A crowd of local and out-of-state artists welcomed the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts at the unveiling of the Images 2009 exhibition Thursday evening in the HUB-Robeson Center's Robeson Gallery.

Judith H. O'Toole, director and chief executive officer of the Westmoreland Museum of American Art in Greensburg, Pa., served as the juror for the event and selected 59 works to be displayed from 290 entries.

The exhibit, which features works in paint, water-color, sculpture, photo, fiber, ceramic, wood and mixed media is part of the annual Arts Fest and runs until July 12.

However, some artists feel it does not get the attention it warrants.

"There's quality on the sidewalk sale, but they're missing it when they forget to come here," Patricia House, president and director of the Bellefonte Museum for Families of Centre County said.

Local artist Harriet Rosenberg's "Homegirl 3" photograph was chosen for the exhibition. Having been in the area since the first Arts Festival, Rosenberg has seen many changes in the event.

"It has certainly spread out," she said, recalling when the sidewalk sale was set up on blankets and the Images exhibition was held in the old architecture buildings.

Sue Reno of Columbia, Pa., also displayed her work, a textile piece titled "Cold Cave." Reno explained how her work as a fiber artist is honoring the quilt-making tradition.

Until recently, she said, many women were unable to make paintings and other forms of art because they were confined to expressing themselves in a more utilitarian fashion: quilt-making. Reno said her art "owes an allegiance to quilt-making but brings it further into the art realm."

O'Toole, in her juror's statement, described her intent for the exhibit.

"My goal was to create an exhibition that is diverse in style and medium, yet fundamentally cohesive in vision," she said. "Just as I choose a variety of styles and objects to live with within the sphere of my taste, experience and respect for objects, so have I tried to put together works for the visitors to this exhibition to enjoy."