Contact: Gloria Romeo
Public Relations Coordinator
315.425.7500 or 315.428.9205 E-mail: gromeo@twcny.rr.comWORKS OF FOUR ARTISTS IN DIFFERENT MEDIA COMBINED IN “FUSION” EXHIBIT AT DELAVAN ART GALLERY
Syracuse, NY – April 21, 2009 – The works of four artists, all detailing creativity in different media, are combined in Delavan Art Gallery’s next main exhibition called “Fusion,” opening with a reception May 7 from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm.
During the show’s run through June 18, gallery visitors will see paintings by John F. Fitzsimmons, mixed media collages by Diana Godfrey, metal and glass wall sculptures by Pam Steele, and acrylics and monotypes by Catharine Westlake.
All four artists, though differing in their use of techniques, share a commonality in that each has been producing art for a number of years, and in so doing, each has enjoyed a good measure of success.
John Fitzsimmons has been painting for over 35 years and exhibits regularly around the world. His paintings have appeared in several major motion pictures and he has had paintings on long- term loan to the US Embassy. Closer to home in Central New York, Fitzsimmons’ commissioned works include “Post Modern Reliquary, ha ha ha” in Syracuse, “ With Quiet Eyes” at Stone Quarry Hill Art Park and “Bottle Girl” at Cazenovia College. The artist says he likes working with odd scales and proportions and begins by painting one or more small studies to provide him with his natural field of vision. He paints on either stretched canvas or panels, which he describes as two very different painting experiences, and he often works with a grid to keep tract of the complicated and repetitive details.
Over the years, Diana Godfrey’s art has been featured in a host of group shows and selected exhibitions at galleries throughout northern eastern states, Pennsylvania and Maryland. She is published in the 2008 Stone Canoe Journal and the 1998 Date book of the Syracuse Cultural Workers. Her CD cover artwork appears on American Masters for 21st Century, Society for New Music, Innova Records; New American Works, Society for New Music, Opus One; and Daniel S. Godfrey String Quartets, Koch International Classics. Of her mixed-media collages, Godfrey says she enjoys expressing with color – “sometimes subdued and sometimes boisterous.” She adds, “There is no preconceived idea of the finished piece. Each artwork is an individual journey that has its own visual story to tell.”
Pam Steele is internationally known for her large-scale metal and enameled glass wall pieces that have been commissioned for numerous private and public collections, including I.B.M., Wang, Xerox and Esterline corporations; Hyatt Hotels; Lucent Technologies; Aetna Insurance; and Steelcase, Inc. She is published in Artforum Magazine; “Enamels, Enameling, Enamellists;” “Who’s who in the East;” and “The Guild Designer’s Sourcebook.” Additionally, Steele has exhibited in galleries across the country. Her experimental techniques in enameling, combined with unique metal patinas, make her pieces both painterly and sculptural. The circles and triangles she creates have an elegant, spiritual quality.Of the four artists, Catharine J. Westlake is probably the one longest at her profession. After graduating cum laude in art history in 1958 from Smith College, Northampton, MA., Westlake continued to ply her artistic expertise in studies with several notable teachers, managing at the same time to win recognition for her work. From 1959 on, Westlake has exhibited in many galleries that include solo exhibitions in the Cogar Gallery of Herkimer County Community College, Herkimer, NY; Kirkland Art Center, Oneida, NY; and Encore Gallery, Block Island, Rhode Island. Her works have been purchased from collections in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island, Washington DC and Florida. Of her art, Westlake states that nature is her soul mate. She says, “Through art, I seek discovery of facets of human personality and interaction uncovered by analogy in the natural environment.”
During the run of Delavan Art Gallery’s “Fusion” exhibit, two different shows are planned for the gallery’s Wild Card space: “Paintings by Connie Carroll” will remain up through May 23, followed by “Color Etchings From Florence” by Swietlan Nicholas Kraczyna, beginning on May 28.
DELAVAN ART GALLERY REVEALS ITS PAST WITH DISPLAY OF SYRACUSE CHILLED PLOW ON LOAN FROM ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
Syracuse NY, April 23, 2009 – Long before works of fine art graced the spaces at Delavan Art Gallery, artistry of a different kind was being produced within those walls. From 1879 – 1911, The Syracuse Chilled Plow Company operated a sprawling 500,000 square foot plant along West Fayette St. In 1911, the John Deere Company purchased the Syracuse plant and continued making agricultural equipment in the West Fayette St. plant until 1946, when it moved operations to Deere Road.
Syracuse Chilled Plow Company specialized in the manufacture of cast iron agricultural plows that were “chilled’ in a sand mold. At the company’s manufacturing peak in the early 20th century, workers made more than 100,000 plows each year, selling them to many countries around the world. The company slogan was, “The sun never sets on a Syracuse Chilled Plow.”
Now, through a loan agreement with the Onondaga Historical Association Museum, an actual Syracuse Chilled Plow will return to its former place of origin, displayed atop a pedestal in the center section of the Delavan Art Gallery from May 7 – June 13. The plow display shares the May 7 opening with the gallery’s other two new exhibitions: the feature exhibit, “Fusion” and Wild Card show, “Paintings by Connie Carroll.”
Bill Delavan, director of Delavan Art Gallery, says he’s pleased for the opportunity to display the plow in its original place of manufacture and predicts that gallery visitors will appreciate the historical connection in ways beneficial to both the gallery and OHA. Likewise, Tom Hunter, Collections Curator at the OHA Museum, is delighted to team up with the Delavan Art Gallery by lending OHA’s plow to the gallery. “Displaying the plow in the former factory will place it back in its original context during the exhibit,” Hunter says. Before now, it should be noted that visitors have often curiously remarked about the Syracuse Chilled Plow advertising print provided by a friend of the gallery, and an original sign that said “for bomb use only” which was found on a column when gallery space was renovated. The ’bombs’ referred to were probably fire- bombs that were used to put out a fire.
NOTED ILLUSTRATOR AND PAINTER EXHIBITS IN NEXT WILD CARD OPENING AT DELAVAN ART GALLERY
Syracuse NY, April 21, 2009 – Connie Carroll, known for her Illustration design works as well as for her fine art paintings is the featured artist in Delavan Art Gallery’s next Wild Card show, “Paintings by Connie Carroll,” opening May 7 through May 23. The opening reception is May 7, from 5:00 – 8:00 pm.
Though Carroll’s educational background is in illustration, she views her paintings from a fine art standpoint. She says, “To me, art is art if the formal elements of art are being employed. My version of Rene Descartes’ quote is: I create, therefore I am. I love to make pictures.”
In her own words, Carroll describes the subject matter she chooses as “somewhat irrelevant, but is simply used to tell a story of color and composition.” Inspired by the likes of Picasso, Klee, Matisse, Beardsley, Klimt and Lautrec, Carroll also draws her creativity from several trips through Italy and Mexico. She typically uses bold, primary, vibrant color combined with some drawing that is achieved by scratching through layers of paint, creating a more dimensional picture.
Viewers of Carroll’s art may recognize a bit of whimsical humor, and or, sense of movement, even in her still-life renderings. For example, Carroll’s piece titled, “Night Fishing” is from the prospective of the fishes in the sea, not from the fisherman baiting or casting his line. In paintings of floral arrangements, some flowers are pictured in bright concentric circles that seem to spin like toy pinwheels, while her calalillies stand tall, seeming to reach out to surrounding space.
Other than her show at Delavan Art Gallery, Carroll has exhibited at the International Licensing Show at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City and at the Wendy Rosen Show in Philadelphia, PA. Her illustrative design works have been commissioned by such companies as American Art Stamp in Torrance, CA; Earlville Opera House, Earlville, NY; and Girls, Inc. Magazine. She has designed billboards for Delavan Art Gallery, where also her “Cards by Connie” have sold very well. Delavan is just one of many galleries across the country where Carroll has sold her illustrative design works.
Carroll’s Wild Card opening on May 7 coincides with the opening of Delavan Art Gallery’s main exhibition, titled “Fusion,” that features paintings by John F. Fitzsimmons; mixed media collages by Diana Godfrey; metal and glass wall sculptures by Pam Steele; and acrylics, monotypes, and collages by Catharine Westlake.
Delavan Art Gallery is a 3,800 square foot showcase and sales venue for fine art created by area artists. Conveniently located in downtown Syracuse at 501 West Fayette St., just a block beyond Armory Square, the gallery is free and open to the public. Off-street parking is available and the gallery is handicapped accessible. Regular Gallery hours are Thursdays and Fridays from noon – 6:00 pm, Saturdays from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm and at other times by appointment
Exhibits:
Feature Exhibit:
“ Fusion”
May 7 – June 13, 2009
Public Reception: Thursday, May 7, 5-8 pmSpecial Display:
On loan from Onondaga Historical Association Museum, an original Syracuse Chilled Plow
May 7 – June 13, 2009Wild Card Exhibits:
“ Paintings by Connie Carroll”
May 7 – May 23, 2009
Reception: Thursday, May 7, 5-8 pm“Color Etchings From Florence” by Swietlan Nicholas Kraczyna
May 28 – June 20
Closing Reception: Thursday, June 18, 5-8 pm
