"What makes the Banana Factory a special place is its mission to cultivate the arts and to educate children. It is truly remarkable to see children peek into the artists' studios and classrooms and become excited. As they become engrossed in projects, you watch them light up. There is nothing better than to see a child learning and growing through the arts."
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Marlene "Linny" Fowler is a stained glass artist whose community involvement began in 1967 and continues today with her dedication to at-risk children, college students from low-income families and those who would benefit from arts and cultural involvement. She belongs to countless organizations and has won numerous awards for her endless efforts in the community.
A Banana Factory patron and council member, Linny enjoys teaching art because it is therapeutic for both the participants and for her. Rather than teaching children both the basics and the arts as separate disciplines, her philosophy is that children should learn the basics through the arts. She believes art is an essential element in children’s lives because it gives them confidence they don't receive from reading, writing and math.
Linny received a bachelor of arts degree from Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and today partners with Octavio Peña, another Banana Factory artist, in the Bethlehem-based stained glass operation Fowler-Peña Creations.
"The Banana Factory is a truly inspirational place. I find it very rewarding constantly being around different people. All the artists grow from being around one another, we motivate each other. The Banana Factory is a place that promotes great teamwork; it's almost like being a part of a family."
Octavio Peña, a native of Puerto Rico, came to the United States in 1959 and moved to Pennsylvania in 1976. In 1988 he met Linny Fowler and she introduced him to the art of stained glass. Peña considers it “a blessing” that Fowler was the helping hand that taught him his craft. Although she taught him the basics, Octavio is primarily self-taught. His work is predominantly Tiffany style and has also been influenced by the works of Frank Lloyd Wright. |
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At the Banana Factory, Octavio teaches adult classes and encourages his students to develop their own style. In addition, he has created pieces for people all over the world and was also featured in a Japanese documentary about Bethlehem.
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