The Newsletter - Artists of Yardley

AOY
artists of yardley
The
AOY
artists of yardley
1
Newsletter
Issue #33 July 2010
The AOY Newsletter is a publication of Artists of Yardley, a not-for-profit organization. Editor: Susan Hogan, Assistant Editor: Anne Gannon, Design: John Vollaro
www.artistsofyardley.org
The Artists of Yardley Open House at Patterson Farm
O
Article by Anne Gannon
n May 8, 2010, wild winds and sunny skies
added to the surge of excitement during
the Artists of Yardley’s first open house on
Patterson Farm. At the driveway’s entrance,
electric blue balloons flashed in the wind while greeting
a steady stream of nearly four hundred visitors. The gusty
weather eventually knocked out electric power in the
entire area, but the current of energy in the Janney House
continued to rise.
Built when Andrew Jackson was president, the AOY
Art Center is a historic gem surrounded by fields, barns
and endless views. Even on a stormy day like this the
atmosphere draws you in… the inherent calm lingers
around the house and beneath the venerable ancient trees.
Inside, an appetizing spread of gourmet hors d’oeuvres,
homemade tea sandwiches and desserts was replenished
throughout the afternoon with fresh iced tea and lemon
water. Members’ art hung on the walls, stood on the shelves
and filled the space with the enticing lure of creativity.
Going to the Artists of Yardley’s Open House!
photo by Janice O’Reilly
Several AOY teachers showed samples of art works to
give a taste of what they will teach during the summer
camp sessions this July and August. They also described the various art programs we are offering, and demonstrated different techniques. All the
classrooms are light and bright with decorative wood trim and high ceilings - vestiges of a spacious 19th century past.
Everything came together harmoniously during our open house… in spite of a few little
glitches. When the huge sandwich board display blew down on the side of the road, we needed to
anchor it immediately. We thought… “This is a farm, there have to be cinder blocks somewhere
IN THIS ISSUE
on the property!” We needed four and we found exactly four in and around the barn. Then the
SHOWs, events, awards
2
open house poster separated from the board - tearing away from the corners it started flapping in
Photographers corner
the wind. As we struggled to hold it up against the wind, a man driving down Mirror Lake Road
Ellen Rogers
3
saw our trouble and pulled right into the driveway to help us out. He opened the back of his van
ON THE RIVER
where he just happened to have power tools and then proceeded to fix it for us. Thank you Frank
Elephant Eye Studio Tour
3
McGovern! Because the electricity
Museum visit
was off, pumps didn’t work, so we did
Princeton University Art Museum
4
not have water to keep the beverage
AOY SCholarship Fund
5
pitchers flowing. A member happened
AOY’s FIRST WORKSHOP
5
to have a few five-gallon water bottles
IN THE FIELD
at home. Ten minutes later, we were
Encaustic Workshop
6
back in business. It was that kind
FURTHER AFIELD
Len Francowiak
7
of day: with every glitch came an
MEETING
GUEST
PRESENTER
immediate solution.
Armor Keller
7
Thanks to our many volunteers who
Road
Trip
helped make the art center’s Open
Annual American Watercolor Society
8
House a delightful and successful
FILM
day for everyone: Notably… Maggy
Jean-Michel Basquiat
9
Robinson for chairing the event and
CALL FOR ENTRIES
9
designing the signs, Colleen Attara for
THANK YOU
Dot Brown
9
a top-notch publicity campaign, Gina
Waltersdorff for her tireless efforts
NEED to know
Gina Waltersdorff
photo by Bill Hogan
continued on page 8
Contacts, New Members, General Info 10
AOY
artists of yardley
Shows, Events, Awards
2
Shows, Events, Awards by Anne Gannon and Susan Hogan
Joanne Donnelly has her photograph,
“Pierce My Heart”, in the 2010 Juried Show
at Gallery 14, 14 Mercer St., Hopewell, NJ.
Show runs through August 8. And her mixed
media piece, “Chinoserie”, is in The First
40… an exhibition of work from the Mercer
County Permanent Art Collection on display
at Artworks. Show runs through July 31.
Websites: www.photogallery14.com. www.
artworkstrenton.org. B
the Artists House Gallery across the street,
57 North 2nd St. Websites: www.artistshouse.
com and www.musegalleryphiladelphia.com.
B
Anne Gannon’s painting, “Universe II” and
Fran Leyenberger’s Raku piece, “Out of the
Wood” were selected for inclusion in the show
Transitions at Pen and Brush Inc. 16 East
10th Street, NYC .The show runs through
September 3. Websites: www.franpots.com
and www.penandbrush.org. B
Kathy Metaxas has work in Paper
Awareness XII a show of handmade paper
art: books, sculptures, and two-dimensional
pieces. Show runs through August 14 at
the Perkins Center for the Arts, 30 Irvin
Avenue, Collingswood, NJ. Website: www.
perkinscenter.org. B
Diane Greenberg was accepted into
Salmagundi Club’s Non-Member Show
in NYC. The exhibit is open to the public 7
days a week, 1 to 5pm thru July 23rd. The
reception & awards will be held Friday,
July 23rd from 6 to 8pm. Website: www.
salmagundi.org. B
Behrooz Salimnejad organized a show
of AOY members works at Hicks Gallery,
Bucks County Community College in
Newtown, PA. Fran Orlando, Director of
Exhibitions and current President of the
Arts and Culture Council of Bucks County,
welcomed the artists at the opening reception
on May 15. She was delighted to host
our organization in the gallery time slot
designated for community shows. B
Nancy Lloyd is exhibiting still life paintings
at Caffe Galleria, 18 South Main Street
Lambertville, NJ. Show runs through August
15. Websites: www.NancyLloydFineArt.com
and www.caffegalleria.com. B
John Slavin exhibits photographs from
his “Route 66” collection in Automania:
Second Gear at New Hope Arts, 2 Stockton
Ave. New Hope, PA. July 31 through August
15. In conjunction with the New Hope Auto
Show, the reception is on August 14, 7 to
9pm. Websites: www.johnslavin.net and www.
newhopearts.org. B
Burning Man by Cynthia Groya
Cynthia Groya and Jo-ann Osnoe
participated on First Friday, June 4 in Old
City Philadelphia. Cynthia showed abstract
paintings in the New Members Show at the
Muse Gallery, 52 North 2nd St, Phila., and
Jo-Ann displayed landscape oil paintings at
Extasis by Morris Docktor
At the Ellarslie Open, Morris Docktor’s
“Exstasis” won the award for “Best in Show:
Drawing” and Cynthia Groya’s cine colle
etching, “Burning Man” won the award for
“Best in Show: Printmaking”. B
“Shad DInner”, an oil painting donated by
member artist John Ennis to the Shad Festival
Scholarship Poster Auction in Lambertville,
NJ, broke the all time record for the amount
paid for a poster at $3,100! B
Gloria Young Smith, AOY Member, is
exhibiting pastels and watercolors in a
solo show, titled Captured Memories, at
Princeton Windrows, in Princeton, New
Jersey, from July 7 to August 31, 2010.
Reception is Wednesday, July 14, 5 - 6:30
pm. E-mail Gloria: gys115@comcast.net.
Website: www.princetonwindrows.com. B
Marina Biloval, Mindy Chesner, Jo-Ann
Osnoe, Jay Shin and Jean Stevens were
accepted into the Artsbridge juried show at
Riverrun Gallery, Lambertville, NJ. Barbara
Churilla, Joan Feiss, Oz Freedgood, and
Diane Greenberg had work accepted into the
portfolio section of the show. The show ran
June 5 – June 27. B
Shad Dinner by John Ennis
AOY
artists of yardley
Photographers Corner & On the River
AOY Photographic Artist, Ellen Rogers
3
by Hank Miiller
T
hinking about the NJ shore? Summer’s here at last, and it’s time to
head down for a little fun and tan. And all photographers take their
cameras along too, of course, just in case a great shot turns up.
This is what Ellen Rogers did, she headed to Atlantic City to do
some outdoor shooting but her sunny day turned rainy. Oh well … the Atlantic
City pier offers a nice “make believe that you are on the beach” opportunity.
Nothing like sitting back in an Adirondack chair with a little sand underneath,
pretending that you are on the beach, to enjoy a view of AC.
Ellen captured this oasis with her camera. Her challenge here was that the
light level outside was much higher than the inside light level. Ellen set the
correct exposure to shoot the Atlantic City skyline, but then of course the
inside was very underexposed. She chose to digitally modify the exposure for
the people sitting indoors, using the burn tool in photoshop to lighten up the
interior part of the image; the camera had correctly exposed for the skyline in
the distant view.
Using the Photoshop burn tool/dodge tool is a technique to selectively alter
Pier 1 by Ellen Rogers
the apparent “exposure” within a specific area of your image. The burn tool
effectively increases the perceived lightness of the selected image. Conversely,
the dodge tool perceptually darkens the selected area of the image.
In using the tool, the artist can select the aggressiveness of the tool—which can range from a very soft touch (which is what I prefer) to a harder touch.
Selecting the soft touch gives the artist much more control of smaller increments during the process of digital modification.
You will find Ellen’s image, “Pier 1” entered in our AOY 5th Annual Member Show which runs through July 24th.
To be featured in this Photographers Corner email hmiiller@earthlink.net. B
Elephants Eye Studio Tour
“T
Article and photo by Susan Hogan
and studio created by photographers Michael Smith and Paula Chamlee.
he corn is as high as an elephant’s eye” goes the lyric
Climbing a long hillside stair to their custom made house, you pass the
for the song Oh What a Beautiful Morning, created
new structure on the left, the archives and theatre still under construction.
by Oscar Hammerstein II on his estate in Doylestown
At the entrance to their handmade home is a massive stone fireplace, right
in the early forties. This May was the third year of
next to a custom designed photo gallery: beautifully lit, displaying photos
the Central/Upper Bucks art studio tour that is named in honor of the
stacked on shelves with white gloves right there to use as you leaf thru
abundance of successful Broadway musicals generated by Hammerstein,
the silvery black and white prints. Elegant
in partnership with Richard Rogers, in
his idyllic Bucks County locale.
publications in long horizontal format
This spring the roster of participating
of photos of Iceland, Tuscany, and other
gorgeous exotic landscapes are available to
artists was quite different than in 2008
browse and purchase. Paula Chamlee had
when I first took the tour. Each year, a
just moved in to her own new studio space,
new group of artists is juried onto the
built next to their home. Both photographers
tour.
were very gracious to their steady stream
Lisa Naples had cleared her
of visitors, willing to engage questions
Doylestown ceramic studio of all signs of
and comments about their work, their
working and transformed it into a lovely
studio and home design, as well as their
display space for her pottery. Outside
frequent master photography workshops in
in the garden were sited some of her
international locations.
figurative ceramic sculptures; others
Pat Martin displayed abstract paintings in
were still in the show “Contemporary
her
secluded work space surrounded by lush
Folklore” at the Michener Museum.
Lisa shared her garden studio area with
farmland, gardens, and woods. Louis Pruitt
had an old dairy barn full of his humantwo guest artists: Holli Hollingsworth
Ceramic garden sculpture outside Lisa Naples studio.
scale abstract sculptures, representing many
displayed abstract landscape sculptures
years of creative labor. By late afternoon, I
on pedestals in the barn, and Gloria
was saturated with new ideas and inspiration, and I had used up my time
Kosco showed functional clay work in the garden.
driving around the beautiful back roads of Upper Bucks. It was time to
About 30 minutes north on 611, three of the studios were hidden away
head back down the river. B
on the back roads of Ottsville. Venturing along unpaved Bunker Hill
Road then daring to ford the stream I actually arrived at the unique home
AOY
artists of yardley
Museum Visit
A Tour at the Princeton University Art Museum
70
4
Article and photos by Bill Hogan
volunteer touring docents at
and “Medusa.” We look and talk about some
the Princeton University Art
marble statues, explaining that those Roman and
Museum (PUAM) give school Greek statues we love to look at today were once
tours from September through painted to appear lifelike, but over time the paint
June, with the majority of tours between March
disappeared, and today we think that this was the
and June. It works this way: our tour coordinator way they were originally intended.
gives a tour request sheet to one docent, who
Our second stop is Greek vases and ceramics.
then contacts the teacher who made the request
I show them the “Symposium,” a Greek ‘Psyter’
to confirm what the teacher wants the class to
or wine cooler where four young and two older
cover. My tour of 4th graders would explore
Greek males are illustrated drinking and playing
parts of Greek, Roman, and American art, and
musical instruments in red and black around the
French Impressionism. The 48 students on the
waist of the vase. It stands about 12 inches high.
tour were divided into 4 groups, each docent
The Greeks drank their wine mixed with water,
leading a group of 12. We usually plan each tour but the barbarians of the north drank it without
to take about an hour.
mixing in water. They kept the wine cool by
After I give my group a short introduction
placing the Psyter full of wine in a Krater of cold
to the museum collection, we begin our tour
water.
downstairs with the mosaics in the Roman
We move on to a large vase called the
gallery. We discuss the floor mosaic , “The
“Panathenaic Amphora.” It stands about 25
Drinking Contest,” showing Dionysos, the
inches high, with black figures silhouetted on a
god of wine, drinking from a rhyton (cup),
red background. It’s 2500 years old. On one side
and Herakles, the most powerful of gods, also
is Athena, goddess of wisdom and art, and on
drinking wine, as a Maenad,
the other side a charioteer
a female worshiper of
racing 4 horses. 140 vases
Dionysos, entertains
like this full of olive oil
them. Of course no god
would be awarded to the
can out-drink Dionysos,
winner of a competition.
but the illustration of the
The process of firing one of
two drinking wine and
these vases was distinct as
competing in drink is quite
the vase would be painted
entertaining. The illustration
all one color of various
sits within a U-shape square
slips, put in a kiln, then at
about 16x16 feet called a
different times during the
“triclinium”, a dining room
firing, oxygen would be
where couches would be
added or extracted to create
Frederick Remington bronze
placed against three walls.
the red and black effect .
It is also decorated with
Mythological subjects are
intricate geometric patterns.
illustrated on all the vases we see, but we don’t
The colorful mosaic has more than 250,000
have time to cover but about three.
half inch square polished stones (tesserae). We
We leave Roman and Greek galleries and walk
get down on the floor to touch the 1700 year
past the ancient artifacts of India, China, Japan,
old mosaic. I ask them questions: Where were
Mesoamerica, Peru, Africa, and Northwest coast
the stones found? How do they cut them? How
totems as we make our way upstairs to the 19th
are they polished? Is an artist involved? Who
century American gallery. These kids want to see
lays them out on the floor? We come to the
it all, but we don’t have time.
conclusion that colorful rocks have to be dug
On the upper level are exhibited mostly
out of a mountain, polished and cut into little
paintings from Early Christian, Medieval,
half inch squares, that an artist/designer makes
Baroque, Rococo, American, Impressionism and
the drawing which the laborers follow. I always
Modern periods.
emphasize that it takes considerable time and
We enter the 18-19th century American
effort to actually construct the mosaic. Down on
Gallery to view a painting of “George
our hands and knees just as the Romans were in
Washington after the Battle of Princeton,”
centuries past, the work feels real. The labor is
painted by Charles Wilson Peale, who
hard.
experienced first hand the battle of Princeton
We move on to other mosiacs with
as an officer in the Philadelphia militia. The
mythological illustrations, “Daphne and Apollo” oil painting is about 90 inches high showing
Roman mosaic-drinking contest.
General Washington wearing his green and
cream colored uniform and leaning his left
hand on a cannon barrel as he looks out of the
canvas at the viewer, and in the back ground are
Princeton’s Nassau Hall and captured British
troops. I tell the students that there is another
more famous painting of General Washington
presently at Nassau Hall in a frame that held a
portrait of King George ll, but the portrait of
the King was shattered by a cannon ball and
destroyed. The frame survived. I tell them that
Peale created the first zoo in this new country
as well as establishing the the Academy of Fine
Arts (PAFA) in Philadelphia. A brilliant painter
and patriot.
We turn the corner and admire John Singelton
Copley’s painting of “Alcana Watson.” Copley
was mostly self trained as a painter and would
leave the colonies just before the Revolution
in 1776. He was married to a Tory wife, and
although his allegence was to the colonies, he
left for England where he eventually would
become the director of the English Academy.
This painting was completed on the eve of the
signing of the “Treaty of Versailles”. I show
them an interesting illustration in the lower left
of the painting, a ship with an American flag,
and as Watson wrote in his letters, “...probably
the first American Flag hoisted in old England.”
We walk to the Frederic Remington’s
“Coming Thtough the Rye,” a bronze about 28
continued on page 6
AOY
artists of yardley
AOY Scholarship Fund & First Workshop
2010 AOY Art Scholarship Fund by Anne Gannon
T
he Artists of Yardley launched their new scholarship fund program for Pennsbury middle
school art students this year. As a non-profit organization, our intentions are to reach out to the
community in creative ways, to discover young talent and to encourage their artistic growth.
Middle school-aged children respond to incentives and enjoy being challenged, so we set up
the AOY Art Scholarship program to award one child from each middle school: Charles Boehm, Pennwood
and William Penn.
Colleen Attara says, “These children are at an age when we can really impact them; we can help them
figure out what they have an aptitude for. And then when they achieve success they push themselves more.”
AOY members: Nancy Allen, Oz Freedgood and Jo-ann Osnoe judged the works in the Pennsbury Art
Fair last May and chose three winners. Congratulations to the following Pennsbury middle school students!
“Independent Life Drawing” by Pragya Singh
Pragya Singh was introduced to the work of George Seurat in
seventh grade, from which bloomed a passion for pointillism:
“To me, art is something that cannot be easily defined. It
is eloquence and expression, beauty and passion, a form of
wordless poetry, and I am honored to have my work presented to
a group who feels the same way. Thank you.”
“Independent Life Drawing”
by Pragya Singh
“Self Portrait Chuck Close Style” by Brenna Lynch
“I am Brenna Lynch, I attend William Penn Middle School.
My favorite artists include Alex Pardee, Dali, Warhol and I
like Photography in general. I enjoyed doing this piece because
we used only Q-tips and black and white paint. Some of my
activities include playing guitar, hanging out with my friends and
my family. My family has always supported me with all of my
artwork. I hope you enjoy my piece.”
“Self Portrait Chuck Close Style”
by Brenna Lynch
“Study of Cat” by Lindsey Sbarro
Lyndsey Sbarro likes to draw people, flowers and animals.
She has taken private art lessons since the age of seven. . She has been a member of Charles Boehm Middle
School’s Scenery design Art Club and the Field Day Art Club. Lyndsey’s art awards: 2009 Charles Boehm
Middle School P.T.O. Art Award and the 2009 Pennsbury School District Permanent Art collection Award
The three recipients of the 2010 AOY Art Scholarship Fund had the opportunity to show their winning
works in AOY’s 5th Annual Member Show which began on June 26th and runs through July 24th. B
AOY’s First Workshop
at Patterson Farm
G
raced by the warm glow of
the late afternoon sun over
Patterson farm, the AOY
held it’s first workshop at the
new art center. Following an instructional
slide lecture inside Janney House, John
Ennis led thirteen students out onto the
grounds of the farm to capture the beautiful
surrounding landscape. Embraced by warm
sunlight, and cool breezes, painters set up
their easels and took brush to canvas, while
out in the fields, a tireless farmer tilled the
soil and made everyone grateful for their
place in the shade. B
Painting Patterson Farm
photo by Stephen Millner
John Ennis and Renee Egan
photo by Stephen Millner
“Study of Cat” by Lyndsey Sbarro
5
AOY
artists of yardley
Encaustic Workshop
In the Field
6
Article and photographs by Colleen Attara
M
id-May, my 12-year-old daughter Paige and I took a road trip to Kingston, NY, to
do a one-day intensive workshop in encaustics and collage at R & F Studios (www.
RFPaints.com). I have an “inspiration” list of things that I want to do outside my
regular creative work, and a visit to R&F Studios has been high on my list. R&F
Handmade Paints, established in 1988, is a leader in making encaustic paints and oil sticks. As we toured the factory at the beginning of our workshop, we felt the pride that R&F takes in making
their products. On our tour, Paige and I learned about the slow and methodical process to manufacture
encaustics and oil sticks, then we were both surprised that a small pile of oil sticks on a cart was the entire
fruit of one dayʼs labor!
In the R & F gallery and throughout the facility, encaustic paintings line the walls. Their collection
includes a painting by Rifka Angel, who is believed to be the first artist in America to work consistently
R&F Factory
with encaustic. This painting, “Sonja”, hangs next to modern pieces in brilliant colors that deceptively
entice you to think that your work will look that good after just a one-day workshop.
The studios we worked in are my idea of perfect work spaces: lots of light, high ceilings, brick walls painted white and colorful paintings resting on
shelves at all different heights. After a solid 5 hours of learning and experimenting, I wanted more time to play and create with this new medium. A oneday intensive workshop is not enough time at R & F, especially if this is your first time painting with encaustics. They do offer 3, 4 and 5-day workshops. Another option would be to take a one-day workshop and then rent the studio for $15
per hour. This fee would include all of your paints; you would need to bring your own
supports. R & F Studios was not the only place Paige and I felt inspiration on our trip. We
stayed in the town of High Falls, about 20 minutes away from R & F and it couldnʼt
have been more perfect. It is a sleepy little town of 600 people; 602 when we were
there because we felt like we were part of the community. It was quirky and oh so artsy
in subtle ways. It was filled with treasures to uncover, like the corner flea market on
Sundays or the Eggs Nest Restaurant where the owner paints every square inch of wall
and when it looks like he is done, he starts all over again. We spent 2 nights in this town
and fell in love with it. We stayed at the Arbor Bed and Breakfast (www.arborbb.com)
where everything was just a short walk away. The innkeeper Nancy loves white with
splashes of bold color. Paige and I were tucked in and sleepy at 10p.m. We never saw a
TV (there isn’t one), but books read aloud and board games were perfect entertainment.
This trip was something we let wash over us. We experienced each person, place and
medium in the moment, and it was magical. B
R&F vividly colored Pigment Sticks.
Princeton
continued from page 4
inches wide by 20 high. Four cowboys on horseback, shooting guns in the
constructed a painting, how they used color, drawing and subject matter
air, gallop wildly across the land. After a bit of discusion about the horses,
prior to the Impressionists, by using Greco-Roman mythological subjects,
the amount of hooves on the ground, I realize they don’t know what a
realistic refined rendering and highly skilled drawing, and how by the
“cowboy” is. They weren’t brought up seeing movies or
mid-19th century the Impressionists refused to follow
reading about cowboys as I was. I want them to try to
the “Academy” standards. The Impressionists no longer
think what a cowboy might be without telling them. They
looked to mythology for subjects; they went outdoors to
finally come up with an answer. We talk about making
paint pictures of local subjects, used thick paint, short
the sculpture in clay or wax before casts are made and
brushy brush strokes, didn’t care to refine drawing,
bronze is poured, a long process of creating what we see
brightened their palette (usually I have to explain all these
terms) by eliminating browns and blacks and depicted
before us. We quickly take a look at a George Inness
how light reflected on surfaces creates many colors. We
landscape, an Albert Bierstadt landscape of “Mt Adams,
discuss Monet’s “Water Lilies and Japanese Bridge,” that
Washington,” a John Singer Sargent portrait of “Mrs.
Monet had two huge gardens at Giverny, one of local
Marquand,” wife of the first director Allan Marquand of
indigenous trees and plants, and the other a pond with the
the PUAM back in 1880, and a Gilbert Stuart portrait.
Japanese Bridge. They know the story: Monet painted at
Time is up and we take a long walk over to the
certain times of the day for each painting.
Impressionist Gallery where the museum displays its
The time is up. We say good-bye.
three Monets, a Manet, Degas and others. But first I stop
I only hope that they bring away a bit of what we
at a half finished French Neo-classical painting from the
looked
at and discussed. B
school of Jacques-Louis David, to show how painters
Portrait of George Washington
AOY
artists of yardley
Further Afield & Meeting Presenter
7
Sharing Your Time Has Its Rewards by Len Francowiak
I
n May, I was asked to make a presentation
to an art appreciation class in Chatham,
NJ. I felt honored to be asked but not too
excited about spending the time it would
take for preparation, travel, etc. It got worse
when I learned it was a class of six year olds.
My first thought was that I did not know how
to speak to six year olds. Did they speak in two,
three, or four syllable words? I hadn’t chatted
with a six year old in years… our youngest
grandkid is nineteen. I wasn’t even sure how tall
six year olds are and my first image of being in a
room with twenty of them was something from
Gulliver’s Travels. With reservations, I accepted. The teacher told
me that the kids’ attention span was about twenty
minutes; they were studying the Impressionists;
they were interested in meeting a live artist;
and I was free to do my own thing. My thought
process rumbled along with fits and starts like
an old car with a flat tire. Twenty minutes was
not enough to do a quick painting. A power
point presentation of my work would reduce their
attention span to half. Describing the life of Van
Gogh would be even worse.
The fact that I was alive and an artist satisfied
one of the criteria and, maybe, just showing how
an artist goes about things would be enough. My
wife, with school teaching experience, agreed to
ride shotgun for me. My props included a French easel, canvas,
brushes, palettes and palette knives, some paint,
photos, and some of my paintings. I decided to
start the class asking, “Are any of you artists”? Expecting no one to raise their hand, I would
then describe what it takes to be one. But when I
asked the question, they all declared themselves
artists because they create things. I was off to a
great start.
I quickly switched to part two of my
presentation and, like a magician, opened my bag
of tricks. I showed them how my wooden paint
box unfolded into an easel. On the easel, I placed
a stretched canvas and passed out sample pieces
of canvas for each of them. I talked about brushes
and why I used some very big ones…a four
inch brush is really big to a little kid. I showed
them my favorite palette that is grey and a little
bumpy and why grey is a good thing. They liked
the palette knives…maybe because knives and
school don’t go together any more.
Switching to paint, I asked them, if they had
but three choices of paint color, which would
they choose? Shouts of pink and green led into a
discussion of primary colors from which all other
colors are made. Using acrylic paint, I attempted
to show them what happens when primaries
are combined, but the kids already knew their
secondary colors and told me which color I was
about to produce. But they liked what happened
when, with my palette knife, I smeared the paint
and made something abstract.
I told them that what an artist hopes to convey
April Meeting Guest Presenter—Armor Keller
F
with his work may not be what a person viewing
the art sees and this is okay and as it should be. A piece of art should have mystery and hold
your attention. I showed them photos and how I
combined things and changed things and created
something else.
I don’t consider myself an abstract painter but I
have created some works. Interestingly, the kids
spontaneously saw things in those paintings that
some adults take prodding to see. It was very
gratifying hearing their comments about my other
paintings, which I showed them. One painting, of
a rather attractive woman, brought a shout from a
boy in the back, “I want to marry her!” Maybe,
it would be better if we had kids judge some of
our art shows. They certainly are less inhibited
or political.
A I finished, I realized I had been talking
for over an hour… so much for the 20 minute
attention span of 6 year olds. It was a wonderful
experience for me. I walked away thinking that
maybe I rubbed the imagination of one those kids
and made a genie awaken. Only time will tell. As for my time, it was well spent. The kids got
to meet an artist and learn a few things. I got the
chance to test my skills with an audience that said
whatever they were thinking. I also learned that 6
year olds know a lot of stuff.
Note: The students are members of the
Gingham Giraffe Preschool and were studying
“Art of the Masters” taught by Sally Tracy. B
by Susan Hogan
rom a childhood in the Deep South with no art influence at all, Armor Keller
evolved into a globally savvy pro, gathering influences from her far-flung world
travels which she took home to her Alabama studio.
“Magic City Golden Transit” is her brilliant art car creation, a re-invented
1980 Toyota wagon she covered with 1000 sheets of gold leaf then kept on going with
mirror shards, Barbie doll shoes, and luggage on top, driven by a golden mannequin she
named “Midas Mama”. Now in the Art Car World Museum in Douglas, AZ, Armor’s art
car has been featured in many magazines such as Der Spiegel, Smithsonian, and Esquire.
On display for her talk in the Janney House was a series of collaged toy cars, covered
with beads, buttons, pearls, rhinestones; each one expressed a different theme. On the
mantel behind her was a row of beaded, embellished hub caps. The mood is a fun and
lighthearted balance to the dark side of our cultural obsession with automobiles.
On Armorʼs website www.ArmorKeller.com you will discover an entirely different
aspect of her art: beautifully lush and tranquil paintings influenced by Japanese art. B
Armor Keller’s Art Car
AOY
artists of yardley
Road Trip
8
Annual American Watercolor Society Show by Diane Greenberg
E
very April the Salmagundi Club in New York City hosts the
American Watercolor Society’s International Juried Exhibition.
The show draws incredible talent from around the world and it is
always a treat to see. It runs for one month, free and open to the
public. A catalog of winning pieces and a CD of all the works is available
for sale at the exhibition.
Most of the pieces are transparent watercolors but there are acrylics
and pastels on display too. The works range from representational to very
abstract.
Former AWS award winners give free demonstrations on Tuesday
evenings from 6 to 8pm. These demo’s are open to the public on a first
come, first serve basis. This year marks the fourth demonstration I attended.
Every demonstration is completely individual and highly inspiring!
Accomplished and entertaining artist, Antonio Masi, gave this year’s
demonstration. He has been painting the bridges of New York City for the
past 10 years. Masi began by describing his background and how his artistic
journey evolved. As an established oil painter, he had no interest in taking
up watercolors until his wife signed him up for a workshop. Now he thanks
his wife for opening up his eyes to this medium. Masi begins each piece
Artist Demonstrator—Antonio Masi
with detailed drawings
that he does on site.
He also photographs
his subject. Both pastimes have become difficult to pursue since the terrorist attacks on September 11,
2001. Because of his chosen subject matter, he was detained and questioned by police.
Each painting begins with powerfully graphic, value drawings done with an Ebony pencil on 300lb
full-sheet watercolor paper. The paper is tacked to a wall in his studio where he works the watercolor
paint vertically into his graphite drawing. Masi paints with many layers of color to achieve an ethereal
affect. He also puts away his reference material at some point, and then continues to work on his
painting from memory. Masi’s teaching background was evident while he engaged the crowd. AWS announced they may have three demonstrations next year. Watercolor artists should not miss
this show. The entire experience is both inspirational and educational.
Eileen Borger, Eileen Buongiovanni, Judy Kaufman, Jo-Ann Osnoe and I went to see the
Jo-Ann Osnoe, Diane Greenberg, Judy Kaufman,
American Water Color Society show last April. It is an annual event that we don’t want to miss. B
Eileen Borger, Eileen Buongiovanni
Open House
continued from page 1
in food preparation and presentation, Gina’s husband Barry, Nancy
Thanks to the teachers who represented us in the classrooms:
Allen, Helen Comolli, Diane Greenberg and Rose Marie Strippoli for
Colleen Attara, Patrick Bartel, Oz Freedgood, Diane Greenberg, Trish
helping out in the kitchen, and to all the
Newdeck and Rose Marie Strippoli.
members who brought a dish. Thanks go
And Thanks to our generous sponsors
to Bill Hogan for greeting guests as they
for donating gift certificates and delicious
arrived, to Harshita Lohia and her husband
desserts – McCaffrey’s, Center Fruit and
Mayank for donating teas from India, to
Cramer’s Bakery. We appreciate your
Fran Leyenberger and Ted LaPlante for
support.
finding fancy easels at Yardley Borough’s
AOY’s first official open house
yard sale, to Renee and Stuart Egan
at Patterson Farm reinvigorated our
for making mammoth sandwich boards
determination to make this venture of ours
out of bunk beds and to Bobby Brown
a vital part of the community; it reminded
for bringing us fifty blue balloons. My
us that enthusiasm, motivation, hard work
personal thanks to Mary Jane McCarty
and creative thinking are an unbeatable
for helping me with the flowers and to Ted
combination for success. B
LaPlante for digging up Hostas alongside
the house so I could transplant them in
Trish Newdeck doing art with the young visitors.
Janney’s new garden.
photo by Bill Hogan
AOY
artists of yardley
Film & Call for Entries
Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child by Anne Gannon
W
hile working in New York City in the early 80’s, I watched a rebellious
creative art form known as graffiti revolutionize on subway walls and
downtown buildings. It went from being loud and unruly to stylistic.
In defiance against the 80’s new ‘me’ generation of status seekers and
designer labels, some wild young artists sought an identity of their own. Jean-Michel Basquiat
was one of them… and he was good, some say brilliant. His ‘tag’ was “SAMO”.
Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat
Skull 1981
My friend Mary Jane and I went to see “Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child”, a
one-night only show at the Ritz East in Philadelphia on July 13th. Basquiat’s friend, Tamra
Davis, filmed this documentary over twenty years ago. It chronicles the rapid rise and fall of
the Brooklyn born artist. In the late 70’s, he was a restless youth defacing subway walls, in
1981 he painted on canvas for the first time, and in 1983 he was famous. Even with worldwide
critical success, fame did not bring him peace; it made him reckless, introverted and sad. In
1988, 27 years old and at the height of his career, Basquiat overdosed on heroin.
This film captures Basquiat’s aura and mystery; a charisma that comes from a raw
combination of street smarts and sophisticated intellect. Today, Basquiat’s paintings sell for
more than a million dollars and are shown in galleries and museums around the world. B
9
Call for Entries
by Susan Hogan
“The Sixth KIWA Woodblock Print
Exhibition” The Kyoto International
Woodprint Association call for entries,
held March, 2011 at the Kyoto Municipal
Museum in Kyoto, Japan. 12 individual
prizes will be awarded. Only woodblock
prints, max size 1M X 1M. No entry fee.
Read Purpose and Rules on KIWA website.
http://kiwa.net Further info from Richard
Steiner at rks-rks1@nifty.com
Deadline: July 30, 2010
“Go Figure” A National Figurative Exhibit
The Santa Cruz Art League call to artists
for a juried art exhibit, Oct. 23 - Nov. 21 in
Santa Cruz, California. $1,000 in awards.
Let’s take a fresh look at Figurative Art and
explore the diversity of outlook and vision
throughout the country. Drawing, Oil,
Watercolor, Acrylic, Pastel, Photography,
Mixed Media and Sculpture will be
accepted. $40 for up to 3 entries/jpegs.
Website: www.scal.org - see “Exhibition
Entry Info” for prospectus, or send a SASE
to: “Figurative”, SCAL, 526 Broadway,
Santa Cruz, CA 95060.
Deadline: August 13, 2010.
“82nd Grand National Exhibition”
American Artists Professional League, 47
Fifth Ave, NYC 10003. Call for Entries for
Nov 2 — Nov 12. Slides or digital accepted;
representational or traditional realism
only; Approx. $16,000 in awards, cash
and medals. More info on website www.
americanartistsprofessionalleague.org
Deadline: August 14, 2010.
Thank You!
I would like to thank those who came out to hear my presentation at the July monthly meeting. It was definitely a hot night
and I really do appreciate the effort. Also, I must say that it was the first time I have made a presentation outdoors and with bats
swooping overhead. There is always something new to experience as an artist.
Also, thank you so much for the gifts of the official AOY stuff, (mug, cap, mouse pad and wonderful tote bag). I will really enjoy
using them.
I will become a member of AOY because I am so impressed with the enthusiasm and warmth of the group. The future looks really
bright for AOY becoming a significant presence in Bucks County and I hope to be a contributing member to that success.
Happy to be among you, Dot Bunn B
AOY
artists of yardley
Need to Know
10
We Welcome Our New Members
by Patricia Gambino, AOY Membership Chairperson
In April:
Mary Ann Lindemann, watercolor, acrylic
Daryle McCormick, painted furniture, vinegar painting and
other decorative finishes
Dan McElroy, etching, acquatint, watercolor
Janice O’Reilly, visual artist, portraits, oil
Alexis Profaci, acrylics; pet portraits/pop art style
Barbara Rilling, oil & pastel
Stephanie Nolan-Sabilia, painting; acrylic, oil, pastel & photo
Michael Villella
In May:
Rosalene Bower
Peter Bridge, acrylics, Drawing
Bernadette Caucci, acrylics, watercolor, collage work, mixed
media boxes
Mindy Chesner, pastels, watercolor
Elaine Citron, watercolor, abstract with wax resist
Deanna Finch- Cohen, oil, Pastels and watercolor in the past
Judith Fiume
Rory O’Mara
Carolyn Gabbe Valerie Pfaff
Ken Kaissar Tom Raski
Tracy Laiken Yvonne Reyes
Brian Long Kate Sweeney
Susan Loscalzo
Amy Vandenburgh
In June:
Shirley Mersky, oil, realism
Michelle Beres, painting, sculpture, art teacher
Charles Boehm
Tracy Everly, oil, plein air
Brenda Fidler, watercolor
Claudia Fouse-Fountaine, acrylic painting & drawing - more
or less realistic painting on pottery - illustrative
Cheryl Hennessey, painting, sewing
Elaine McCombs
Mindy Trost, book arts, painting, computer graphics
Robert Van Doren, photography, oils, theatre director,
playwright, lampwork, jewelry, glassblowing, charcoal, faux
finishing, photoshop artist for Courier Times “Reality” section,
crystals
AOY MEETINGS
Our meetings are held on the first Wednesday
of each month at 7:00 pm
Janney House on Patterson Farm
949 Mirror Lake Road, Yardley, PA 19067
Upcoming meetings: August 4, September 1
AOY on the Web
Check out the AOY web site for up to date listings of exhibits,
openings, and other news regarding the group.
www.artistsofyardley.org
AOY Officers President: Rose Marie Strippoli; Vice President: Hank Miiller;
Secretary: Dana Matas; Treasurer: Maggy Robinson
AOY Board Members: Nancy Allen, Colleen Attara, Oz
Freedgood, Anne Gannon, Jo-Ann Osnoe
NEXT NEWSLETTER DEADLINE
FOR ARTICLES: August 9, 2010
THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS:
Colleen Attara, John Ennis, Len Francowiak, Patricia Gambino,
Anne Gannon, Diane Greenberg, Bill Hogan, Susan Hogan,
Hank Miiller, Janice O’Reilly, Stephen Millner