One of the major art hubs of the world is the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, renowned for its row of galleries. On a Friday night, art lovers can hop from one exhibit to the next taking in what the artists have to offer. While Honesdale is not exactly New York City, the art scene here in the Upper Delaware River Valley is lush with successful and creative artists, ones who have shown in those very Chelsea galleries before. So David Harvey, who is on the board of the Wayne County Arts Alliance, decided to bring it all together.

Harvey and partners Travis Rivera and Cathleen Lathrop opened the new gallery experience “Art-a-Pelago” this past weekend during Honesdale’s monthly Second Saturday event. Playing on the word “archipelago,” derived from the Greek word meaning a cluster of islands, the program includes three locations: Paros at D.J. Harvey Agency, Thasos at Black & Brass Coffee, and Lesvos at a bookstore and tea shop that will open in April (the three names are names of actual Greek islands).

The mission of Art-a-Pelago is to “provide an economical gallery program for the WCAA in locations where the businesses help provide access to the arts and the art enhances the business.” They chose locations that would create a warm atmosphere. “The art is not clinically displayed,” Harvey said, “People are living around the art.”

The opening took place on Saturday, February 11 and was a great success. Harvey said it was packed, “It was wonderful.” The Second Saturday event in Honesdale takes place the second Saturday of every month and many downtown businesses stay open later and host special events in music, art, comedy and more. It’s based on Scranton’s First Fridays, which has attracted many young people to come out and participate.

Just like an archipelago, the three galleries of Art-a-Pelago are spread out on Main Street. People can walk from one gallery to the next. “It gives people a chance to travel,” Harvey said. The art collection will be rotated every season. At the opening, Black and Brass, 520 Main St., displayed paintings by Ioannis Glykokokalos, and D.J. Harvey Agency, 815 Main St., displayed photography by David Soete. The first Lesvos event awaits the opening of that venue, which will occur in April. The artworks will stay on display during regular business hours.

Stay tuned for the next installment of this exciting art program in Honesdale.