2013 Unionville Art Gala sets the stage for local art
By Lele Galer, Columnist, The Times
The 2013 Unionville Art Gala will open to the public Friday November 8th from 6-9pm and finish the following day, Saturday November 8th from 10am-3pm.
Sixty local artists will exhibit original artworks priced from $5 to $5000, in a wide range of media including painting, jewelry, ceramic and metal art. This is always one of the most exciting art shows in our area because the Gala exhibits the work of new and emerging artists side by side with more established local artists; a wonderful combination that is inspiring to the students and visitors alike.
The Art Gala is a major fundraiser for the Unionville High School PTO, which provides support for important projects and programs for the teachers and students.
This year’s featured artist is renown neo-Pop artist Jeff Schaller. His style is an energetic mix of Pop graphic imagery that is masterfully painted in encaustic (wax medium). His style is fun and exuberant and hip. He often juxtaposes an image of a central character (usually a beautiful girl) with a word play; which makes the viewer look for the connection between the images and the words. In “Batgirl” which is the cover image for this year’s Art Gala 2013, Jeff painted a young woman looking right at the viewer, spray painting across our point of site. She is frozen in an electric mad dash of creativity/destruction, in front of a panel of an old time Batman comic strip. As young “Batgirl” dramatically charges to express herself, she is set against a very flat “action hero”. It is a terrific juxtaposition piece for a show that celebrates new local artists and draws in crowds of high school art students. For more examples of Jeff Schaller’s wonderful artwork, please visit www.jeffschaller.com.
Also very special to this year’s show, Jeff Schaller will do a slide lecture about his life and work as an artist. Jeff’s lecture is at 11 am Saturday morning at the high school LGI room, and everyone should be sure to check that out. Jeff is also responsible for many terrific local public art murals as well as founding the incredibly popular Chester Country Studio Tour of local artists.
Two Unionville High School students, Natalie Zderic and Terner Thompson, will be sketching live during Friday’s Opening Night. Friday Night’s music will feature the talented Jazz trio headed up by local musician and Unionville parent, Skip Barthold. Saturday Gala Musicians include Chrystine Karaman playing flute at 10am, Ryan Dowdle on guitar at noon and
Andrew Vogt at 1:30pm on the fiddle.
After you stroll through the inspiring selection of local professional art, make sure to stop into the “Student Art Show” that highlights the best work from each of the art classrooms at Unionville High School. The two featured student artists are Evelyn Pandos and Patrick Bova. Their two works to the left will be exhibited along with almost 150 other terrific student works. Parent volunteer Geri Argo is heading the Student Art Show this year and is very excited to display this year’s selections by the art faculty.
This year’s silent auction is a great place to pick up great art at bargain prices. Each of the artists has generously donated their works to the silent auction, and thus 100% of the proceeds benefits students programs at the high school. For the fifth year, parent volunteer Carol Apicella will head up the silent auction, as well as participate as a mosaic artist in the Art Gala. If you would like to see a preview of this year’s silent auction items, go to https://www.facebook.com/UnionvilleHighSchoolArtGalaFundraiser201213?ref=hl and for a link to the show’s webpage go to http://uhs.ucfsd.org/artgala.html.
Friday evening and Saturday morning food and refreshments are generously provided by these local eateries and caterers: The Gables, Byrsa Bistro, La Verona, Talulas, The Farm House at Loch Lairn, Nourish Café, Catherines Restaurant, Floga, Brandywine Prime and Hors d’oeuvres by Betsy.
Headed for the first time by Lynda Nadin, and put together with almost a hundred parent and student volunteers, this is truly an enormous celebration of local arts, all for a great cause. Definitely stop into the Gala Friday evening when there will be delicious food and live music and of course the silent auction. Saturday is a great time to shop and bring your whole family – especially if you are all deciding on a new painting for the dining room. Wishing the Art Gala 2013 every success!
Lele Galer is an artist who has chaired numerous art shows, including the Unionville Art Gala for the past 5 years. She has taught art history and studio art, public art and has chaired, written and taught the Art in Action Art Appreciation series for the UCFD schools for the past 12 years. She worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and wrote for the Associated Press in Rome. She has been dedicated to Art History and art education for most of her adult life. Lele and her husband Brad own Galer Estate Winery in Kennett Square and she is President of the Education Foundation and co-Chairs the CCAA’s New Building Campaign.
