John Wilkinson to Display Folk Art of Schoharie County at SEEC

SCHOHARIE – Schoharie Economic Enterprise Corp. (SEEC) and Schoharie County Arts will present “Of Past and Present,” an exhibition featuring paintings by folk artist John Wilkinson, at the SEEC Art Gallery, located at 287 Main St. in Schoharie.

The show opens with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, and will be on view through February 2026. The large-scale exhibit will feature Wilkinson’s paintings, prints and greeting cards. 

Known for featuring local vistas and historically significant sites, Wilkinson’s paintings capture the unique and pastoral character of Schoharie County.

“I paint what I see,” said Wilkinson, a retired engineer. “Always, it’s what people in Schoharie County are doing, or what they used to do. I choose happy themes, happy colors and places that are familiar to those who know the county. I like to paint events, parades, everyday activities, and our beautiful farms, village and buildings.”

The exhibit is part of an ongoing collaborative gallery effort between SEEC and Schoharie County Arts. 

SEEC was organized as a nonprofit to foster economic growth and prosperity in

Schoharie County, and its work is supported by a board of directors, full-time staff

and a volunteer advisory council.

The nonprofit Schoharie County Arts promotes cultural and arts-related activities,

advances individual artists and organizations, and contributes to the county’s

cultural and economic growth.

This nonprofit collaboration is shining a light on local artists like Wilkinson by providing

a venue to display their artwork.

Wilkinson is a board member of the Schoharie Colonial Heritage Association, cofounder and member of the Schoharie Valley Association, and a member of the Schoharie County Historical Society. He is also the author of “The Heart of Schoharie County,” a compilation of many of his paintings, and “The Schoharie Valley,” a pictorial history of the valley.

His paintings, prints, books and greeting cards can be found at the Schoharie Mercantile and Generations, a Vintage Consignment Shop. 

For information, call 518-517-1700, or go to https://seecny.org or http://www.schohariecountyarts.org.