Who We Are
The Art Association of Harrisburg promotes and encourages the visual arts through art exhibition and education, enriching the wellbeing of the local community.
Striving for Excellence
Additionally, the AAH is dedicated to providing top-quality art education to children and adults through our year round art classes. Scholarships are provided for those with financial need.
Proud to be Non-Profit
The Art Association of Harrisburg is a 501C-3 nonprofit organization, registered with the Department of State’s Bureau of Charitable Organizations.
Location
Located in the historic Governor Findlay Mansion at 2l North Front Street in downtown Harrisburg across from the scenic Susquehanna River.
21 North Front Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Our Staff Members
The AAH is run by a team of professionals who have years of experience in the art world, and are dedicated to bringing artistic excellence to the Greater Harrisburg Area.
Carrie Wissler-Thomas
President
carrie@artassocofhbg.com
Carrie holds her BA in Fine Art from Hood College and her Master’s Degree from Temple University. Prior to employment as President of the Art Association in 1986, she was a freelance artist, instructor, and art writer. She has held many solo exhibitions of her own oil paintings, and has participated in numerous group and invitational shows. View her work at www.wisslerthomas.com.
Rachel O'Connor
Curator
rachel@artassocofhbg.com
Rachel O’Connor is a curator, educator and art historian. Her love for artists, and her insatiable curiosity over the various ways in which art reflects humanity, propelled her into the study of art history. Rachel attended Messiah College for her undergraduate studies, and Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) for graduate school. Her work at the AAH focuses on bringing professional, cutting edge, and socially relevant exhibitions to the Greater Harrisburg Area.
Nate Foster
Sales Gallery Manager
nate@artassocofhbg.com
Nate Foster is an artist, instructor, and Sales Gallery Manager for the Art Association. His focus is on bringing artists from under-represented communities to wider audiences. He tailors the Sales Gallery to shine a light on unique and diverse artists, so that we can provide a space for their work to flourish and for the community to appreciate new and up-and-coming art. He teaches Basic Drawing for the spring, summer, and fall semesters. His office hours are 10 AM-2 PM,, Monday through Friday, and he can be available at other times by appointment on a case-to-case basis.
Rachel Haas-Gutin
Executive Assistant
Rachel Haas-Gutin is the Executive Assistant for the AAH. She is in charge of coordinating class rosters/registrations and is the moderator for the Figure Drawing Class. Additionally, she is the assistant bookkeeper, creates content and writes copy for us, including articles about current and upcoming shows. A recent graduate of Ursinus College, Rachel double-majored in English and Spanish Studies with double minors in Creative Writing and Film Studies. She graduated Cum Laude and as a part of the National English Honors Society, Sigma Tau Delta. She is a published writer, photographer, and art enthusiast.
Jonathan Frazier
Gallery Assistant
Jonathan Frazier serves as the Gallery Assistant on Tuesday evenings. He’s a well-known area artist and musician, including a regular performer at AAH opening receptions.
Randy Miller III
Web Admin / Gallery Assistant
millerIII@gmail.com
Randy has kept up the AAH website and served as Gallery Assistant on Sunday afternoons since 2002. He formerly taught an all-ages Drawing and Cartooning class for the Art Association and enjoys graphic design, writing, and meeting new people. Stop by and say hi!
Board of Directors
Travis DiNicola, Board Chair (Right)
Cynthia Graeff, Vice Chair
Robert Potter, Treasurer
Dr. Mary Simmonds, Secretary
Board Members
Shamaine Daniels
Benjamin Faesel
Bradley Gebhart
Ashley Lloyd
Barbara Passeri-Warfel
Thomas Robel
Matthew Seagrist
Board Members Emeritus
David W. Volkman
Randolph Michener
Tracey Meloni
Fine Art Appraisals
The AAH is pleased to announce that Noel F. Marks (left), Fine Art Consultant, will be available in the AAH Galleries every Thursday morning from 10 am to 1 pm to examine and offer verbal appraisals of oil paintings, watercolors, sculpture, prints, antiques and collectibles.
Members of the AAH are entitled to one free appraisal each year.
Non-members must provide a $20 donation to the AAH for this service.
Marks is the President of Lancaster County Antique Art and has over 40 years experience in buying, selling and appraising fine art, antiques and collectibles. He has sold works by Andrew Wyeth, Benjamin West, Marc Chagall, Winslow Homer, Norman Rockwell, Thomas Moran, William Merritt Chase, August Renoir, Alexander Calder and hundreds of other listed American and European artists.
Items to be evaluated can be left with Nate Foster at the registration desk during gallery hours, or you can bring the items to the AAH on any Thursday morning when Mr. Marks is in the galleries.