Summer : Celebrating the Creative Journey
WHAT:
“Summer Feature: Celebrating the Creative Journey” featuring the six exceptionally talented artists listed above who work in a variety of mediums including watercolor, mixed media, acrylic, and oil.
Exhibit on display: June 14 – July 11
WHO:
- Jennifer Fais of Cameron Mills, NY
- Edd Tokarz Harnas* of Honolulu, HI
- Christina Johnson of Elmira, NY
- Joseph A. Miller of Buffalo, NY
- Wilson Ong* of Coeur d’Alene, ID
- Judy Soprano of Livonia, NY
*Formerly of Corning, NY
WHEN:
Opening Reception:Friday, June 14, 5:00-7:00pm Music will be performed in the Upstairs Gallery by harpist, Meredith Kohn Bocek.
WHERE: In person
West End Gallery
12 West Market St. Corning, NY
(and online at WestEndGallery.net)
WHERE: Online
www.WestEndGallery.net
Exhibit will debut online by 11am on Opening Day
(and in person at West End Gallery)
West End Gallery announces the opening of its newest exhibit, “Summer Feature: Celebrating the Creative Journey”, featuring six exceptionally talented artists: Jennifer Fais of Cameron Mills, NY; Edd Tokarz Harnas of Honolulu, HI; Christina Johnson of Elmira, NY; Joseph A. Miller of Buffalo, NY; Wilson Ong of Coeur d’Alene, ID; and Judy Soprano of Livonia, NY. There will be an Opening Reception on Friday, June 14th from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Music will be performed in the Upstairs Gallery by harpist, Meredith Kohn Bocek. The event is free and open to the public. Families are encouraged to visit.
Jennifer Fais: In her Artist’s Statement, Fais states:“Making art is an expression of love. I have loved nature since my parents chose “Green” as my middle name. Rivers, wetlands, meadows – they all stir my heart. Painting them is one way for me to connect to the natural world, so, it should be no surprise that I have painted many landscapes, waterscapes, and bridge scenes.
I have a variety of subject matter for my watercolors, acrylics, and drawings. Recent subjects include marsh birds – especially the Great Blue Heron. Using a loose wash-and-splatter approach, I paint watercolor and acrylics on a gessoed collage of papers which often results in exciting, unexpected edges and colors.
My work tends to be representational, and I also enjoy painting the constructed landscape, close-ups of churches, the Rockwell Museum, area schools, the “Little Joe” tower, Centerway Bridge, the clock tower, and other structures in and around Corning, where I have lived for thirty-plus years. I also paint house portraits delighting in the architectural detail that endears the home to its owner as well.
My work has been shown in numerous juried shows, most recently the Schweinfurth Art Center’s “Made in NY 2013” which opens March 30. I show my work exclusively at West End Gallery.
Edd Tokarz Harnas: Except for attending an occasional workshop, this Corning native is a self-developed artist who enjoys experimenting with technique, media, and subject matter. His interpretations vary from the charming aspects of the Hawaii landscape amid urban sprawl, to the landmarks of his birthplace, portraiture, and figure studies. Harnas’ artwork has been featured on stage for Corning Summer Theatre and in an article in “Equine Images” magazine. Selected by noted art curators, critics and fellow artists, Harnas’ work has been included in many exhibitions across the United States. His paintings and drawings continue to find enthusiastic collectors across several continents.
Christina Johnson: Christina Johnson was born in Johnstown, New York, a small town outside of Albany, New York. The State University of New York in Potsdam awarded Christina her Bachelor of Art in Studio Art and her State of New York Teaching Certification in the Area of Art in May of 2006. She continued her education at SUNY Potsdam, completing a research thesis pertaining to the integration of the arts into the regular classroom setting. She was awarded her Master of Science in Education for the area of Curriculum and Instruction in August of 2007. In 2009 Christina was accepted to the Graduate Painting and Drawing Program at Louisiana State University in 2009. She was awarded her Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art in 2011.
Christina has taught foundational arts courses at Corning Community College and 171 Cedar Arts Center and worked as the Museum Educator at the Arnot Art Museum. Christina works at The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes and maintains her studio practice in Corning, New York.
Joseph A. Miller: Joseph is an Associate Professor of Art at S.U.N.Y. Buffalo State, where he has taught drawing and painting since 1997. His work is in numerous public and private collections and has been shown internationally.
In his Artist’s Statement he says: “I focus primarily on the human figure depicted in environments that create a context for psychologically charged, open ended narratives. Many of these narratives explore ideas about power and vulnerability.
Quality of light is a common theme. In particular, the way in which atmospheric light and locale can suggest a sense of mystery and silence. These works are dark, humid, and hopefully, at their best, memorable. For me, the most successful are those that evoke the feeling that an event is about to happen or has recently happened.
Images of figures or figures in landscapes, in groups or in isolation, share a common feeling of significance. Wholly absorbed within themselves or the dialogue shared between one another, they wait for the unfolding of their private story.”
Wilson Ong: Received Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Painting and Drawing, 1982 Brigham Young University. Attended New York City’s Art Students’ League in 1983. Studied with nationally renowned figurative artists Ted Seth Jacobs and Harvey Dinnerstein. In his Artist’s Statement, Ong says:
“The process of painting has always been a challenging and rewarding experience. However, like other artists I venture to say something in my artwork, whether in how the pigment is applied, the symbolism that is conveyed, or through its design. I am intrigued by many subjects. The contrast of objects, figures, and shapes have become the starting points to develop a dialogue of ideas which have interested me, whether they may be serious or whimsical.”
Judy Soprano: “I opened the door to my creativity and found my soul. I grew up on a farm so my love for the rural scenes is easily seen in all of my paintings.
I love the way farmers construct barns and sheds on their farms. It seems to me to be very creative for one barn to be built then the add-ons come as the years go on and as the need arises.
Our barn was the playground for my brothers and me. It was our Tarzan swing, our fort for cowboys and Indians and our castle for the king and queen (I was always the queen).
My next love is trees. I love them in the winter when you can see their bones. And next come shadows. The way shadows run across the land…I can see them moving when I paint them into a winter scene. They show me how the land lies and how it rises and falls over the bumps in the back land of our farm.
I love to travel. In recent years, I’ve been to Maine twice, Alaska, France, Italy, and Great Britain. I painted in those places, but I always come home to paint my barns and my favorite time of the year, Winter, of course.
The greatest compliment I ever received was when my nephew at age 9 said he could ride his bike down the road in one of my paintings. For a landscape painter that was the best compliment ever because that little boy saw depth in the scene on the flat surface of the canvas. How exciting!
I work in both oil and watercolor, but I love to draw…my sketchpad is my constant companion.
I can’t think of a better way to say it and it sounds like very poor grammar but…” I can’t not paint.” I feel that my life has been enriched in many ways: my husband, my children & my obsession with creating art.”
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Oil Painting Demonstration with Judy Soprano
Saturday, June 15th from 11:00am-2:00pm
Join us for an oil painting demonstration at West End Gallery and meet Feature Artist, Judy Soprano! This is a wonderful, and rare, opportunity to watch Judy create an original oil painting. Judy traditionally paints in watercolor for demonstrations at the Gallery and has decided to share her expertise in a different medium with us.
Judy has a traditional style of painting. She is most well-known for her beautiful winter landscapes painted in watercolor depicting Upstate New York and her breathtaking summer and fall landscapes painted in oil of the beautiful Adirondacks.
Whether you’re an art collector, an art appreciator, a fellow artist, or an aspiring artist, this is a wonderful opportunity to watch a professional artist at the easel!
The event is free and open to the public. All events are family friendly. This painting demonstration will take place in the Main Gallery which is wheelchair accessible. We hope to see you there.
Upstairs Gallery: In addition to the “Summer Feature” exhibition in the Main Gallery, there will be artwork by more than 30 exceptional artists on display in the Upstairs Gallery on the second floor.
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Exhibit on view: Friday, June 14 – Thursday, July 11, 2024.
Enjoy In person and Online: In person at West End Gallery – 12 West Market St. in Corning, NY and online at www.WestEndGallery.net. Exhibit will debut online by 11am on Opening Day.
Pre-sales: Pre-sales are permitted.
Special Previews: Please call to inquire about exclusive in-person and online previews. Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook facebook.com/WestEndGalleryCorning to get a sneak peek!
Admission: The event is FREE and open to the public. Families are encouraged to visit.
Accessibility: Main exhibits are wheelchair accessible, and our website has AudioEye Accessibility Certification.
Gallery Hours: The Gallery is open for walk-ins Tues-Sat from 11am-5pm. Private appointments are available on additional days/hours. Please call in advance to schedule a private appointment: 607.936.2011
Contact: Phone: 607.936.2011 – Email: info@westendgallery.net