Four artists have been selected to develop new Pennsylvania Wilds branded designs as part of the inaugural PA Wilds Artisan Collaborative initiative this fall.
Ellen Paquette, Julie Mader, Rhianna Speck at Maitri Design Co., and Kelsey Kleiner at OneTen The Studio were chosen through a competitive application process to help kick off the pilot initiative.
They each have been paired with a rural manufacturer or producer that is also based in the 13-county Pennsylvania Wilds region. The artist and manufacturer pairs will collaborate together in partnership with the nonprofit PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship, Inc. (PA Wilds Center), to develop and bring to market new consumer products that align with the PA Wilds brand values.
“We are so excited to be partnering with these four creative designers and the identified manufacturers on this innovative new initiative,” said Abbi Peters, PA Wilds Center COO. “Each has unique skills, specialties and visions that will set the benchmark for the future of this program. During the introductory call when the artists and manufacturing representatives met, you could feel the electricity and excitement from all sides, and we can’t wait to see what comes out of this pilot.”
Paquette, of Warren, has been paired with Organic Climbing/Nittany MountainWorks in Centre County. Paquette has created original and custom artwork for over 30 years. Though her focus in recent years has been Renaissance-style portraits of endangered species and plush animals made from vintage fabrics, Paquette has many years of experience creating pen and ink artwork for a variety of uses. Her artwork has been featured on items ranging from playbill covers and production posters to T-shirts, bandanas and more. She is excited to team up with the Philipsburg-based manufacturing company – which produces climbing and outdoor gear that is handmade to be functional, durable and unique – to develop inspired soft goods for PA Wilds enthusiasts and visitors.
Mader, of Smethport, has been partnered with Laughing Owl Press Co. in McKean County. Mader works in a variety of mediums with a range including watercolor, acrylic and painting on silk. She is drawn to the timeless appeal of the aesthetic of classic ink drawings and now has 40 years of experience rendering people, places and animals with pen and ink. Mader has been a teaching artist with the PA Council on the Arts for a decade, providing art experiences to seniors. Combining her art-making and teaching experiences, Mader launched a collection of nature-themed watercolor kits in 2023 to share art-making with more people. She also won third place in the PA Wilds Big Idea Contest for her subscription art education and curricula service, Caregiver’s Artbox. She is eager to see how a partnership with Laughing Owl Press – a local letterpress printing company that prioritizes outstanding quality – can help her expand products in line with her existing offerings while continuing to celebrate the PA Wilds place and way of life.
Speck, of Linden, will be working with St. Marys Box Co. in Elk County. Speck has over 15 years of experience providing graphic design and marketing services to small business owners so that they can leverage consistent, dynamic branded materials while focusing on running their day-to-day operations. She will work with St. Marys Box Co. to develop Pennsylvania Wilds branded boxes that will then be available wholesale to businesses in the region. Speck has designed shipping boxes in the past and is excited to be able to work with an in-region manufacturer to create an inspired box design that will create a memorable package-receiving experience for consumers, especially since she also hopes to use them for her soap business, Side Door Soaps & Sundry.
Kleiner, of Smethport, has been matched with XtremeWear of Clearfield County. Kleiner is the owner of OneTen The Studio, LLC, a digital branding and type design studio that primarily works with female-founded businesses with clients ranging from wedding photographers, and architects to fashion designers and local authors, with many others in between. She has been matched with XtremeWear, a screen printing and embroidery shop with over 25 years of industry experience, and is looking forward to developing a PA Wilds font through a type design method known as a revival, which is based on a typeface from the early 1900s from the Keystone Type Foundry. This PA Wilds font designed by Kleiner will be used on the products that reflect the region’s unique assets, character and traditions.