The Historic District of Jim Thorpe and its Brigadoon-like setting, visually hidden amidst mountains and largely isolated from late 20th Century redevelopment, has with its rugged landscape and ornate Victorian buildings, in recent years become a Mecca for talented, often quirky, artists.

But perhaps never so conspicuously as on Saturday, Aug. 7, at the Anita Shapolsky Art Foundation's sponsored Art Marathon. The Foundation, noted for its shows of vintage abstract impressionist art, kicked "quirky" up a notch as it awarded a major prize to a young artist that, under the guidelines, should have been too young to enter.

Six-year-old Cody Meckes of Penn Forest Township skipped away with a $75 prize in the Most Original Overall category. His abstract painting depicting bottles of soda and iced tea on a brick received accolades from the panel of judges: Foundation director Anita Shapolsky, and award-winning abstract painters Joel LeBow and Amaranth Ehrenhalt.

Ehrenhalt likened young Meckes' work to that of Pablo Picasso, who was quoted as saying, "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up."

Cody Meckes' work competed with that of amateur and professional artists, including several that came to the Foundation from Philadelphia. While these, mostly adults ranging in age into their seventies, often had far greater training, the judges felt that Cody's work demonstrated a pristine creativity.

Although the paintathon was officially open only to those ten years of age and older, a special dispensation was granted to Cody and his sister, Cheyenne, because they had taken a workshop at the Foundation several weeks earlier.

Cody, Cheyenne and their father, Ed Meckes, all put brush to board in the competition. Cheyenne captured the Most Original in the Children's Category and Cody took the Most Original Overall, while dad walked away with no prizes but with two beaming children.

"I won $75 and she won $25," Cody said of his sister's prize.

"I feel mad at him," Cheyenne said, "because I wish I got it. It was pretty weird when I heard that he won the $75 out of the whole contest. I didn't think they would have a kid win."

Mom, Kristin Meckes, named the painting "Drinks on a Brick." Dad, Eddy, joked, "It's available for $1 million or the best offer."

"Cody has been painting since he was one year old," said his mom. "I have his first painting. He painted with his hands and feet."

Cody hopes to invest his winnings in a new gaming system, and is now focusing his attention on going for a green belt in karate.

Other prize winners in the paintathon were: in the Adult Category—Best of Show - Anne Harrison, Most Qualified - Jean Plough, and Honorable Mention - Betty Johnson; and in the Children's Category—Best of Show - Emily Oldt, Most Original - Cheyenne Meckes, and Honorable Mention - Cody Meckes.

It was the first time at painting for Betty Johnson, 71, of Lehighton. She came with her daughter, Tecu'mish Munha'ke. Johnson painted a seascape while Munha'ke, an assemblage artist, painted designs on a bowl. "The mother and daughter were having such a good time that they are not even saying a word," said event coordinator Shirley Thomas. "Everyone was very quiet and concentrated."

As the painters created their masterpieces, they were inspired by background classical accordion music played by Doug Makofka.

"It is the first time we had a Painting Marathon here," said Foundation director Anita Shapolsky. "We hope to do more."