You must come with me to meet Henrietta. The VIII, no less. Seated on her throne, she is brandishing a leg of fowl in one hand, while devouring a double-decker ice cream cone with the other, just as her historical male counterpart consumed wives. She wears her 782 pounds with a sense of accomplishment, as if to say: "if you had one shred of self confidence, you would want to be just like me," and her pink dress seems to sugar-coat the hedonist within.

"Henrietta" is an acrylic by Justin Sunward. You may approach her majesty (if you dare) at the Art Association of Harrisburg during the 12th Annual Gallery Walk on Sunday, September 10.

"The ‘Walk’ grew out of a joint exhibit and artist’s reception we organized about fifteen years ago with Metro Arts, Penn State, Temple, and HACC," remembers Carrie Wissler-Thomas, President of the Art Association of Harrisburg (AAH). "Having one day when all the galleries hung exhibits and held receptions made perfect sense. We wanted to increase the exposure of fine arts to the community and let them know we are here all year around." The current AAH exhibit, "Diners Club: Gourmets and Gourmands," will be in place for the Gallery Walk.

The Art Association of Harrisburg has a number of Community Exhibition Sites such as Penn National Insurance, Temple University, the Hilton Arcade, and the Reservoir Park Mansion, among others, with exhibits changing periodically throughout the year. During Gallery Walk you will follow "The Rise of the House of Hidley" at the mansion site, and enjoy oils, photos, and other multi-media presentations at the others, with music and refreshments at most locations.

A new location for the Gallery Walk this year is The Paper Lion Gallery at 421 N. Second Street (at the corner of State and Second). A virtual treasure den of antique prints, gilded frames, smalls, and ephemera, it is destined to become an irresistible mecca for collectors, dealers, and all lovers of the interesting, charming, and rare. While there, tap the in-depth knowledge of the gallery’s owner, Donna Meck, a history major with a minor in art, who can navigate from 1780 French Faience, Breton quimpir, Japanese wood blocks, Chinese silk embroidery, chromolithographs, prints of the Civil War, belle epoque, art deco to ’60s baseball, and open editions, all without a wrinkle in the shrink wrap. "The shop is more than just art," says Meck, "it’s also framing and design service."

The artists she will feature for the Gallery Walk are just as varied. Alexander Sheversky, a Russian painter from Canada, does sharp contemporary oils on arches paper. He will show seven pieces. Clayton Benton’s dollhouse acrylics on canvas are hard to find. His Oriental pen and inks will be part of the Oriental exhibit. Lillian Tilley’s whimsical watercolor doodles are completely engaging. The airbrush mastery of Robert Henry allures with the graphic purity of lots of skin. Two important turn of the century stone lithographs (marked Austria) by Edwin Austin Abbey (who died while working on our State Capitol) are of literary and historical interest. The deadly Richard the III proposes to Lady Ann for one, and King Lear’s Daughters foreshadow their fates in the other. A sizable collection of Maxfield Parrish originals including "The Knave of Hearts" will be on hand.

And, of course, there’s the incredible tile art of Maggie Rankin. Subtle foliage, lots of horses, and the impressive mural "Silver Creek," for which the artist used sterling silver to create the sparkle of water.

Another focus area new this year is the Midtown Market District. Third Street between Forster and Reilly is a hotbed of renewal. Small shops, restaurants and galleries will make it the "Soho" of Harrisburg.

Steven Boone, owner of Olivia’s on Third (formerly A Garden Affair), has just shifted the operation of his shop from one building to the one next door, and from one concept (garden shop) to another (gift, garden, and gallery). Accents, plants, statuary, and American crafts make designing an outdoor space a splash. "Come have a drink with me," invites Boone. "We will be serving ‘Mimosas’ and my Gallery Walk exhibit will be outside, weather permitting." Mari Beutel will be the artist showing her "Transitions" retrospective of watercolors, and new works in acrylic, sculpture, and etchings.

The Seitz Gallery, a newcomer to the Midtown District, is owned by Blair Seitz, whose photography is renowned not only for his Pennsylvania chronicles, but also for his breathtaking shots of African natives and Savanna. An exhaustive library of slides (50,000) are available for lease or sale. Pottery by Crafts Reunion and large brilliant oils by Ray Noll will be featured for the Gallery Walk. "Prices range from $15 to $500 for photos, so there is something for every size wallet," says Seitz. "Ask me about the African American Show coming in November."

A ten-year association of "Women in a Circle" was the incubator that birthed the concept for the Center for Women’s Creative Expression (CWCE), another "Soho" gallery in transition. Once the Third St. Pottery (now Crafts Reunion on the second floor), the Center’s first floor will soon feature a large gallery of lovely proportions with 12’ ceilings, eventually incorporating indirect natural light. Twelve ‘altars’ will be installed by the artists in this "in transition" space for Gallery Walk, collectively called "Altared Lives; Honoring Experiences of Women."

"The unfinished state of the building acts as a metaphor for the idea of rebuilding lives. Women need a place for understanding to be the creative individuals they were born to be … without being squelched or criticized," explains Sandy Cullen, Director. "When I see the artwork by women that I relate to who share similar experiences with me, I know they feel the way I feel, and our isolation is eased. Here women can open up and flow creatively in a holistic manner, celebrating diversity."

The design concept for the building will be to engage the street and embrace the community, with a small sales gallery close to the entrance. Future plans include a third floor shared living space for artists invited from around the world to stay while conducting residency programs, offering community arts workshops and closing with related shows.

Artwork for the Gallery Walk includes Crafts Reunion pottery by Sharon Houseal, acrylics by Nataki McNeal, fabric sculpture by Glynis Berger, and oils by Maia Truesdale, among others.

Next you must go to ze "French Quarter" of ze Walk Gallerie. Close to "Soho" on Second Street is the Four Winds Gallery, where you will meet the very French Re DeSabres, the gallery’s owner. An accomplished potter and painter, DeSabres explained her pottery is fired at 2400 degrees farenheit in the large kiln in her basement studio and is completely utilitarian — oven, microwave, dishwasher. When I asked how her style was still French after all her years in America (her pieces matched a still life of pottery from the St. Vic Museum) she referred to Carl Jung. "I believe he was right in saying when you are born in a country (or have strong ethnic roots) your artistic expressions are instinctive patterns, inescapable from your genetic makeup," relates DeSabres. Having a house in France (Berry Province) can’t hurt either, though she hasn’t spent as much time there as she once did … but sometimes you can still hear Chopin around the house, being 20 minutes only from the house of George Sands. An eleventh or twelfth century church is in the village, which they light at night, and my neighbor discovered a Roman ruin while digging for her children’s swingset!" Such rich culture could make anyone spin out French couture in their sleep, but DeSabres doesn’t stop with pottery. In a more American vein, her portraits of local glitterati of such names as Terry Hosey, Li Hidley, Carrie Wissler-Thomas, Gloria Whitney, and Alberto Weller bring us back across the Atlantic.

The current exhibit of four artists (plus DeSabres) will be in place for Gallery Walk. Hidley’s oils, such as "Dejeuner Sur L’Herbe" and "Masque de Tete", are bold, figurative canvasses in the expressionistic style. Hidley enjoys the honor of Harrisburg’s Li Hidley Day, which is celebrated every March 13.

Virginia Parkum is moving her acrylic expressionism into the spiritual realm of Zen Buddhism. Poet and librarian, with a Ph.D. in Political Science, Parkum has just returned from seminars in Hawaii and Seattle. Her artwork will illustrate a book on Zen.

Dr. Martin Plaut, a retired neurosurgeon and onetime spouse of DeSabres, does wonderful nudes and other figuratives in his expressionistic oils. His own gallery is open by appointment.

An art teacher in the area for 32 years, Alberto Weller shows his oils and acrylics in both abstract and figurative expressionism.

"I might have to be buried in France," states DeSabres. "My spirit and essence must be returned to my culture … it belongs to the provenance of French soil."

Numerous other stops on Gallery Walk will complete your tour and increase your appreciation for the arts community right here in Harrisburg — the Governor’s Mansion, Whitaker Center, Susquehanna Art Museum and many more.

And be sure to end the day at Broad Street Market, where a free concert by The Legend of Stone Soup will follow the day-long food vendors, children’s activities, poetry, and music planned for this venue.