Prolific Patroness- Exuberance of Collecting

An essay on gracious support of the Arts- Pat Atkins and her Career

Above- Pat Atkins after a recent purchase of one of the author's figurative paintings- acquired at his studio in Wyalusing, PA.

This essay is part of a series titled, "Meetings with Remarkable Men and Women." The series presents an overview of collecting and how art is integrated into homes and businesses.

Color exalted, creativity cultivated and dreams supported is how I would encapsulate the way Pat Atkins of Waverly, PA has supported the arts in this area of northeastern Pennsylvania for several decades.   Her vision and creativity is seen in her gracious nature and personal charm. 

 She needs no introduction to those living near Scranton and northeastern Pennsylvania as her restaurant was legendary.  That culinary establishment, Patsels, thrived for exactly 15 years from 1999 to 2004.   She opened it with her late husband with the dream of creating a truly unique dining venue that would integrate art into the very essence of the bricks and mortar, in its design, layout, gardens, furniture and the art that hung on the walls.  I was honored to have two of my large oils as part of this vision.  The art was integrated as fundamental and an intrinsic attribute, not just an afterthought.

Pat began collecting after she and John moved back to the Scranton area in 1972 and purchased their house in 1973.  They started getting reconnected to the arts scene at that time by going to shows and socializing at various events and meeting artists.  It was a gradual process with no overt agenda at first, but then coming to fruition years later with what could truly be called a collection.  Her interests are varied from sculpture, silver dining ware, ceramics and fabrics.

Above- A large oil, 44" x 48" of the author's that was just acquired by Pat Atkins for her home. This work titled, "October- Wyalusing Creek" shows a view of the stream near Lawton, PA.

When a visitor enters her house where she displays her collection now, we can see her living space as a work of art, as much as her restaurant was.  The wall colors are vivid and the furniture creative and one-of-a-kind.  It all works well and each piece is given a nice amount of space so one can appreciate any given work and the context.

Let's return to the restaurant as there are some noteworthy aspects.  Firstly, when one entered Patzels they were greeted by an amazing floor to ceiling wall ceramic by Bill Tersteeg of Dalton.  Bill was one of my teachers in the early 1970's at Keystone College in nearby La Plume, PA.  Bill created a multi-piece ceramic tableau of an Italian piazza complete with three dimensional seagulls that hover a few inches out from the surface.  It is a unique blending of the sculptural, and graphic elements expressed in a ceramic medium. It brings to mind Renaissance artists and vision as it includes several figures in the piazza in perfect one point perspective. We may also think of Florentine artists in the 15th century who did bronze panels, like Lorenzo Ghiberti and Donatello as they combined a sculptural medium with depicted fictional space (on a flat surface). I am thinking of the famous doors on the Baptistry in Florence, sometimes called the Gates of Paradise. They were engaging the viewer with the flat surface and sculpted forms at the same time. The figures in the lower left of Bills's work are whimsically treated, the artist himself carrying an easel as he greets none other than Diego Rivera, the Mexican muralist and panel painter. As the work is ceramic we may also think of the Florentine ceramic figurative artist, Luca della Robbia and his family of followers.  They, too, incorporated figures, usually Madonnas and Christ into settings with dimensionality.  Bill took off a year from his teaching to conceive and create this ambitious work.  How it is anchored to the plywood's support seems like a complicated technical achievement- as does the overall work. This ceramic ensemble is now dismantled and in storage.

Above- The ceramic installation piece created by Bill Tersteeg. This was the work that greeted guests at Patsels Restaurant in Dalton, PA.

The interior of the restaurant and her home too is directly inspired by Mackenzie- Childs, which is an amazing venue in Aurora, NY - just north of Ithaca.    I also think of a certain southwest color scheme and adventurous application and mixing of decor and art.  Another local artist,  Hank Fells, also of Dalton, helped with the construction  and the unique interior elements. For example, Hank hand carved all the doorways.  He also crafted six octagonal columns complete with capitals of fruit which were bronzed.The whimsical, hand-painted window frames and many other distinctive features were also original designs of his."

The cuisine of the restaurant was not eclipsed by the art.  Pat had a bonding with the would be chef, Michael Bodner- they had the same ideas and direction for the restaurant. Pat refers to the cuisine simply as "Creative American."  The two blended and supported each other in their goals similarly to a well conceived and presented entree would be.

Above- A painting of the author's, a large oil on linen depicting the famous viaduct, now a train trestle in Nicholson, PA.

Pat was always there at her restaurant with her husband John when we visited to make everyone feel welcome. They typically employed 35 to 40 people during the restaurant's run.  In today's era of chain restaurants and lackluster interest in cuisine, we were treated to Pat's passion for taking the culinary experience as an art, we appreciate this even more.  And moreover, the menu changed monthly to offer regulars something new on their visits.

The restaurant also featured a concept garden designed by Kevin and Sherry Kukuchka of Creekside Gardens in Tunkhannock.  The garden included several bronze sculptures- allowing the art outside to interact and compliment the horticulture.

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Among the local artists whose work was displayed in the restaurant: Peg McDade had a three-piece hand-woven sculptural installation titled, "The Sovereign Rests," oil painter Abby Warman of Waverly was represented, as were husband and wife,  Bill Teitsworth and Renee Emanuel. Bill 

Chickillo and Pat Divirgilis were also part of the stable of artists. Karl Neuroth, head of the art department and Keystone College, was also represented. Pat had a special children's dining room in the restaurant featuring a wonderful mural by Pat Divirgilis, who also handpainted the two  massive folding partitions which separated the main dining room from the private dining space."

Back at her home, one of the paintings that I admired was the wonderful portrait of her father, Gerald D. Payne.  This well-posed and beautifully painted work is by one of America's preeminent portraitists, John Howard Sanden. I attended some conferences and lectures by Sanden and read his books on painting early in my career. This portrait has a naturalness of pose and a wonderful spontaneous feel as do all of Sanden's portraits. One can tell that he painted a lot from life.

Above- The oil portrait by John Howard Sanden of Pat's father, Gerald D. Payne.

As this is part of a series of essays that I have been doing on collectors, it is meant to underscore the importance of patronage of the arts. Pat is cherished by the community and by artists as serving an essential part in our society.  Support for the arts comes from those with the passion, interest and enthusiasm to see art become integral.  We think of other patrons of the past who have been a part of the fabric of creativity. For example, other women who supported the arts include Isabella D'Este, an Italian Renaissance patron, Isabella Stewart Gardner of the famed museum in Boston and Peggy Gugenheim.  We know art and life itself is being honored due the largesse of Pat.

To view an in-depth interview with Pat at her home- https://youtu.be/kBjWn4fMcss?si=wCIHK9LU7tixI65X