6-04-2026 4:05am

Studio B Art Gallery’s “In Service” Exhibit Opening Kicks Off Themed Activities in the Community

Lesley Misko Editor

"In Service" oil by Robert Louis Williams

by Jane Stahl

Studio B Art Gallery, 39 E. Philadelphia Ave. in Boyertown, PA, announces the opening of an art exhibit entitled “In Service” on June 26, 2026, from 5-7 p.m. featuring artwork from dozens of local artists. The exhibit is free and open to the public and will run through, August 23, 2026.

Funded by a grant award provided by the Marlene L. Driscoll Fund of Berks County Community Foundation, Studio B Art Gallery has been engaging members of the community over the past few months collecting examples of “service” to remind us how important we are to one another, to heal perhaps some of the divisiveness we’re witnessing in our communities, to inspire us all to commit more acts “of kindness and of love,” and to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States through a recognition of service personnel.

Our “service” to one another comes in many forms, and everyone has stories of times when someone offered to help them or when they provided some kind of service to another. These examples of service will be “on display” in various ways throughout the summer at Studio B and other locations.

photo by Free Pik

Art Exhibit: “In Service”
The summer “In Service” project begins with the art exhibit opening and prize award ceremony. Artists were encouraged to interpret the theme in their unique styles and mediums. The exhibit is curated by artist Bob Hakun, Studio B’s gallery director.

Juror for prizes in the exhibit is artist Robert Louis Williams. Bob is known locally for painting several murals in Boyertown and creating a handful of Bear Fever bears. Visit Bob’s website to learn more about him and his work. www.robertlouiswilliams.com.

Notes of Thanks
Studio B’s art exhibit will include a display of notes of thanks from members of the community and from students of Boyertown High School who were invited to share their thanks for meaningful assistance provided by their friends and family members, teachers, aides, and others.

Members of the community are encouraged to add a card to the display expressing their thanks throughout the summer. Several versions of the thank you cards to be added to the display are available at Studio B.

"Ginger" mixed media by Sharon Merkle

Bells of Boyertown
The “In Service” exhibit will include a mural by the exhibit’s juror Robert Louis Williams as the studio’s entry into the “Bells of Boyertown” activity of Freedom Fest presented by the Boyertown Area Historical Society.

"Ben & Bell" mural by Robert Louis Williams

Publication of Poetry and Prose & Writers’ Reading and Reception
Area writers who submitted examples of poetry and prose in which they addressed the theme of “Service” will find their poems or prose submissions published in the digital news site The Boyertown Area Expression throughout the summer. Readers can find them on boyertownareaexpression.town.news.

A Reading & Reception for Writers will be held at Studio B on June 28, 2026, from 1-3 p.m. Members of the community are invited to the reception to meet the writers and learn more about them and their work.

Writers, during a reception in 2024, listen to learn.

Storywalk®
The Boyertown Community Library will feature a story at the Boyertown Community Park during August to highlight “service.” Sairra Cloen, assistant supervisor, shares that this year’s story is Be Kind by Pat Zielow Miller.

HERstories
During Building a Better Boyertown’s “HERstory” event, Amy Muzopappa video recorded over a dozen attendees who shared examples of service. The stories ranged from personal acts of kindness to “thank you’s” for opportunities the attendees were able to provide through their careers.

In coming weeks, the video will be made available on YouTube. Visit studiobbb.org or Studio B Art Gallery on Facebook to find the link.

Those who shared include Amy Siwert, Sara Moyer, Sharon Hartline, Kailey Reinboth, Ellen Martignetti, Diane Hallman, Dana Krananoff, Cecelia Flint, Sharon McMinn, Beth Hussar, Michelle Zobel, Rebecca Wise, and Jo Ortiz Yorgey.

Amy Muzopappa recorded stories of service.

“B Inspired” Podcast
Members of the community are invited to share their stories of service—how they have served others or to offer “thank you’s” to others who have served them on an episode of Jane Stahl’s “B Inspired” podcast. Contact Jane to set up a day and time to share your story: janeEstahl@comcast.net. Recordings will be available on a variety of podcast platforms.

The Boyertown Area Expression Digital News Site
Individuals, businesses, and non-profits will be featured in articles for The Boyertown Area Expression digital news site throughout the summer as examples of the types of service our unique businesses offer to address the needs of members of our community.

Beauticians, funeral directors, real estate and insurance agents, home and childcare workers, dog walkers, for example, are service-oriented businesses that are critical to our mental and emotional health. Members of the community are encouraged to share their experiences that these types of businesses have offered them by writing to Jane Stahl, janeEstahl@comcast.net.

Military Service: The General Carl Spaatz USAAF Museum
In considering “service,” one often thinks of the service of our military men and women.

* To highlight military service, Studio B is offering 20 free passes to visit the General Carl Spaatz USAAF Museum throughout July and August 2026. Passes will be available at Studio B (two passes per individual) during the studio’s summertime opening hours Thursdays through Sundays 12-4 p.m. beginning July 1, 2026. (Reservations for visits to the museum for 4+ people are requested.)

* Veterans of the military and those connected to the Museum were interviewed by long-time Boyertown resident Kim Frain and video recorded by Boyertown Senior High School senior Kailey Reinboth. Iraq veteran, Vietnam Veteran and the museum’s founder Keith Seiwell shared their military experiences. The museum’s director and volunteer Chris Boswell and a museum volunteer and Civil War re-enactor offered their reflections about military service. The video will be made available on YouTube. After June 26, 2026, visit www.studiobbb.org or Studio B Art Gallery on Facebook to find the link.

Kim Frain interviews Iraq veteran; BASH senior Kailey Reinboth records his stories of service.

Kim Frain elicits heartfelt responses from VietNam veteran Clyde Mock.

Chris Boswell, museum director, and Keith Seiwell, museum founder, share their experiences.

* A belated birthday tea party for General Carl Spaatz is planned for July 28, 2026, from 1-3 p.m. at the Museum. (The General’s birthday anniversary occurs on June 28.) Light refreshments and entertainment are planned. Video projects created for the “In Service” project will be shown. Members of the community are invited to attend. RSVP’s are requested.

Nadia Moro, re-enactor, dresses for the part she may play at the party.

Boyertown Senior High NJROTC Students
Boyertown High School’s NJROTC students were interviewed and video recorded by Boyertown Senior High School student Eva Montanye. Eva queried the students about their decision to enter the program; how they hoped to serve; what they hope to offer the country, their community, their friends and families through their service. Eva was assisted in the editing process by fellow student Alex Rose. The video will be made available on YouTube. After June 26, 2026, visit www.studiobbb.org or Studio B Art Gallery on Facebook to find the link.

“What Happened to YOU?” Writing Workshops Inspired by Shakespeare’s Hamlet
Writers and teachers Sandra Williams and Jane Stahl will facilitate a three-part series of writing workshops to highlight the “service” literature offers. Using Shakespeare’s tragedy Hamlet and the examples of how Hamlet manages his existential crisis offer guides to handling perceptions, feelings, and behavior as crises occur in our own lives. Attendees will share life experiences and writing.

At the writing workshop "What Happened to YOU?" writer and teacher Sandra Williams looks forward to sharing the service that Shakespeare's character Hamlet offers readers in their journeys of self-discovery.

Community Garden
Building a Better Boyertown’s Community Garden, developed as a celebration of the country’s 250th anniversary, will be highlighted throughout the summer in articles for The Boyertown Area Expression. “B Inspired” podcast episodes will showcase the individuals who inspired the garden and the long history of community gardens begun in wartime and today as community service opportunities that offer a way to address food scarcity in our community.

WWII Victory Gardens were an important part of the war effort in Boyertown tended by Linwood Ott and Walter Funk. (Photos courtesy of the late Linette Hulbert)

Art Activities
Studio B’s teachers and volunteers will offer art and writing activities throughout the summer to highlight service. Deb Zaharchuk will offer an art activity on July 31, Sunny Finley offers activities for students in grades 1 through 6 during Second Saturdays 9:30-10:40 a.m. throughout the summer; Sara Bates welcomes young writers each Wednesday from 12-2 p.m beginning June 17, 2026, to have fun while writing and meeting fellow writers. Visit www.studiobbb.org for more information.

To Be Determined
As in other of Studio B’s summer projects, individuals, organizations, non-profits, and businesses will undoubtedly find ways to participate in the celebration of the kinds of service we provide one another.

Visit Studio B in person during summertime open hours Thursdays through Sundays 12-4, www.studiobbb.org, Studio B on Facebook, or sign up for the studio’s newsletter to learn of these upcoming projects and activities.