100 Years of Harrisburg Art 

LensWorthy Photography

(00:00:00)

We begin with the Art Association of Harrisburg, founded in 1926 by visionary civic leader Gertrude Olmsted McCormick. What began during the Coolidge presidency in a world shaped by world wars, the Great Depression, and seismic cultural change has grown into a 100‑year artistic anchor for the region. Through shifting art movements, evolving technology, and nearly twenty presidential administrations, the Association has remained a beacon for artists, students, teachers, and patrons.

We explore the legacy of its founding mothers, the decades‑long leadership of Carrie, the creation of the beloved Gallery Walk, and the storied history of the Bal Masque, which has traveled from the old Penn Harris Hotel to Strawberry Square, the Hilton, and now for its 100th anniversary celebration the King Mansion on April 26, 2026.

(00:22:29)

Then we shift to the present with Jemar Sweets, a travel photographer and Millworks artist whose business, LensWorthy Imagery, captures culture, color, and connection across the globe. From Harrisburg and Hershey to Colombia, Greece, Jamaica, and beyond, Jemar’s work blends adventure with artistry. When he’s not behind the camera, he’s exploring new foods, performing improv, and immersing himself in the stories of the places he visits.

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We begin with the&nbsp;Art Association of Harrisburg, founded in 1926 by visionary civic leader Gertrude Olmsted McCormick. What began during the Coolidge presidency in a world shaped by world wars, the Great Depression, and seismic cultural change has grown into a 100‑year artistic anchor for the region. Through shifting art movements, evolving technology, and nearly twenty presidential administrations, the Association has remained a beacon for artists, students, teachers, and patrons.
We explore the legacy of its founding mothers, the decades‑long leadership of Carrie, the creation of the beloved Gallery Walk, and the storied history of the Bal Masque, which has traveled from the old Penn Harris Hotel to Strawberry Square, the Hilton, and now for its 100th anniversary celebration the King Mansion on April 26, 2026.
(00:22:29)
Then we shift to the present with Jemar Sweets, a travel photographer and Millworks artist whose business, LensWorthy Imagery, captures culture, color, and connection across the globe. From Harrisburg and Hershey to Colombia, Greece, Jamaica, and beyond, Jemar&rsquo;s work blends adventure with artistry. When he&rsquo;s not behind the camera, he&rsquo;s exploring new foods, performing improv, and immersing himself in the stories of the places he visits.

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, host Asia Tabb starts conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/the-spark.

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, host Asia Tabb starts conversations about what&rsquo;s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/the-spark.

The Spark

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, host Asia Tabb start the conversations about what’s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at https://witf.org/programs/the-spark.

When people come together and talk about really interesting topics, great questions spark better understanding and opportunities for new ideas to form. On The Spark from WITF, host Asia Tabb start the conversations about what&rsquo;s happening in the world and at home. Share your ideas at&nbsp;<a href="https://witf.org/programs/the-spark">https://witf.org/programs/the-spark</a>.