Graphic artist Jeff Pierson, the Individual Artist Coordinator on the Art Staff of the W.Va. Division of Culture and History, could be found scurrying around town last week, putting out copies of the Summer 2006 issue of the ArtWorks publication. If you're an artist, writer, dramatist or eater of culture in W.Va., this pub is required glancing. Here's a tidbit from a feature on state artists who've earned the latest rounds of artist fellowships. These are remarks by Scott Depot painter Susan Petryszak. They nicely sum up the blessings and drawbacks of being a Mountain State-based artist:

JEFF PIERSON: How does living in West Virginia affect your work?
SUSAN PETRYSAK: I am acutely aware of the space around me. This is the inspiration for the paintings. Where I live influences what I paint. The insulating and isolating characteristics of the state allows my hermitic studio work. However, these same characteristics make it difficult for the work to have a broad audience and for me to conduct the business that is associated with being a professional artist. I don't believe there is a perfect place to produce art -- I can make art anywhere. However, some places seem to possess artistic utopian traits more than others. On a fine day out in the field or in my studio, West Virginia captures those ideals.