Mid October news for Art Lovers and Artists plus a few local art secrets
By Lele Galer, Columnist, The Times
The Opening Gala Art Sale and Exhibition for Plein Air Brandywine Valley will be Friday October 24th from 7-10pm at Winterthur. This wonderful event showcases the week’s worth of plein air painting done by 80 juried plein air artists from around the country. The Gables at Chadds Ford is sponsoring the artist reception this Friday, after which artists will choose from beautiful outdoor venues to paint throughout next week. Janssen’s Market in Greenville provides lunches for the artists during the week. The event raises money for The Children’s Beach House (www.cbhinc.org) for children with special needs. If you are not participating in the event, come and check out the artwork at the Gala and practice your outdoor painting this year so you can apply next year! It is so much fun, so well organized and the settings are stunning.
This week at the Galer Estate Winery Popup show Thursday October 16th from 4-8pm Kate Hodges will have her first solo exhibit ever, showing her recent photographs of local areas of interest. Kate was educated at Bard college and went on to teach arts education in the Avon Grove school district and at Chester County Art Association in West Chester.
“Brighter Pine” by Kate Hodges.
It is hard work to break out and make your own art, especially after teaching others all day, so come out to the winery to cheer her on. All of her images are paired with a thematic scheme that adds a layer of reflection and depth. Kate says that the collection is “All about my roots here in Chester County.” Her “Brighter Pine” and “Yellow Cactus Flower” are particularly lovely. All of her work has a quiet beauty to it. Her images are framed for the show, but you can also purchase the prints separately. Proceeds help support the kitchen renovation project at Tick Tock Early Learning Center in Avondale.
The Gallery at Franklin Commons in Phoenixville is currently showing an interesting photography exhibition of “Through a Lens” which will show through October 31st. The Gallery will shortly be accepting work for their upcoming “Seasonal Interpretations” Exhibition which will open November 8th from 1-4pm. This show will be open to all mediums, including smaller sculpture, ceramics and jewelry, and their openings always have the most delicious food and drink. A great place to start your holiday shopping. The Gallery area is adjoined by an enormous area of wall space which is now for rent- a cool idea for artists who want to increase their visibility and change it up when they feel like it. Artists can rent a wall area for 2-3 months, and pay according to how much space they use. For more information about this new venue for art space, contact Katie Naber at fc.curator@gmail.com. What a great idea!
Also, for artists, if any of you are having trouble photographing your art work properly for your websites and gallery applications, consider having your artwork photographed by local photographer Joseph Painter (www.joepainterphotography.com). I finally put down my Iphone camera and took the plunge with a professional and I am thrilled with the result. He photographs the artworks of many famous and up and coming artists, but remains affordably priced, conscientious and fast too. Another invaluable find is Christopher Company Ltd in Philadelphia, which does wonderful hand crafted made-to-order art frames at very reasonable prices. I can’t recommend them enough. Some of our very best Chester County painters use Christopher’s, and now the secret is out. I particularly like their floating large frames and 1 1/2 inch painting boards, but they have something for every style. Artists, please let me know if you have any strong recommendations and I will be happy to pass them on too!
Awakening by Christina Odo.
The Flying Colors Fine Art Show at the Montgomery School in Chester Springs will be open to the public Saturday and Sunday October 25-26 from 10am to 5pm. The opening reception is from 6-9pm on October 24, and benefits the Domestic Violence Center of Chester County (DVCCC). Participating artists include Annette LeMaire, Christina Odo, and Patty Cunningham, as well as 20 other Chester County artists, all of whom paint or draw in a more traditional realistic style with their own personal flare. Christina Odo, longtime pastel favorite, continues to lure viewers into her moonlit skies. Her “Awakening” is particularly majestic and done with subtle color choices and brilliant light effects.
www.pleinairbrandywinevalley.org
www.pleinairbrandywinevalley.org
www.franklincommons.net/art-gallery/exhibitions
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.
