Introducing the Guardian of the Arts
Thanks to cooperation between the Mount Gretna Arts Council, the Pennsylvania Chautauqua, and the Mim Enck Charitable Foundation, the Guardian of the Arts, a breathtaking bronze sculpture and water feature, standing nearly 12 feet tall, will stand prominently and proudly to honor all those who dedicated their time, talent, and treasure to the arts in our community.
This stunning sculpture was commissioned by the Mim Enck Charitable Foundation and created by Mount Gretna resident and internationally recognized artist, Cory Wanamaker. This original sculpture reflects the artistic spirit of Mount Gretna through the use of bronze, water and light.
Mim’s Foundation, with support from the community and her friends, graciously gifted this remarkable work to the Mount Gretna Arts Council and encapsulates the grace and sophistication of Mim Enck.
The sculpture is located at the northeast corner of the playhouse (or at the corner of Pennsylvania and Carnegie Avenues) on property graciously provided by the Pennsylvania Chautauqua. It is blended into Mount Gretna’s natural surroundings and reflects the community’s dedication to beauty and culture by local landscape artist Ryan Fretz.
Both artists involved in the project live in Mount Gretna and knew Mim Enck which made this endeavor extra meaningful to them and all involved.
Mim, the Arts and Legacy
The project is inspired by the remarkable legacy of Miriam “Mim” Enck, whose life was a tapestry of artistic and cultural contributions. A beloved figure in Lebanon County, Mim was known for her culinary expertise, her leadership in the specialty tea industry through East Indies Coffee & Tea Company, her steadfast support for women in business, and her unwavering dedication to the arts. Mim was a firm believer that “business needs to support the arts.” She was a generous supporter of local arts organizations, served as a board member and supporter of Gretna Music, and provided free products served at the Mount Gretna Playhouse concession stand that raised thousands of dollars each year for Playhouse organizations.
The arts were an integral and vital part of Mim’s life. Ultimately, through her Foundation, she chose to support and promote the arts in Mount Gretna as part of her legacy. In honor of her private and humble nature, the Guardian of Arts is more than a personal tribute. Rather, it stands in honor of the generations of artists, supporters, and visionaries who have shaped our vibrant arts community – all those that have, and will be, guardians of the arts!
Preservation, Protection and Support
The Mount Gretna Arts Council, dedicated to promotion and sustainability to the arts, embraces this testament and is proud to help bring this vision to life. Through the Mount Gretna Arts Conservation Fund, the Arts Council will ensure the sculpture’s care and longevity, honoring the Community’s ongoing commitment to public art. (Please consider donating to the Fund!)
A special thank you to the Pennsylvania Chautauqua for providing the site for this sculpture.
Art and Landscape in Harmony: The Creators Behind the Vision
Cory Wanamaker, a Fulbright Scholar and internationally recognized artist, has lived and worked across the globe, yet Mount Gretna is where he calls home. His sculptures, celebrated for their fusion of cultural heritage and innovation, are featured in collections worldwide. Through Airy Hill Studio, he creates works that honor history, nature, global understanding, and local heritage. “My appreciation for Mount Gretna is deeply rooted in my childhood in rural Lebanon County. We visited monthly to roller skate with our church group. As we entered the tree canopy, I knew we were close, and I felt a sense of safety. To this day, I take the long way home through the trees, and as I reach the hill and feel the cool air, I know I’m home.”
Cory Wanamaker, Airyhillstudio.com, Instagram - @airy_hill_studio, Facebook - Cory Wanamaker, Email - airyhillstudio@mac.com
Artist Ryan Fretz’s Mount Gretna upbringing greatly influenced his aesthetic sensibilities and played a large role in shaping the person he is today. Graduating in 2003 from Kutztown University with a BFA in Fine Art Painting and a minor in Ceramics (but needing a steady paycheck to support a young family) Ryan fell into working in the landscape trade. Instead of pining for the paint brush, he fell in love with the new mediums of plants and soil and stone, the landscape itself was the canvas. Currently Ryan works as an independent landscape artist seeking a synthesis of Art and Nature.