Art can take many forms be it a painting, a photo, a sculpture or even a caricature drawing, each composition is as fluid, distinct and characteristic as the person behind its creation. But last weekend, the borough of Weissport used the creativity of local artists to paint a picture of community.

In partnership with three local churches — Jacob’s United Church of Christ, Christ Community Church and Hope Community Fellowship Church — The Gallery, an art gallery in Weissport that opened in May, hosted the borough’s first “Art Around the Park” day, putting the work of more than 30 artists on full view for anyone to see.

The afternoon was spent under a constant cover of clouds and an inconsistent drizzle of rain, but the weather hardly had an effect on the event’s atmosphere. In any one of the four locations housing the art walk, artists were sharing their work and conversing with visitors.

Philip Campbell started practicing photography in the ’70s with a 35 mm camera. Since then, he’s not only improved his own skills as a photographer, but he’s gone on to teach classes in Carbon County and at the Lehigh Gap Nature Center and the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary.

Campbell’s favorite piece displayed Saturday was a grainy print of an orange and pink sky captured atop Flagstaff Mountain. He was waiting to snap the sunset when he realized that just behind him, an even more gorgeous scene was being set.

“I turned around, and I looked behind me, and I saw all these clouds starting to light up, and I turned my camera around, and I took the picture opposite of the real sunset, because the sun lights up all these clouds,” Campbell said.

That sort of instinct and spontaneity is implemented in every aspect of Campbell’s photography.

“The photography is here and it’s here,” he said, motioning to his head and heart. “(The camera’s) just a tool that you learn how to use. Cameras don’t take pictures, you take pictures.”

For other artists, learning how to be artistic had less to do with following their gut, and more with disobeying it. Gail Bamford always had the desire to paint, but was hesitant to start. Five years ago, Bamford found herself in need of art for above her mantel and ultimately decided to paint a piece herself.

“Many times, you put it off for years and think you can never do it, and you have that desire but you don’t try because you don’t have the self-confidence,” Bamford said. “But when you try it and you actually accomplish it you’re like ‘wow.’”

One church in particular was dedicated to the work of Jimmie G. Laubach, with the exception of one corner, which was populated with the art of his grandson, Casey Garner. Laubach once worked as an artist for the Times News, but his daughter, Wendy Garner, said her father’s talent was hidden from most.

Now nearly 13 years after his death, she’s taken it upon herself to garner his work the attention it deserves.

“For me, it wasn’t about anything else other than my father finally being recognized for his talent,” Garner said. “Even people who knew him had no idea. People he worked with had no idea.”

All profits made by The Gallery go to the Alzheimer’s Association Greater Pennsylvania Chapter in Harrisburg.

Jeff Elder, who largely coordinated Saturday’s art walk and started The Gallery, lost his father to Alzheimer’s, and his brother-in-law recently died from the disease as well.

Kelly Eisenhauer, whose work is displayed in The Gallery, said that he was hesitant about starting an art gallery in Weissport, but was pleasantly surprised at its success in the beginning. While business has since slowed down, Eisenhauer hopes that the coming of Christmas will help boost sales.

“It would be a great idea, a nice Christmas present,” Eisenhauer said.

Elder said he hopes to make the art walk an annual event, not just to draw attention to the community, but to aid in Weissport’s resurgence

“Believe it or not (Weissport) — in the early days — was an extremely important tourist town,” Elder said. “I’d love to see something close to that happen now.”

If this year’s art walk was any indication, The Gallery’s presence, along with that of other local businesses like Chantilly Goods Ice Cream Shoppe a few doors down, or the borough’s three churches, may be pushing Weissport toward that revitalization.