You Never Know. . .

by Hank

Several years ago I was asked to show my woodcrafts along with five other craft artists at the Catskill Art Society when they were in Hurleyville,  NY. The show was low-key and if I remember correctly, I sold two or three pieces.

Several months later I received a phone call from a women asking me to create and  install a decorative wood plaque in a new retail store in NYC. Of course I did the installation and was paid very well for it.

When I asked her how she heard of me she told me she saw my work at the CAS craft show, and contacted the  curator to find me

.

A few weeks ago I showed my work along with the other members of The Catskill Artists Gallery at Port Jervis, NY at a street fair. The show was well attended, but had very few sales. In the afternoon a woman approached me and asked me if I was interested in doing an industrial sculpture for a local business. 

I met with them a week ago to talk the project over and to give them an idea of the cost.  Time will tell if get the commission.

I am one of those people who learns by doing -- the more I show my work, the more I learn.  You can never tell where commissioned work will come from.

 

"Threads" at the Cutting Garden, Youngsville, NY

by Buff

I will be part of a fiber art show at the Cutting Garden/Domesticities on Route 52 in Youngsville, NY.  The opening reception is on Saturday, October 26 from 4-6 p.m. and the show will run through November 24.  There will be six artists represented, four of whom have connections with CAG. 

When we had the gallery open on Main Street in Liberty, Helena Claire Pittman was a charter member and Jane Blake and Leslie Shaw Zadoian were consignors.  I don’t know Wilfredo Aponte or Lisa Maria Hermanson, but I look forward to meeting them and seeing their beautiful works in person. 

The artists are:

Wilfredo Aponte, who has been sewing since he was a young boy; with his gift for color and shape, he creates jewel-like wall hangings and kites that dance.

Jane Blake paints on silk, creating works exploding with saturated color, often inspired by her love of gardening.  Her work is as luminous as stained glass. 

Lisa Marie Hermanson is a collagist who explores textures of all kinds.  Her blue cross-stitch embroidered works, suggesting movement and light, will be featured in this show.

Helena Claire Pittman is a painter who noticed the possibilities in her paint rags.  She fell in love with them, and started quilting them into works in their own right.

Leslie Shaw Zadoian assembles her monumental works using cloth, hardware, found objects, and paint.  In this show, she is exhibiting her assemblages of fabric and thread, which are no less amazing. 

And me?   I usually create large, bold, colorful collaged fabric wall hangings, but for this show, I’m going to have some smaller works --  just as bold and bright, but fitting my ideas into a smaller scale.  I’ll also be showing my collaged placemats in an array of bright prints.   

Fiber art is often regarded as “craft.”  Sewing, quilting – women’s work.  It is slowly gaining recognition as real art, and it is wonderful that Anne Hart at the Cutting Garden is sponsoring a fiber art show. 

For those of you who don’t know, the Cutting Garden is literally a garden, where, in season, you can buy flowers or vegetables, directly off the plant.  You can’t get any fresher than that!  The store, Domesticities, is filled with antiques, vintage collectibles, fair trade items, and work by local artisans.  There’s also a barn crammed with goodies. Check them out at www.thecuttinggarden.org  or call 845-482-3333 for further information.  And come to the show!



"Amazon" by Leslie Shaw Zadoian



"Celestial Carpet" by Lisa Marie Hermanson



"Vessel I" by Buff McAllister





"The Cave" by Jane Blake

 



"House" by Wilfredo Aponte

 

Autumn

By Tom

I am thoroughly enjoying autumn’s change of seasons.  I doubt that the wildflowers are any better or worse than other years, but I’m noticing and enjoying them more than usual. The abundant asters splash our roadsides with whites and purples.  The trees are turning nicely and adding yellows, reds and browns to the mix of colors.  This preponderance of color drastically changes its weight as a compositional element in my photographs. It changes my thought process and also gives me a sense of urgency, because the colors will peak, then gradually fade into the browns and whites of winter.  

Next weekend, the Catskill Artists Gallery will participate in 41^st Annual Fall Festival in Sugar Loaf, NY.  It is a three day event, October 12, 13 and 14, from 10am to 6pm.  The festival is a perfect destination for a fall foliage expedition, and a wonderful opportunity to find unique holiday gifts.  Come see us!