Kutztown artist paints at library, celebrates 70th birthday
Joan Biehl will exhibit her artwork March 24 through the end of April
Kutztown artist Joan Biehl will be painting in the Kutztown Community Library every Thursday in April. Her artwork will be on display at the library through the end of April to celebrate her 70th birthday.
“I love her local farms, her local paintings of the buggies,” said Kutztown Librarian Assistant Joanne Englehart, who has helped Biehl at her Kutztown Folk Festival art stand the past couple years. “I just like the localness of it. On the back of each one, she puts a description of where it is. She has a style. She has a way with local landscapes.”
Englehart said the library is always looking for local artists to exhibit. She is particularly excited that Biehl will paint at the library.
“I can’t wait to watch her,” said Englehart. “She’s a fixture in the community so we’re happy to have her bring her stuff in and show everyone.”
The Kutztown Community Library is Biehl’s favorite hangout when she is not painting. She wants to exhibit her paintings and donate a portion of the proceeds from painting sales to the library. Her art work will be exhibited starting March 24 and through the end of April.
Biehl loves coming to Kutztown Community Library to chat with people.
“Everybody’s so friendly,” she said. “They’ve (library staff) all gotten to know my name. I feel like they’re all friends.”
Over the years, she has been checking out audio books because she can listen to them while she paints at home.
“I like sharing my things with other people because sitting alone at home is so boring painting,” she said.
Even though she is surrounded by neighboring apartments, Biehl feels isolated and gets lonely.
“So my biggest joy is going out to shows,” said Biehl.
She also likes to visit clubs and organizations, for which she sets up an easel and paints during her presentation.
“That’s what I’m going to do here,” she said. “People can see what I’m doing.”
Biehl has been painting local farms and animals for 60 years.
“It’s a milestone so I thought it would be a nice time to hang my pictures,” said Biehl. “Liven up the library and talk to people. I’ve always wanted to inspire people.”
Biehl said she was not born a painter; painting is a skill she learned and that took a life-time of practice.
“Anybody can do it. If they practice they get good at it,” said Biehl, encouraging people to pursue any interest, not just painting. “They should feel like they accomplished something.”
Growing up she didn’t have playmates nearby. She was lonely so she started drawing.
“I was just this poor country girl. We had no books at home. We always had enough to eat and we were warm but I didn’t grow up with a lot of materialistic things,” she said.
Now, painting is a part of who she is.
“I go to sit and paint and it’s like this is where I belong. It just feels comfortable,” said Biehl.