Open House at Sweetwater

Sweetwater Center for the Arts is a little further down Ohio River Boulevard than Bellevue, but the drive is well worth the fifteen minute investment. Located in the old Sewickley Post Office, the center seeks to stimulate broad-based interest in and support for those who create and appreciate the arts of all cultures. The recent open house does that very well exemplifying the center’s dual mission of education and exhibition.
The exhibition portion of the evening, featured in the gallery’s balcony, combined student work with that of their instructors. Some of those same instructors were demonstrating their technique on the large, open ground floor. Visitors could preview and enroll in classes taught by such well-known artists as Joyce Perry (oil), Ron Thurston (watercolor) and Celena Yussen (anime.) Brandon Jennings, who teaches cartooning (a perennial favorite), created on-the-spot caricatures and Kathy Shomo conducted a mini-class in beading. The center’s lower level (the location of several studios) featured animal art with Cindy Shaffer and ceramics with Megan Shane and Charlotte Tolliver.



The exhibition certainly provides a boost of confidence to the budding artist who get to see their work side-by-side with that of their instructors. But it is also a testament to the quality of that instruction—the students proudly hold their own in the gallery space. Catherine Brown’s untitled oil adventurously ventures into the realm of non-objective painting, a genre usually reserved for the most sophisticated artists. “Village Street” by Joseph C. Cirelli is an imaginative little landscape with bright clean color and a strong sense of compositional movement. Mayota Hill’s “Simply Fun and Fancy Free” is a fiber/mixed media piece that incorporates a variety of whimsical materials and techniques. Its title is most apropos.





Throughout the evening the entertainment was provided by Shelly Long (flute) and Jeffery Ellsworth (guitar), each of who teach their respective instruments at Sweetwater. There are many other offerings–far too many to recount. Check out the complete schedule, as well as future activities at www.sweetwatercenter.com.

Art of the Week

The Associated Artist's Annual closes January 21st



Penny Mateer
"Wish I Had a Hammer Protest Series #4
Quilt
29.5" x 29.5"
$450

Matthews Arts in Bellevue

Bellevue, famous for the “Live, Worship, Shop” sign, offers several unique and interesting establishments. The Creative TreeHouse and Affogato (the big red a) are regular stops on the blogosphere—enough so to attract several attendees of last year’s Pod Camp 2 to this sleepy little community in the North Boroughs. Also to be found here in the main business district is Matthew Arts.
If there is such a thing as the art version of the general store, Matthews is it. Local residents sit and discuss politics, provincial news and “what ever happened to…” All that’s missing is the potbellied stove. The offerings at the art center are as varied and colorful as its denizens. The lower level is reserved for studio classes; the main level offers an eclectic gallery interdisbursed with displays of art supplies, racks of postcards and bins of reproductions.
Matthews Art features a different artist every month exhibited in a salon style. The featured artist for January is Thomas Smith, aka Behon. Smith is a slightly eccentric (witness his unusual pricing scale) primitive artist who specializes in landscape painting. His naivety is less John Kane and more the stuff of Albert Pinkham Ryder. “Southern Maine” (oil on canvas) perhaps exemplifies this best with its dark and light striations. Its eerie, surrealistic mood is reinforced (as are several other works) by the delicate balance of a low chroma scheme. Included in Smith’s show are several pencil portraits of pop culture icons. His technical handling of this medium is superb and his draughtsmanship is outstanding.
Matthews Art is located on Balph off Lincoln and is open Tuesday through Saturday. The Art of Thomas Smith continues through the 29th of January.

Art of the Week

An interesting piece of sculpture at the Carnegie



Garry Pyles (AAP 97th Annual)
"It'll Be Fine"
Corrugated Fiberglass
30"x18"x18"
$500

Art of the Week

This week's offering is from the series "Glamour Behind the Lens" by Laura Petrilla. The first edition pinup-style photos are available in a variety of sizes and price range.

Laura Petrilla (Elements on Butler Street)
"Puppy Love"
Photograph
$575

Good on Paper at Fe

Considering its central location and longevity, the Fe Gallery may very well be the anchor of the Art Community on Butler Street. The current show, "Good on Paper" is an exhibit by ten regional, national and international artists; not limited to simply a show of drawings, the pieces here incorporate a variety of mediums, styles and techniques. One of the simplest offerings, in terms of materials and style, is Karin Bergdolt's "Power Lines." Executed in ballpoint pen on fifteen sheets of notebook paper arranged in a grid, Bergdolt shows us the huge man-made drawing in the sky. That intricate play of power lines is always there, changing with weather, wind, time of day and perspective. And so rarely do we even notice it.
Bergdolt, a Munich native, has established a Pittsburgh connection with her "Topology", a map of Lawrenceville gridded with hand-written notations and note card-size sketches of everyday life. Bergdolt continues her "tour of Pittsburgh" on First Night with the presentation of "Strollology" at 709 Penn Gallery.
Deanna Mance's "Teabag Series #1—5" is reminiscent of the cartographer's art as well. The small free-hand drawings are executed with a variety of media including ink, graphite, wood, teabags and transparencies and embody a love of the little things in life—intricate lines of often overlooked details. With their delicate lines and orange-sepia washes, the series evokes the visage of the map-makers engravings found in ancient books.
Also in the show are Craig Kirby's "Presciptions: Drugstore Memories" a brightly-colored array of faux labels offering remedies ranging from protective ointments to artificial tears. And the "Encyclopedia Destructica", an art-zine inspired collection harvested from sketchbooks and journals, has a display of some dozen issues. First published in 2007, the zine started as a concept in the mind of Chris Kardambikis and is available at local bookstores and coffee houses. Several stunning drawings by Ryan Roth comprise "Time Flies." The ink on vellum portraits with their mask/headdress overlays of animals, clocks and flashlights bring to mind the fantastic paintings of Arcimboldo.
Fe Gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday, 12—4; "Good on Paper" continues through February 9, 2008.

Art of the Week

I was talking the other day with a very smart friend (I know she's smart, she blogs) and discovered that she was unaware that most of the art on display around town is for sale. So, at the suggestion of another smart friend (also a blogger) I've decided to post the "Art of the Week"— an interesting piece, reasonably priced, hanginging somewhere around town. This is purely altruistic, I have no vested interest (unless I should happen to post one of my pieces.) I just think more people should buy more art. So, forego that Starbucks' latte for a couple of days, skip the sushi or just watch a movie at home.
First up—

Susan Sparks (AAP 97th Annual at the Carnegie)
Art of Noise #1
Ink, tape and magic
14"x11"
$275