Autumn in Carbon County is in full swing. The trees are exploding with color as the cool, crisp nights move in.

Thursday night was no exception as 150 guests gathered at Blue Mountain Resort for the Carbon County Community Foundation’s annual “Art with a View” fundraiser for the Carbon County Creative Arts Fund.

The event consisted of an art exhibit and sale of works by 13 locally-based artists, a silent auction, and a live auction, all to benefit the programs supported by the arts fund.

Kathy Fallow of Palmerton, a driving force behind the CCAF, shared her excitement, “In a time when we are so divided, the arts serve us to bring us together. We all share the arts.”

Area artists featured at the event were Douglas Didyoung, Mia Fantasia, Mary Kocher, Joan Lech, Randy Rabenold, Earlene Russell, Sheri Ryan, Mary Anne Shafer, Lynn Shupp, Denege Smith, Victor Stabin, Jeanne Stemler and Desha Utsick.

Desha, along with her rescue dog Bella, displayed three photographs and donated another for the live auction. She spoke of how she came to photography as she struggled with alcohol and drug addiction.

“It’s all about life,” she said as she gestured toward her displayed work.

Amber Breiner, executive director of the CCCF said, “The goal of the CCCF is to strengthen and uplift the community.”

She described how grants for the arts can sometimes be pushed to the side when other problems are being addressed. It’s her intention that such will not happen in Carbon County.

While guests enjoyed the light fare, they were entertained by Josh Finsel and Shawn McCarty, Kyle O’Brien, and Vince Degiosio and Christie McGorry.

Works by the featured artists were auctioned off at the end of the evening in a live auction by Bill Lance of Jim Thorpe.

The Carbon County Creative Arts Fund was founded in 2018 through the efforts of community member and donor Kathy Fallow, and an advisory group of volunteers and donors formed to organize fundraising efforts.