By Caroline Roosevelt, Columnist, The Times
Square Pear Gallery
Kennett Square is absolutely bustling with holiday activity. Walking along State Street on the weekend, I can hear the horse drawn carriages, and see the lines at the shuttle taking people from Kennett Square to Longwood Gardens and vice versa. Holiday shoppers are out in full force, buzzing from one boutique to another, and making hot chocolate/coffee stops at Philter. It’s truly the most wonderful time of the year for lovers of coziness!
Stop by Square Pear Gallery along State Street in Kennett Square, to pick up some affordable art by featured artists of their December exhibition, “Wrap It Up”. This show features artwork from over 30 local artists and ranges from pottery and jewelry to small oil and watercolor paintings. Square Pear had a great turnout for their First Friday, as well as the Kennett Square event “Tinsel The Town,” event last week. Stop by and pick up something unique.
Yesterday, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Alessandra Manzotti of Chadds Ford, Gallery DUO for WCHE 1520am. We discussed her recent exhibition with Katee Boyle, “Reflections of Her Smaller Self,” and discussed an upcoming collaborative project that she and co-owner Susan Iserbyt will be working on in the coming year. This is a great time to check them out, as it’s a fun stop between Kennett Square and Greenville, DE along Rt 52. Gallery DUO will be hosting a holiday party on Saturday from 11am – 3pm where you can check out work by Manzotti, Iserbyt and Boyle. It’s a great excuse to take a break and come up for air between frantic holiday shopping. To keep up with art goings on and a variety of engaging interviews hosted by local arts organizers, artists, and art writers, tune in to WCHE 1520am from 1-1:30pm for Art Watch Radio.
Phil Jamison’s East Bradford Farm #2
If you’re heading into West Chester, another delightful street side shoppers destination, check out Church Street Gallery. Watercolorist Phil Jamison is currently exhibiting several of his bucolic winter landscapes, mixed with some floral paintings, which should keep you in the holiday spirit (while also giving you a glimmer of hope with some springtime themes). Jamison’s paintings capture the Brandywine Valley aesthetic, as he incorporates that classic Andrew Wyeth palette, while incorporating a more spirited painting style. His strokes and color placement remind me of East Asian ink wash painting (or “literati”). The stark, bare trees jut out theatrically from the otherwise gentle landscapes, to create a playful composition.
Shawn Baron Pinckney as seen at the Delaware Contemporary
While it’s still up, through December 30th, check out the Delaware Contemporary’s exhibition, “Keeping Up With The Illuminati,” featuring Dan Jackson and Shawn Baron Pinckney. Jackson’s hyper realistic oil paintings are seriously sight worth seeing. While the theme of this exhibition is asking larger questions about the accuracy of art reflecting the zeitgeist of a culture (or if it just mirrors the tastes of the upper echelons of society), his technical skills almost distract me from any thesis at all, as I’m blown away.
Artist Shawn Baron Pinckney piques my interest for very different reasons. Zeroing in on the style of fashion illustration, Pinckney explores themes of cultural dress, and it’s broader contribution to society. His illustrations remind me of Andy Warhols’ early illustrations (have you ever seen the guys shoe drawings? Their some of my favorite of his work!) The almost architectural lines embellished with more enthusiastic swirling detail create dynamic pieces.
From Mixed Media, to you and yours, Happy Holidays!
