Passion for color and texture leads to abstraction plus what’s going on this week in art
By Lele Galer, Columnist, The Times
Abstract painter Diane Micklin will be exhibiting this Thursday April 3 at Galer Estate Winery in Kennett Square for a Pop up show from 4 to 8 p.m. Diane combines her love of Chester County landscape with a passion for color and texture. Her acrylic painted images range in size from the very affordable 12 x 12 to the slightly larger 24 x 20.
After moving to this area, Diane has exhibited regularly since 2010 in local favorite shows including The Unionville Art Gala, The Chadds Ford Art Show and Radley Run. She has also been an active member and participant in Chester County Art Association shows and says that CCAA has been ” a wonderful opportunity” for her to connect with local artists and show her work to an increasing group of loyal collectors.
Diane Micklin
While she paints both realistic landscapes and abstracts, her passion is the abstract work which is inspired by the colors and richness of her natural surroundings. “Dreaming in Color” is an abstract work that Diane created after witnessing the sudden burst of Autumn color one afternoon while driving home. I met Diane soon after she had moved to this area, and she showed me her carefully rendered quiet still life paintings of fruit.
Though very nicely done, they lack the joy and spontaneity of her abstract work. I still like her fruit images, but her abstract work is where Diane breaks free. Come meet this delightful, friendly artist at Galer Estate Winery this Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m., and help support the Chester County Art Association at the same time!
‘Dreaming in Color’ by Diane Micklin.
A lot of art going on this week! This is “First Friday” art stroll in West Chester and Kennett, which is so much fun wherever you are heading to. First and foremost is the not-to-be-missed popup exhibition called “Evening of the Arts” this Friday night from 5-8:30pm at the beautiful Genesis building (101 State Street) in downtown Kennett Square. 33 artists, including such notable local artists as Stan Smokler, Rhoda Kahler, Jeff Schaller, Diane Cannon, Neilson Carlin, Karen Delaney, Monique Kendikian Sarkessian and Carol Lesher will exhibit to benefit Historic Kennett Square. There will be live music, donated food and wine and beer – what a great evening out! The show is curated by John Baker, Chairman of the Art Department at West Chester University, and Darcie Goldberg, Chairman of the Building Campaign for Chester County Art Association, and is free admission.
Farther afield in Wilmington for Art Loop there are two fun openings where some Chester County locals are showing: “Luscious Landscapes” in the new Project Space Gallery 2003 West 17th Street from 5-9pm, and COCA Popup art show at 1704 Pennsylvania Avenue with featured artist Lisa Ashley and proceeds to benefit the Wilmington Senior Center. Food and wine will be served and entry is free of charge.
The Fabulous “Slow Art Day” is celebrated at the Brandywine Museum on Saturday April 12 from 11am to 2pm. This is a wholly original idea that has now been embraced by over 200 museums nationwide, which asks viewers to come to the museum, look at a selected group of paintings for a given amount of time, and then go meet up for lunch and engage in a lively conversation about what you saw. What a wonderful way to spend a Saturday! Cheers to the Brandywine Museum for being a part of this new phenomenon and encouraging viewers to look, talk and engage with this extraordinary collection of art.
Finally, big cheers to local artist Madeleine Kelly who just won 2 first prizes for her artwork! She will be featured in this week’s opening at Hardcastle Galleries “8 Women Artist Exhibition” April 4th 5:30-8:30pm in Centreville Delaware and you can see more of her work at www.madeleinekelly.com. Bravo Madeleine.
www.historickennettsquare.com/events/evening-arts
Lele Galer is an artist who has chaired numerous art shows, 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 Asociated 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 co-Chairs the CCAA’s New Building Campaign.
