Linda Marston-Reid
President

Artists pair youth, experience to create new works

The concept of artists collaborating on one piece of artwork has been done before, but the exhibit "1/2 Your Age," on display at the Barrett Art Center in Poughkeepsie, pushes the boundaries a bit further.

Twelve pairs of local artists, both roughly half or twice each other's age, worked on art together or side by side. The idea for the exhibit began with the intent to provide gallery exposure to the younger artist, as well as an opportunity to experience a more established artist's studio practice. Exhibit organizer Jeff Johnson explained that the "collaboration process was different for each pair: it ranged from a mentoring situation to a significant departure for both artists to meet somewhere in the middle to break some new ground. I thought many of the stories were just as interesting as the work."

The stories surrounding the collaborative work were a fascinating component to the exhibit. For instance, the wild paisley shapes twirling around four distinct artworks were done collaboratively by Amanda Buhler and Bella Dalton-Fenkl.

Buhler, a graduate student in the art education program at State University of New York at New Paltz, said , "The interaction between us was very fluid, which is reflected in the pieces themselves. We worked on them at the same time in a back-and-forth process. The process of working on these pieces helped me think about my own use of color."

Fourteen-year-old Dalton-Fenkl said, "Both of us could depend on the fact that there was no danger of us ruining the feel of the piece for the other -- the true nature of a collaborative work."

Dick Crenson provided his photograph of "Half Moon" for the exhibit. His partner, Franc Palaia, painted directly onto the photo, adding an intensely blue sky and water sparkling with the reflection of the bridge seen in the background. Tarryl Gabel and Kelly McGinnis each chose an 8-by-10-inch canvas and painted the same scene, "Sunday Over Constitution Marsh." McGinnis' interpretation is done with a bold hand while Gabel's version is more controlled -- building up the deep-blooming colors.

Other collaborations included writer Dorothy Albertini and photographer Claudia Gormon. In one of the pieces, "Postcard from Poughkeepsie," the viewer sees the Walkway Over the Hudson and the text begins, "One thing we learned was not to be bored." The photos lure the viewer closer, inviting you to read the text and consider the entire piece together.

The first challenge that collaborators Jeep Johnson and Anthony Petruzzelli faced was choosing the medium and materials.

"You set off on a creative journey and never really know where it will lead you and in this case, it resulted in a fountain based on found and recycled objects," Johnson said.

The resulting sculpture, "The Story of Our Lives," is a fountain seated on a triangular base. Three metallic rods gracefully hold the metal bowl at the top, which appears to have been cut with a welding torch. A closer examination reveals old bicycle tires are the delicate waterfall arms, which water will flow through, striking the propeller beneath and causing it to turn.

The "1/2 Your Age" exhibit is open through May 6 and includes the following pairs of artists: Amanda Buhler/Bella Dalton-Fenkl; Sophie Allen/Camille Allen; Rosemarie Calista/Ian Wickstead; Laurie Clark/Kelly McGinnis; Dick Crenson/Franc Palaia; Tarryl Gabel/Kelly McGinnis; Claudia Gorman/Dorothy Albertini; Jeep Johnson/Anthony Petruzzelli; Jeff Johnson/Geena Rose; Eric Lindbloom/Sasha Bush; Ellen O'Shea/Michael White; Gina Palmer/Brett Higgins.

Linda Marston-Reid
President

This column originially appeared in the Poughekepsie Journal's Enjoy on
April 13, 2012

The art-buying waters are perfect at this time of year and the Arts Council can help you take the plunge with our Art 101 Buying Guide written especially for you, the art curious.  So read on to learn more about the art of buying art!

First and most important – if you love something, go for it! Art is all about your personal taste and emotional experience, so don’t be shy if you really want that painting or photograph. And definitely don’t be afraid to ask questions! Art is meant to inspire conversation, and most artists appreciate the opportunity to talk about their work. If you are purchase-shy though and feel intimidated by some of the unfamiliar art terms, we have some pointers and definitions that will build your art-buying confidence.

Click here to get a list of terms and

buying tips.

“There is no right or wrong way to buy art. I like to buy images that evoke a feeling a feeling or an emotional response. It could be any medium or subject matter as long as I like and find it visually appealing,” - Besty Jacaruso

“People sometimes say that they don’t feel qualified to make a decision about whether or not a work of art is good...but most important, buyers should trust their intuition: if they love a piece, they will enjoy it, and that’s the most valuable aspect of owning art that I can think of.” – Linda Piuatti

“If one doesn’t have confidence in his or her own eye then what fun would collecting be?” – Jack Banning

“Some artists don’t consider photography an ‘art’…but to truly capture the essence of light and emotion, [it] takes talent, practice, hard work and knowledge…Photography gives us views of ourselves, our world in its own unique way.” – Linda Hubbard

Beacon Arts Community Association
presents
4th Annual Open Studios

Beacon Open Studios, the largest event of its kind in the Hudson Valley and growing, will hold its 4th annual city-wide event on Saturday and Sunday, April 28 & 29. This free event invites the public into local artists’ studios, allowing visitors to meet them, view their past and current works-in-progress, and get an up-close look at the spaces in which they create. A diverse network of artists will be participating, from nationally and internationally exhibited names to exciting new faces of the Beacon art community.

Beacon Open Studios takes the unique approach that every artist should have the opportunity to publicly display their art, supported by promotion and events. Truck City, a pop-up open studio site introduced last year with great success returns this year at Spire Studios, 45 Beekman Street. Artists participating in Truck City will transform moving trucks into mobile galleries and installations, which will be open to visitors to explore during Beacon Open Studios hours-noon to 6pm.

Hudson Beach Glass, 162 Main Street, will host the Kickoff Party on Friday April 27th, from 7 to 10pm. The Kickoff is a great opportunity for the public to meet local artists and participants in Beacon Open Studios and pick up the Open Studios catalog, which includes a map to all of the participating studios across town. Hudson Beach Glass is also home to the Kickoff Exhibition, which opens on April 14th and runs through April 30th, 10am to 6pm.

An established art destination, Beacon is the perfect venue for this exceptional event. Last year, Beacon Open Studios attracted more than eighty local artists and artisans. and hundreds of visitors. This year’s event will showcase over 50 very talented individuals.

This project is made possible (in part) through a grant from the Dutchess County Arts Council, administrator of public funds through NYSCA’s Decentralization Program

Learn more about Open Studios at www.beaconopenstudios.org or at
Beacon Arts Community Assocation at www.beaconarts.org