of 63 framed images, after Meyer's widow, Mary Jo Meyer, 61, of Carlisle, passed away Aug. 6 at Harrisburg Hospital.
"It was part of Mary's will. A few of them were damaged, and we can't sell those. So we anticipate there will be about 57 available to sell," said Piccioni, who has been storing the artwork in her Pottsville home.
The collection, for the most part, is made up of Eric Meyer's artwork. But it also includes needlework by Mary Jo Meyer and other artwork the Meyers had collected over the years.
While some items will be selling for $5, others will be selling for $75, Piccioni said.
"And they're very well framed," she said.
Eric Meyer graduated from North Schuylkill High School in 1969 and attended Williamsport Area Community College, Piccioni said.
"He was an art director who did fine art as a hobby. He had exhibitions with the Allied Artists in Pottsville and the Hazleton Art League in Hazleton. He also showed in the Mechanicsburg School and Galleries," Piccioni said.
"He specialized in watercolor and pen and ink," said Kathy Connelly, a watercolor artist from Pottsville, who is a member of the Allied Artists board of directors.
Connelly was impressed by one of Meyer's watercolors, a portrait of a clown.
"People collect those," Connelly said.
She also liked a watercolor print of a flower with white petals.
"It reminds me of an apple blossom," Connelly said.
The Allied Artists of Schuylkill County is a nonprofit community arts group that encourages self-expression through visual arts. Its meetings are held 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month at the Schuylkill County Council for the Arts, 1440 Mahantongo St., Pottsville, according to the group's website, schuylkillart.com. If you go
What: Showcase and sale of Eric J. Meyer's art collection
When: 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 11
Where: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 35 N. Ninth St., Ashland
Presented by: Allied Artists of Schuylkill County
