So, as I patiently seek honest West End-esque gallery representation in my immediate neighborhood, I have distracted myself with an interesting portrait series that has evolved over the previous year.

I would think most artists are intrigued with faces and capturing a variety of looks and moods. As early as 1991 it turns out, I was experimenting with “portrait combinations,” although the “Stele” was done more under the influence of Nam June Paik than Warhol’s “Marilyn Diptych.” There is a power in portrait multiples that I have enjoyed exploring.

I often do little 5×7 or 6×8 scenes and portraits and last year I was also working on some possible entries for the Torrit Grey Competition. I started using those canvas scraps you end up with after stretching the bigger pieces – scraps too big to just throw away and so I developed a system for prepping 6×8” scraps. (Eventually, I would make “scraps” on purpose just to continue this project.)

As the year progressed, and I had a dozen or so 6×8” portraits, I had spread them out next to each other trying to figure out which were “the best ones.” While some stood out, it struck me that even the “less successful ones” contributed to the group as a whole. It was like the difference between a soloist and a full orchestra – with the charm of an old family photo where there’s always one person off in their own little world.

Eventually this process evolved into a collection of interesting faces from the internet as well as surreptitious shots while out “people watching.” I prep a face in Photoshop: crop, tweak etc, and then each painting day, I pull up an image on the monitor and start in… like a cyber life drawing class.

Each face offers a chance to experiment with color and technique; once I even used a palette knife, which I rarely do! Each panel can take as little as five or ten minutes, or I can work on one all morning.

This series also challenges me over defining when a piece is done. As individual pieces, I’m happy with what I set out to capture that particular session, but when grouped together, there often needs to be a little more work that ties the pieces together.

It’s good to move in new directions sometimes and I look forward to what might result as I “face” this new year.

The first exhibit of the year is our ever popular Little Gems Show, featuring  new small works of art from our entire stable of artists.  The work is always fun, fresh and affordable!  There is a piece of art there for every taste and pocketbook.  The exhibit opens with a reception Friday, February 3 from 5-7:30 PM.  There will be refreshments and music from William Groome. 

The Little Gems show ends on March 9 and opening  on the following Friday, March 16, is another very popular show, our annual Director’s Choice exhibit.  This show features Gallery Director Linda Gardner’s  personal favorites chosen from new and existing work at the gallery.  Linda always puts together a terrific show with her choices and for this, our 35th year, we are expecting something a little special!

We will be posting the rest of this year’s schedule soon.  In the meantime, mark your calendars for these two great shows and stop in and see the wonderful work alreaddy in the gallery.  We look forward to seeing you!

Christmas Morning- James Ramsdell

As we head into the last few days leading into Christmas, we realize that this is a tense time for many people.  There seems like there is just too  much to be done and far too little time in which to do it.  We, here at the West End Gallery, would like to give you a moment of respite from the holiday craziness.  Stop into the gallery and take a quiet walk through some of the most beautiful work you can find, in this region or any other.  We have pieces that will take you away to quiet, peaceful places.

Aaron Jack-- Lidded Vessel

As we wind down the final weeks before Christmas and the New Year, we would like to take a moment to remind you of the wide range of artwork available at the West End Gallery in Corning.  As most of you might know,  we carry a tremendous variety of paintings from some of the finest artists around, in every conceivable size and price range.  But we also carry a wide range of artists working in fields other than painting.

Take for instance, glass.  We carry incredible, expressive pieces from Aaron Jack, Willsea-O’Brien Glass and Dane Jack.  We also  carry several inventive jewelry artists, such as Jen Palmer, who creates beautiful works in gemstones and copper.

Dion Wright- Zot

We carry  sculptural work from the renowned Rosie Sandifer and David Dowler, as well as the steel sculptures of Boris Kramer.  And then there is the whimsical imagination in the sculptures from the mind of Dion Wright.  His expressive creatures, many constructed from old silverware,  have been delighting visitors to our gallery for many years now.

We also carry some of the finest potters in the region.  So if you are stumped on where to find that unique gift for that someone special, stop in and visit the West End Gallery.  You won’t be disappointed.

Jen Palmer-- Necklace

Willsea-O'Brien Glass- Ruby Bowl

Rebecca Finch- Christmas Past I

Can you give us a snapshot of your life?
33 year long story short: I grew up in South Florida, started studying piano at 5 years of age, began harp lessons in my sophomore year, and earned a BS and an MA in commercial art at a college in the Florida panhandle. I have been married for 7 years to my college sweetheart, Ben and have an amazingly sweet and happy 14-month-old son, Landon. We lived for 3 ½ years in southern New Jersey and have now lived in the beautiful Finger Lakes area for 4 years.
 
I paint still lifes in oil, play harp for weddings and banquets, design custom jewelry, and am also a graphic designer for which I’ve been to France twice for magazine advertising jobs.

When did you start creating art?
I’ve been doodling and enjoying photography for as long as can I remember, but the start of my real pursuit of art took place in college. I was a freshmen voice major and found myself wandering around one of the senior artist’s exhibitions after class. I saw a drawing rendered on black paper with colored pencil. I believe that God filled me with inspiration to immediately try my hand at some art.

I had most of my homework done and it was the weekend, so I went to the bookstore on campus and bought some black construction paper, pencils and some greeting cards that had photographs on them to draw from. As I worked on my first self-imposed art project, my roommates and friends told me that I should go into art. I hadn’t told them at the time that I was having second thoughts about continuing my major in music.

As most who are skeptical of their own abilities, I was unsure whether or not my natural skills would be what it took to succeed as an artist major so I submitted my creation to the art teachers asking for their thoughts. The following semester I found myself sitting in my first art class dry mouthed, hands shaking and wondering what I had gotten myself into. But as the semester rolled along, I found myself succeeding in ways I never expected. From then on art, like music, became an extension of myself. I might curl up and die if I didn’t have a creative outlet.

Rebecca Finch-The Place Setting

How do you choose your subject matter?
Many days I am trying to squeeze in some quick painting while my little boy takes a nap. When this is the case, I usually walk through the house and grab an object that catches my eye or something I had noticed earlier in the day. It’s usually color, lighting, an edge or texture that grabs my attention, but almost always it causes an emotional response. After selecting one object I get an idea for the feel of the painting and am able to choose some smaller complimentary objects, and I add color with some fabric, flowers or fruit. Sometimes I can see the painting or portions of it finished in my mind and I can also feel how it will be to paint certain parts of the painting.

Many times some of the objects have sentimental value to me. I’ve painted many wedding or anniversary gifts, items from my husband, trinkets that remind me of places we’ve been or people who are special to me or have passed on. Recently I have begun adding objects that have a symbolic meaning to me, and I feel this adds needed depth to my paintings.

Who has influenced your work?

I continue to be entranced by Richard Schmid’s work for his practical and wise technique. I love Carol Marine for her gorgeous colors, fun painterly edges and creative cropping of her subject matter. I also find John Singer Sargent to be one that I continue to look back at for his subject’s hands, and for placing only necessities on the canvas.

I also dabble in children’s book  illustrations and have a handful of illustrators whose work I love to drink in.

N.C. Wyeth

Looking at N.C. Wyeth’s illustrations for Treasure Island, Last of the Mohicans, The Black Arrow, The White Company, and Kidnapped makes me want to pull out the paints. To me Wyeth’s work is a beautiful meld between fine art portraiture and illustration. They’re completely inspiring.

Lisbeth Zerger

My favorite illustrated work of hers is the Gift of the Magi.  Swirling paint and charcoal make this heartwarming story come to life.

James Gurney

I love the authenticity of the Dinotopia books that his sketchbook style gives. And of course his detailed paintings are simply gorgeous.

Do you have a favorite piece of art by someone other than yourself? 

There are so many, I will choose from my long list of favorites.

For fine art paintings, I love Carnations and Apples by Carol Marine.

For illustration, I love Wyeth’s The Black Arrow. I think it’s the lighter backgrounds, the contrast of the men with the snow, and in some of the illustrations the trees seem to grow right out of the canvas. Brilliant.

Rebecca Finch-Just Peachy

I always have music going in the studio and it’s usually orchestral movie soundtracks. I enjoy John Williams, Alan Silvestri, and John Barry. If I’m feeling the need for some dark music, I enjoy James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer. If I need something more lively, I enjoy William Joseph.

Favorite movies?

The Forgotten, The Count of Monte Christo and August Rush.

What was the best advice you ever received that has helped you with your art? 

I really enjoy Richard Schmid’s book, Alla Prima. He shoots straight and steps on toes, but it’s a needed refreshing nudge. There’s a phrase from that book that I keep on my studio wall: “Never knowingly leave anything wrong on your canvas”. It haunts me as I paint and keeps me from getting lazy.

And as far as technique goes, squinting at my still life to simplify values has been an invaluable and necessary action I take while painting.

If you could only pass along one piece of advice to a young artist, what would that be?

Well, if it’s appropriate that I pass on advice without being a seasoned artist myself, I would just simply say fight for your art. As a stay-at-home mom and wife who also tries to fit painting into the mix, I am currently in the fight myself. We all get distracted, we have families, we have to do the laundry, we have to cook, care for each other, and do a million necessary evils in order for life to continue on.

You must take yourself seriously as an artist. Introduce yourself as an artist. Set up your work hours (even if it’s only 2 hours an evening after the kiddos go to bed) and don’t answer the phone or get on Facebook because . . . you’re working.

So with all of that you must make a plan to get into the studio. Set achievable goals and enlist the help of those around you to simply get yourself painting and creating on a regular basis. The rest (marketing, gallery leads, . . .etc.) will follow. It will involve thinking ahead, being proactive and probably less sleep. Whatever that goal is, you must keep that dream in front of you. It was gallery representation for me, and now I have new goals that I’m working toward.

*******************************

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams!  Live the life you’ve imagined.”

 -Henry David Thoreau

Rebecca Finch-Christmas Past II

 Our celebration starts at 5  and goes until 9 PM.  Music is provided by the AMA Trio  who will perform from 5-7:30 PM.  Take  a short break from the cold outside and take a stroll through our renowned gallery  and check out the great selecetion of new work that is part of current exhibit, Celebrating the Artists of the West End Gallery.  Whether you’re looking for a gift for special something or a gift for yourself,  we have pieces of art that fit most pocketbooks.

So,this  Saturday evening, come on out to Market  Street in Corning and celebrate with us.  We look forward to seeing you!

Lemon Tea-- Maria Holbein

We open a new exhibit, Celebrating the Artists of the West End here at the West End Gallery this Friday, November 18th, with a reception that runs from 5-7:30 PM.  Music will be provided by Mangione Gordon Duo .  The exhibit runs from November 18 until December 31, 2012.

This is a group effort and is a great opportunity to come in and see the entire spectrum of artists that we represent.  There is a wonderful selection of new work from nearly all of artists, those who are familiar to all and  a group of our newest artists with which you may not yet be acquainted.   We think you will like these new additions to the gallery, a few which are shown here, and invite you to see for yourself.

Hope to see you at the West End Gallery this Friday evening!

Moonlit Snow- Patrick O'Connor

Pear Obsession- Rebecca Finch

Photo: Parnilla Carpenter

A year ago, we said goodbye to our dear friend Liz Gerard.  For any who may not have known Liz well, here’s a little about her:

When I met her in 1995, Liz was a framer. Her standards were exacting, and she enjoyed the craft of presenting and preserving clients’ work, whether paintings worth many thousands, or someone’s family photos. The first time I priced materials with her, she offered a deep discount.  She said “I don’t need to make money off my friends.”

Liz was a talented artist, a potter whose work was at once quiet, inventive, whimsical, and elegant.  To me, it seemed a direct reflection of her spirit, her personality, and the value she placed on touch. She took these photos of her work for a show with her partner, Marty Poole.

Liz was a skilled and intuitive masseuse. She once told me that she didn’t think in terms of healing her clients; she tried to hold a place where they could heal themselves.

Of course, she was many other things: Devoted daughter, sibling, partner, friend. We all have cherished memories, our own Liz stories, and anyone who’d like to share theirs is encouraged.  Here are a few of mine.

In the late nineties, Liz offered me a job at Corning Art & Frame. I was recovering from a back injury, and it became obvious that simple things like bending over the V-nailer weren’t doable yet. Disappointing, but I’d learned some things about framing, and I’d also begun to learn about Liz’s thoughtfulness and generosity: She’d decided running shoes would make the basement’s concrete floor more tolerable than my work boots, and she’d planned to buy me a pair.

To Liz, this was a small thing, and if she could help, she would. If she could, she would.  We all know different sides of our friends, maybe.  But that’s such a big part of who she was.

Fast forward a few years.  Liz sold Corning Art & Frame.  West End Gallery moved to 12 West Market. One day we were talking at an opening, and Liz asked about a drawing of mine that she liked.  I’d taken it home, reused the frame, and I found the matted drawing and gave it to her.  Her thank-you card said a surprising thing: When I think about you, I think two things: Simple and true. The more I thought about that, the more I liked it.  No matter what your beliefs or approach to life, simple and true is always good. It’s become one of those measuring sticks I use to evaluate work, especially my writing: If it’s not simple and true, it’s not good.  If it can be simpler, more honest, it should be.  And so with most everything, really.

I don’t think I ever told Liz this.  She’d probably have been interested; she was interested in nearly everything (exceptions included talking about the weather, and meatballs).  She’d probably say, Oh? and laugh a little.  I wonder if she ever realized how much we all valued her take. I need to be as willing to listen, to give my friends’ concerns my full attention, to consider as carefully as Liz did before I blurt.

We learn from those we admire and respect. I learned a lot from Liz.

Not long after, I was leaving another opening when Liz pulled in.  We talked for a few minutes, and she produced an envelope and handed it to me beaming.  Open this when you get home home, she said.  When I did, I found a $1000 gift certificate at CAF.  The note explained that as part of the sale she had a large credit at the shop, of which this was only a small part, etc.  Of course, this was anything but small to me.  It was huge, stunning.  That $1000 bought a lot of mats, and enabled me to be in many shows I wouldn’t have otherwise.  Again, that’s just who Liz was. She knew I was shuffling frames, and she did something about it. When she saw a need she could meet, she did.  When she could bless someone, she did. Still is, will be as long as any of us who knew her are here.

 A few years later, another opening.  Liz was looking at my drawing Grace, and I said I should take this one home, I didn’t want to sell it any longer.   Liz said it was her favorite of my current stuff too, and asked what I liked about it.  Most of us enjoy talking about our own work, and I probably rambled some.  I’m a fairly private person, but Liz was always an easy person to talk with. We didn’t talk often, but no matter how long the interval, no time or effort was ever needed to reconnect.  I expect everyone felt that way about her.

Grace sold, and when I stopped in to pick up the check, the drawing was waiting for me, with this note:

Mark–

Moments of grace are rare–

hold on to this one.

I loved hearing your feelings

about this piece– what a gift.

When you surpass this one (and you

will) you can give Grace to me

(or not– you decide).

Either way, I look forward

to hearing about it.

                 –Liz

I’m glad I have this; it’s good to be able to share a few of her own words here.  Of course, I left the drawing for her, with big thanks.  And I’m honored it still hangs in the home she and Marty shared.

Liz liked the film Pay It Forward, and believed in doing just that.  I can’t repay her friendship, her support and encouragement, her time and thoughtful counsel.  I don’t know how much good I did her; I doubt it began to approach all the ways she blessed me.  What I can do is pay it forward, try to do something of the same for others.

It’s important to talk about the good things, to thank and honor those we love and miss. But Liz was crazy funny too, and she wouldn’t want this post to be all serious and sad and mopey. So here’s one more story, from a WEG picnic.

Parnilla and I were in the pie room reloading (well actually I suppose there was a lot of other food left, and Parni was likely considering things like salad and cheese, but my focus by that point was nearly exclusively pie).  Liz was browsing too.  Bridget came in and went into the bathroom, and Liz decided we should leave her a gift outside the bathroom door.  This was startling but a kind suggestion.  What should it be.  There was a comforting amount of pie left so I wasn’t too grudging about agreeing pie would be good.  So a slice on a plate was placed carefully outside the door.  Then at the last moment its position must be quickly adjusted so Bridget would see it but not step in it and the intended effect be minimized at best.  All done trying to maintain radio silence of course.  Except for muffled giggling.  Or at least mine.  Bridget came out and found the waiting pie and was unfazed but not unpleased and ate it.  Somewhat anticlimactic in terms of storytelling, but one of my favorite Liz moments.  Unexpected and fresh and fun.

It occurs to me now that for Liz, even playing like this involved a gift.  I think it was second nature to her.  She gave generously of any resource or capability she had.  She’d likely dismiss this, say something self-deprecating or funny. But simple and true as I can say it: Liz was one of the best people I’ve known, and we were all blessed to know her.

- Mark Reep

“Corning on Canvas” from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Houghton Gallery at 171 Cedar Arts Center sponsored by Corning Southside Neighborhood Association; 155 Cedar Street. 

An Exhibition of Gallery Artists at Exhibit A from 6:00-9:00 p.m., 41 East Market Street (2nd floor Pure Design Bldg.) with live music at Pure Design, 39 East Market Street. 

Alfred University Student Glass Exhibition at World Glass (time to be announced) at 1 West Market Street.

These 4 galleries will be showing the work of 104 artists on 1 evening. The public is encouraged to circulate and take in all four exhibits.