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07.17 | theburg | 47 She pointed out that "Art of the State" is among the longest-running shows in the nation, if not the longest. "It just draws you in," she said. "It's amazing what comes in every year." is year's exhibit attracted nearly 2,200 entries from 845 artists. It's co-presented by the State Museum and Jump Street, with W ITF and Higher Information Group as sponsors. Hager noted that, thanks to a newly negotiated reciprocal agreement, members of the State Museum and the Susquehanna Art Museum now can receive free admission to both destinations through Sept. 17. A CONVerSAtiON For the 50th year exhibit, some works are indeed "state-of-the-art." Others are timeless. Rook said that, for a work of art to be brilliant, it must be "a most genuine expression, one where sincerity cuts through all the veils. Perhaps it deconstructs and reconstructs beliefs." To be a great photographer, "You have to understand your equipment and be willing to experiment and practice, practice, practice," Commings said. Keeping up with software and the capricious weather is a constant challenge, she added. For Dube, the challenge is light. "Photography is light," she said. "at's the hardest thing always." From the creative side, Dube said she always looks for a beautiful subject and, more importantly, a subject that resonates. "A photograph will be empty unless there is some kind of narrative," she said. "e narrative can be hidden or overt." Commings does a lot of street photography, particularly in the rain. "In candid situations, sometimes it's the unusual, sometimes it's the ordinary, shown in an unusual way," she said. "Nothing is off limits. Once I take it, I know how I want it to look, how I want to process it." During the exhibit, the museum plans to offer three "Conversations with the Artists," programs, where two artists at a time will join together to talk and answer questions. "We look to start a conversation about art," Hager said. On July 7, at 12:15 p.m., Pennsylvania First Lady Frances Wolf and Harrisburg artist Andrew Guth will lead the exhibit's first art tour. Guth received a first-place award this year in the category of "Work on Paper." And despite what your art teachers may have told you, "ere are no right or wrong interpretations. We all see art through the filter of our unique set of personal life experiences," Wiles said. With so many works featured, you won't connect with ever y selection in the show. But that's OK. "A tour through any 'Art of the State' exhibit will make you aware of the depth and variety of talent our state possesses," Wiles said. at's worth staying home for. "Art of the State" runs through Sept. 10 at the State Museum of Pennsylvania, N. 3rd and North streets, Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.statemuseumpa.org. Images left to right: "Riding in the Rain" by Karen Cummings, photograph; "Miranda" by Nicole Dube, photograph; "irty-six Weeks" by Geoffrey Beadle, Charcoal/Pastel. Bottom left: "e Two Audreys" by Kathleen Barrett, Lithograph.

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