Bringing Artistic Dreams Full Circle

Kaitlyn Coppens ’16 was blessed with a family who always supported her passion as an artist. Now it’s Coppens’s turn to support her mother in her artistic dreams.

By Elizabeth Shimer Bowers

Together, Coppens and her mother, Joanne, are excited to open Eclipse: Center for Creative Community (Eclipse C3), in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. “Eclipse C3 is my mom’s dream business,” Coppens says. “After leaving her job as director of a community development corporation, it was time for her to decide what she wanted to do next.”

That next step turned out to be a 5,000-square-foot facility where people can explore their creativity and learn more about themselves and their world through art. “Eclipse C3 offers a safe and joyful space for people of all ages to come together and try new artistic endeavors, discover a fresh talent, or hone their artistic skills,” Coppens says. The center features two classrooms, two art galleries, a boutique, and spaces available to rent to host classes, meetings, and events.

Eclipse C3 had to pause for the pandemic but finally opened its doors in June 2021, followed by a gallery opening in July. Coppens started hosting fine art and fun art classes in September.

In addition to being an exciting addition to the Lansdale community, Eclipse C3 is the first art-making space, other than her bedroom, that Coppens has used since she graduated from Moravian with a bachelor’s degree in art five years ago. “I haven’t made anything new since 2018, so I’ve been itching to get back at it,” she says.

Coppens’s art centers on the Flower of Life, an image within sacred geometry made of perfect circles overlapping each other. “I paint whatever I feel called to, some of my favorites being the human figure and water/sky and tree landscapes; then I hand cut the paintings into the geometric compositions,” she says. She also runs an apparel shop called Luna Valoria that features clothing and accessories decorated with her art.

At Eclipse C3, Coppens holds the roles of gallerist and curator of two of the galleries in the building. She also works as a resident artist along with eight other artists, teaches art, and runs paint ’n’ sip, fine art drawing and painting classes. As director and owner, her mother, Joanne, handles advertising, events, technology, and community building. “I’m sure she will also be everyone’s biggest cheerleader,” Coppens says.

Ultimately, Coppens would love to make her new role at Eclipse Art Center a full-time job. “Teaching art, making art, curating shows, and bringing artists in to feature and work with would be my dream!”