Miniature Menagerie: Stories in the Making – Paintings by David Hyde Costello

Feb 14, 2017

Hope & Feathers Framing and Gallery hosts “Keeping Our Heads Above Water”, paintings by Leverett artist Susan Valentine, January 18th through February 25th.

Late this past summer, Susan acquired a kayak. She explains:

“Leverett Pond is a tiny walk from my studio. On the pond, I was inspired to slow down. I spent many a day on the water’s surface, tooling around and being nurtured by the views, the creatures, the plant life. 

These vertical canvases arose from those experiences. I used my phone for reference photos… Inspiration for the format of these paintings. I liked the way this vertical view led me from the plant life below my boat all the way to the sky. Some of these paintings are collaged interpretations and others are representative of what I really saw.

Since November 8th I have been in a state of confusion/depression. I’ve been transported to the promise of a nation I don’t recognize, force fed by a faction which voted, in desperation, humanity’s dark side. I found myself locked in a downward spiral; feeling helpless and useless. Feeling less than my usual self and far less than contented.

Nevertheless, I step up to the canvas again and again. Persistence pays off. November was a tough month. By December, though, I found that my heart had lifted a touch… And once again I began to be nurtured by the act of painting pictures. There is power in making one’s own happiness and I began to feel more positive, more awake and more myself.

I hope that something of the ease I find in this process is transmitted to the viewer. And out of that respite, activists may return to the job at hand more effectively, renewed by having spent some time with my first summer on the pond.”

Susan’s intention is this exhibit be a respite from what is likely the most important issue of our political/social times. She’d like people to feel that they’re in good company here in the valley, and that the job ahead of us is paramount but we need to take care of ourselves to be effective.

A reception will be held on Thursday, February 2nd, in conjunction with Amherst Arts Night Plus, from 5pm to 8pm.

About Susan Valentine
Susan studied first graphic design, then painting at Greenfield Community College. She has held studio space at Leverett Crafts & Arts in Leverett since 2013 and very much enjoys the support of the community of artists there. Her work has been in numerous group and solo shows in western Massachusetts since 2012. www.susanvalentineart.com

 

Keeping Our Heads Above Water: Paintings by Susan Valentine

Dec 22, 2016

Hope & Feathers Framing and Gallery hosts “Keeping Our Heads Above Water”, paintings by Leverett artist Susan Valentine, January 18th through February 25th.

Late this past summer, Susan acquired a kayak. She explains:

“Leverett Pond is a tiny walk from my studio. On the pond, I was inspired to slow down. I spent many a day on the water’s surface, tooling around and being nurtured by the views, the creatures, the plant life. 

These vertical canvases arose from those experiences. I used my phone for reference photos… Inspiration for the format of these paintings. I liked the way this vertical view led me from the plant life below my boat all the way to the sky. Some of these paintings are collaged interpretations and others are representative of what I really saw.

Since November 8th I have been in a state of confusion/depression. I’ve been transported to the promise of a nation I don’t recognize, force fed by a faction which voted, in desperation, humanity’s dark side. I found myself locked in a downward spiral; feeling helpless and useless. Feeling less than my usual self and far less than contented.

Nevertheless, I step up to the canvas again and again. Persistence pays off. November was a tough month. By December, though, I found that my heart had lifted a touch… And once again I began to be nurtured by the act of painting pictures. There is power in making one’s own happiness and I began to feel more positive, more awake and more myself.

I hope that something of the ease I find in this process is transmitted to the viewer. And out of that respite, activists may return to the job at hand more effectively, renewed by having spent some time with my first summer on the pond.”

Susan’s intention is this exhibit be a respite from what is likely the most important issue of our political/social times. She’d like people to feel that they’re in good company here in the valley, and that the job ahead of us is paramount but we need to take care of ourselves to be effective.

A reception will be held on Thursday, February 2nd, in conjunction with Amherst Arts Night Plus, from 5pm to 8pm.

About Susan Valentine
Susan studied first graphic design, then painting at Greenfield Community College. She has held studio space at Leverett Crafts & Arts in Leverett since 2013 and very much enjoys the support of the community of artists there. Her work has been in numerous group and solo shows in western Massachusetts since 2012. www.susanvalentineart.com

 

 

RSVP for Artist Reception – February 2nd, 2017

A Sneak Peek…

Jam Side Down: Mosaics by Isabel Margolin

Oct 12, 2016

Hope & Feathers Framing and Gallery hosts Jam Side Down, mosaics by Amherst artist Isabel Margolin, November 2nd through 23rd.

Isabel Margolin’s path to mosaics was a result of several paths not taken. Specifically, had her second grade teacher not cited her artwork as a demonstration of how not to draw; had her lack of manual dexterity and 20/20 vision not prevented her from competency in a jewelry course; and had her attempts in pottery not resulted in unintended malformed objects, she might never have signed up for a weekend course in mosaics, where her native inclination for creating patterns with color, texture, and materials found fruition. Add a risk factor — because her mosaics are done in the indirect method — and the synergy between artist and medium is complete.

Isabel creates mosaics via the indirect method: materials are placed face-side-down on sticky paper, then turned over onto a bed of cement. It is through a certain controlled randomness, a willingness to cede expectations to gravitational forces and sticky tape, that she applies the indirect technique to expand the boundaries of this art form. It is a process of chance, choice, and discovery.

Isabel’s mosaics are also available for purchase in our online shop.

About Isabel Margolin:
Isabel has been creating mosaic art since 2009, and exhibiting her work since 2011. Her art has recently shown in juried exhibits at the Society of American Mosaic Artists in San Diego, CA, and Philadelphia, PA; and the Museum of Biblical Art in Dallas, TX. She currently resides in Amherst, MA. www.isabelmargolinmosaics.com

Q&A with Isabel

What inspires you?
Wallpaper, fabric, sewer covers, fashion, art, marbles, and the list continues. It is inspiring to look at the arts in different cultures and at different times: samplers from the 1800’s, modernist jewelry by Al Smith, ceramic decoration by William Morris, or the dynamic Memphis Movement. Some of these artists were products of their environment, others changed their environment.

Where do you work?
I work in my son’s old bedroom. It can feel fairly cramped with a large bed and five bookcases filled with jars containing glass. Even the cat has trouble navigating the narrow path to my work desk. That said, not having designated studio space has not impeded my work or creativity.

What is your creative process like?
I use a technique called the indirect method. This means that I place pieces of cut glass face-side-down on sticky paper. Because much of the glass I use has a black film on the back, it makes it difficult to figure out the effectiveness of my color choices. It is also difficult to judge whether the pattern is well-executed, or a mish-mash of ideas. Where most artists’ shun the indirect method, and I am sure you understand why, it gives me permission to be daring. In other words, it really ups the learning curve. I usually begin a piece with enthusiasm; but after a few evenings, my initial confidence turns to anxiety. My faith is slightly restored by the end of the process, but I am never really certain whether the piece is a success until the cement has dried and the grout has been applied. When it works, it is magic.

Advice to old artists:
Art, any type of art, enhances your daily life. Just the act of going to a museum makes your world view expand. Don’t let limits like age, race, gender, or class, stop you. Find a medium that inspires you and get to work.