Liz Macchio’s work is on its way!

Feb 16

Posted by artinsmallplaces

I have been really hesitant about picking up work online. But, I can think of worse ways!

In the days that followed Duncan’s change in whether or not he could show, I had to scramble-not something I wanted to do. I might have not picked the people and art that I did to show in my first show at the Stone Church after mine. But, Amy and Kristen, as I stated a few times before, and I will again and again, are both very, very good. My idea was crushed because I really wanted three. I could have made it work, but curation, and hanging a good show is as much an art as creating the work that goes on the walls and pedestals.

So, I was determined to get a third. I did everything aside from bribe Duncan with a lot of money to get him to change his mind. The last picture I saw on Facebook of him was taken from a hospital bed. I will admit everything from being selfish to whatever here, because when I saw that, I felt about the size of a pin-head. (From someone who is having pre-cancerous cell removal surgery next week.)

On to other remedies: (1) include myself, (2)internet, (3) local venues (4)let the show be Amy and Kristen, as I stated. Myself is always an option-not the best or preferred, unless a show is designed that way. I had gotten a few internet submissions of interest, but none that really fit. I have no time to really “pound the pavement” for artists.

I guess I play nice, because later that night I got an email from Liz Macchio. I looked at the images. I gave Duncan one last chance-like I said… I sent Liza list a few days later of what I wanted. Five days later, I started to panic, with no response from her. I had sent the list to the wrong email.

We have since worked out what she needs to frame, what she shipped today, what I will have…and this is all on an internet handshake! Can’t wait to get it! On with the show-I think all Kristen needs is a few pieces of glass!

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The Stone Church press release: “3 Views of Country”

The Stone Church press release: “3 Views of Country”

Feb 15

Posted by artinsmallplaces

 

For immediate release:

The Stone Church is pleased to announce the show entitled “3 Views of Country”, which will open on March 1, and run through April 30, 2012. The opening reception is scheduled for March 11, from 5pm-7pm. The show includes work from Amy Delventhal, Kristen Dolloff, and Liz Macchio who all have quite different interpretations of country settings and related objects.

Amy Delventhal:

Amy  comes from a long line of artists, and learned to paint primarily from her family. She grew up in western Connecticut, but moved to New Hampshire in the 80s to raise her family. She has been in exhibits for over 30 years, has shown nationally, and has received a vast number of awards. She received her first portrait commission at 14. She works in watercolor, oils and pastels.

The works included in this show are oil landscapes and pastel horse portraits. Her work is the most realistic of the group, with hints of Impressionism primarily in the pastels. She depicts the White Mountains and area rivers like someone who has hiked many of the trails, and she has. She had quit  working in oils, which were her medium as a child, and has returned to them as recently as her primary medium for landscape.

Birches, Amy Delventhal

Kristen Dolloff:

Kristen grew up in New Hampshire, and graduated Cum Laude in Studio Art with a BA from Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts in 2006. Her show experience already includes a featured artist spot at The Emporium in So. Berwick, ME in 2007, and she was included in the “Thirty Under 30” show last year in Exeter, NH.

The works included in “3 Views of Country” are silkscreens and relief prints, and are scenes and iconographic symbols stripped down to basic shapes.  An excerpt of her statement:  Exploring iconic imagery, I sometimes call attention to the dichotomy between cultural storybook ideas of the farm and actual conditions, while other times I celebrate the simplicity and beauty that can be found when one works with the land. My work is very personal, yet I feel it is relevant in wider cultural sense.

Erosion, Kristen Dolloff

 Liz Macchio:

Liz hails from Long Island, New York. She garnered her BA in Art, from the School of Visual Arts, New York, NY in 1986. Liz, like Amy, has done a tremendous amount of commission work.  She was recently included in a group show at C1 Gallery in Patchogue, NY.

The work represented here is in oils and pastels. The pastels are more Impressionistic than the oils and all are much looser than Amy’s.  In her statement, she reflects that she wants her work to be a personal interpretation, and draw her viewer in.

Red Falls, Liz Macchio

 Curator’s statement:

I challenged myself with this first show after mine at the Stone Church to bring together three very different artists treating the theme of landscape. These are not the original three that I had in mind, as Duncan McKee has an advanced case of bone cancer and is undergoing very rigorous treatment. He has a few other priorities, to say the least, and decided to not show.

Amy and Kristen cover polar opposite sensibilities, and briefly I considered using just them. Liz contacted me about the online “call for art”, and I was delighted. Though I will not have as many of her pieces as the other two, her work will act as the “bridge” I was hoping for, and is solid also in its own right.

As I initially said, I am really hoping to increase the diversity of what is shown in the area. This show fulfills that, and I hope to continue to stick to that principle.

All inquiries about sales will be handled by me, since none of the artists are really local. Please feel free to contact me with any questions, or regarding submissions at dahurst555@metrocast.net

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The upcoming Stone Church show

Since Malynda owns a venue in a small place and I curate one, I think it’s apropo to actually discuss the trials of all that here. It isn’t always easy. And, sales is only a portion. Malynda deals with product mix, and I deal with the getting good artists into a venue that is not regarded as an art venue. I hope art dealers on all levels will also feel free to jump in with comments and suggestions. We can all learn from everyone’s experience. And, artists: the same holds true here, too.

The upcoming show at the Stone Church had it’s conception as I was getting ready to hang mine there. Three artists with very diverse backgrounds and very diverse art, but dealing with landscape-related themes. Sounded easy enough…and I even know people to fill that bill.

Not so fast, buddy. I approached Amy Delventhal who is like a sister, and the response was what I expected. When, where, and how do I get it there. (I picked up a fabulous assortment this last weekend). I then asked Kristen Dolloff, a co-worker who is emerging and has a tremendous amount of young talent. Done. I did a studio visit almost two weeks ago, and picked work for the show. Duncan McKee was my third. Anything but easy. His cancer is a real detriment to him showing, or doing much, for that matter.  So, my #3 wasn’t as secure as I had hoped.

Since I took over the Stone Church curatorial duty, I have run a number of “artist calls” and gotten responses. Some good and some not, but it is fun to come home from my day gig, and look at what has been submitted. Liz Macchio was one such submission-or at least inquiry-and we have communicated and she will be contributing 5 pieces to the “3 Views of Country” show. She hails from New York, and I have never seen this work “live and in person”. We are both taking a gamble.

I am writing the draft for the press release. I have never written a press release for more than just my own work or a larger number of artists, so this is a challenge. Designing the invitation was a trick, too, because the work is so different, and I had to be extremely careful to balance the images. But, so far, it is all looking like the fight was worth it.

And, the Gatehouse Gallery and the Stone Church are the first active participants in the physical art exchange portion of Connect the Dots. The Creative Center in Newmarket is also quite interested in rotating and displaying work with us. We are not limited to any geographic locale, as Malynda stated. We are hoping this becomes a bit more than a few venues. And, why not international?

When the final publishable piece for the press release is done, I will post it here, too. I am very excited to share this work with as many as I can.

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What happened when “Art in Small Places” was read by that very type of venue’s owner

Malynda Forcier and I were total strangers until a few days before Christmas. She commented on a blog post  of mine on “Art in Small Places”, and a dialogue was started. She owns the Gatehouse Gallery, I am an artist always looking to show.

Much has happened since then.  I am now in the position of curating The Stone Church in Newmarket, NH. And, because Malynda is also an artist, we can exchange our works. This is how the exchange idea is beginning to take on life.

Three of my pieces at the Gatehouse Gallery

We have met twice, and banged around ideas as to what “Connect the Dots” should be and how it needs to work. It feels great to have it “live” and taking shape now! Brian Forcier, Malynda’s husband is also involved in this adventure as our “tech support” and idea man, on that level. So far, Malynda has done the “grunt” work of getting this online. I am designing a boatload of press right now for the Church, and that has to be given priority for me. This is kind of a baby I could not have given birth to without the Forciers, as the idea was all part of my “Art in Small Places”, but I had no idea how to build it.

So, let’s put wings on this thing!

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