Tags Posts tagged with "Winners Showcase"

Winners Showcase

 

It’s time to honor the best of the best. The Smithtown Township Arts Council will present its annual Winners Showcase Fine Art Exhibition at the Mills Pond Gallery in St. James from March 15 to April 11.

The exhibit features over 60 works of art from nine prize-winning artists from past juried exhibitions in various forms of medium including acrylic, oil, watercolor, pastel, pencil, Silver Gelatin film photography, carved plaster and mixed media. Featured artists include Christopher Hanson, Matthew Manthe, Howard Pohl, Adam D. Smith, Myungja Anna Koh, Robert Berson, Nicholas Valentino, Ross Barbera and Marianne Andresen-Magin.

Christopher Hanson (Rocky Point) specializes in figurative and narrative pieces which range in many different styles and subject matters using Oil and Graphite. Also proficient in digital media, Chris explores many facets of Fantasy, Science fiction, and Horror in his professional illustrations.

Matthew Manthe (Miller Place) has been sketching since childhood, always with a pencil and paper in hand. “I have spent hundreds of hours filling my walls with artwork.”  He exhibits in galleries across the Northeast.  “I have a passion for filling every inch of the page with detail, a practice that has fueled my art for years.”

Howard Pohl (Lindenhurst)  Howard built his first darkroom in which to develop black-and-white film in 1985. Despite the popularity of today’s Digital photography, Howard still finds the traditional method of analog photography to be motivating and continues the process to this day. He is passionate about capturing the blacks, whites, and shades of gray that make up the monochromatic palette which allow him to stay true to the negative image.

Adam D. Smith (Selden) Growing up on family boats on the waters of Long Island,  Adam has always been inspired by the beautiful coastline and the magic of  water. “I relish the challenge of translating our environment onto canvas. Whether a coastal scene, a nautical-inspired work, or simply a water portrait, I love finding the right colors to invoke a response.”

Myungja Anna Koh (Stony Brook) Anna bases her paintings on inspiration within her mind, specifically to capture and improvise the unique energy of objects. She wants to leave traces of paint on paper or canvas by using momentary, impromptu energy. She works in acrylics, watercolors, and digital art. Also a children’s book author, Anna immerses herself in storytelling in her art and her writing.

Robert Berson (Northport) has lived on Long Island all his life except for a 2-year stint in the army. As a physician for some 40 years, he did not always have the time to take lessons in drawing or painting but periodically would be drawn back to art and try to squeeze it into his days. Now retired  10 years, Robert has become more serious about his pastel art.

Nicholas Valentino (N. Babylon) “Attending Parsons School of Design gave me the skills and confidence to pursue my creativity.” Nick brings a unique and personal perspective to his art. Working with mixed media and “throw-away” items, Nick’s passion is creating a new spin on automotive parts “giving them new life and purpose through my art.”

Ross Barbera (Ronkonkoma) is inspired by the interplay and rich diversity of textural surfaces, form and color in landscape environments. Many of his works explore the visual interaction that occurs between streams, ponds and bodies of water with their surrounding landscape environments.   Ross taught at St. John’s University,  Department of  Art and Design, where he served as  chair  for three years.

Marianne Andresen-Magin (Huntington) has always loved to draw and paint. She specializes in illustration art and loves to  feature animals in her artwork. Working  in many mediums including ink, marker, watercolor, and colored pencils the beauty of nature and animals inspire her. Marianne is also an award-winning children’s book author.

The Mills Pond Gallery is located at 660 Route 25A in St. James. Regular gallery hours are Wednesdays to Fridays from 10 am. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. Admission to the gallery is always free. All parking in rear lot: GPS parking address 176 Mills Pond Rd., St. James, NY 11780.

For information or directions visit millspondgallery.org or call 631-862-6575.

 

The latest exhibit at the Mills Pond Gallery in St. James, Winners Showcase, features nine artists associated with the Smithtown Township Arts Council (STAC) who were winning artists from shows at the gallery in 2023. On view from March 9 to April 5, it features works by Eleanor Day, Tyler Hughes, Sally Anne Keller, Tracy Mahler-Tekverk, Jeanette Martone, Liz Jorg Masi, Fred Mendelsohn, Patricia Morrison, and Robert Tuska.

Eleanor Day, an artist from Pennsylvania, works mostly in oils for figurative, landscape and interior representational art. “I have a decisive style dominated by bright colors and strong outlines, suggestive of stained glass and Mexican muralists through subject matter that speaks for and to those in our society whose voices go unheard,” she said.

Tyler Hughes of Patchogue is a representational oil painter whose work is centered around the exploration of the human form and its emotions. With a profound connection to symbolism and the esoteric, Hughes’s work invites viewers into a world where ancient stories and universal truths converge.

Watercolorist Sally Anne Keller of Rocky Point is inspired by the light, color, and atmosphere provided by nature. “I grew up on Long Island and appreciate the atmosphere of all Long Islands seasons.  I capture in my seascapes and landscapes the atmosphere, fog, dust, wind, rain, and sunshine,” she explained.

Tracy Mahler-Tekverk of Kings Park said “It is important for me to constantly learn in creating my artwork, while still giving myself the creative license necessary to form a compelling piece. For all my paintings I aim to balance realism and looseness, while accurately capturing the way light wraps around the subjects.”

Jeanette Martone‘s pencil and ink drawings capture the emotions, environment, struggles and beauty of those living on the edge of life. The Bay Shore artist’s subjects are captured in a moment of time revealing their inner spirit and the beauty that can be found in the infinite details of their lives.

After being a commercial artist most of her life, Liz Jorg Masi of Smithtown now devotes her time to fine art painting. She excels in portraiture but also paints landscapes and still lifes in pastel, oil, and watercolor.

Fred Mendelsohn of Port Jefferson has carried many titles in his life…neurologist, philanthropist, author, musician, and artist. Predominantly a landscape artist, Mendelsohn works in both oil and egg tempera paints. “The bucolic fields and waterways of the North Shore and the villages of Italy are sources of inspiration to me,” he said. 

Through her art, Patricia Morrison of Coram is interested in conveying a message, wanting to make people think. Patricia enjoys beauty, jazz and nature and likes to blend these aspects in her art “to show my appreciation for the beauty in nature, and to inspire and heal others going through controversial issues.”

A resident of Sound Beach, Robert Tuska‘s paintings and drawings cover a vast spectrum of styles and mediums. His recent works are more of a pop stylized surrealism while maintaining his comic background. “My photo surrealistic paintings combine the influence of comics and accuracy of the sublime,” he explained.

The public is invited to an opening reception on Saturday March 9 from 2 to 4 p.m. to meet the exhibiting artists and view their work. 

Mills Pond Gallery is located at 660 Route 25A, Saint James. Hours of operation are Wednesdays to Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends from noon to 4 p.m. (closed March 31.) For more information, call 631-862-6575 or visit www.millspondgallery.org.

By Tara Mae

One of the most generous gifts of an artist is the ability to translate private inspiration into communal offering so that viewers experience, rather than simply assess, art. 

The latest exhibit at the Mills Pond Gallery in St. James, Winners Showcase, features six local artists associated with the Smithtown Township Arts Council (STAC) who employ their craft as a means of communication with the world around them, enabling patrons to appreciate the simple intricacies of both everyday existence and the natural world. 

On display from Jan. 28 to Feb. 24, the exhibition presents approximately 55 pieces in multiple styles by Rhoda Gordon of Port Jefferson Station, Paul Mele of Island Park, Renee Caine of Holtsville, Karin Dutra of Port Jefferson, Catherine Rezin of Nesconset, and Angela Stratton of Selden, all of whom have shown at the gallery before. 

Gordon, Dutra, and Mele were winning artists from the 2022 Winners Showcase while Caine, Rezin, and Stratton were winning artists from the 2022 exhibit Long Island Landscape: From Awe to Action. 

“I love the Winners Showcase, as it is an opportunity to see a larger body of work from each artist. It is so interesting to sometimes discover that even in works of different mediums or color palettes, a common thread connects all their work either in technique or their creative voice and what they are trying to say in their work,” said Allison J. Cruz, Executive Director at the Mills Pond Gallery.

More than entertainment and aesthetics, art is an intimate conversation between creator and consumer. Featuring works in oil, acrylic, and pastel as well as photography and mixed media works in pastel and watercolor, pastel and ink, and watercolor and gouache, this exhibit is a dialogue in which the artists speak through their work. 

 What they choose to say is at their discretion. Winners Showcase has no particular theme and, once invited to participate, artists submit any pieces they choose, demonstrating a range of perspectives and portfolios.

“Even artists who I am familiar with will sometimes surprise me in a Winners show with a style or subject that I had no idea they pursued,” Cruz added.  

Divergent in style and substance, these works include abstract townscapes, reflective portraits, contemplative still life, tranquil nature scenes, and evocative photography. Not bound by an overarching topic, the art is uniquely personal and unflinchingly universal. It encompasses the whimsical and wondrous, the pastoral and pensive. 

Paul Mele’s photography series Confinement,  chronicling his grueling years’ long recovery from a car accident, explores dark, seemingly abandoned spaces that nonetheless offer a hint of relief, from a door ajar or a window that permits stubbornly optimistic sunlight to stream inside. 

“I kind of feel my work balances between a positive and negative, light and dark. I tend to be drawn to images that are more dark, but there is a lighter overtone in my work,” said photographer Paul Mele. “This is the most personal thing I have ever done.”

Hope is perhaps the component that appears in each print and on every canvas throughout the show: hope for a brighter future, hope to be understood. In subdued tones and vivacious palettes, realistic renderings and abstract observations, this ambition transcends from artists to audiences. 

Sharing art is an inherently brave act, making one vulnerable to public consumption while seeking understanding from those who observe and perhaps, admire. “It is nice when people see your work, relate to it, and appreciate it for it is,” Mele said.  

Catherine Rezin, a multi-genre artist, shares this sentiment, and views art as a means to forge a benevolent connection.

“In general, I want to portray the positive feeling I have of the subject to my viewer,” she said. 

Through strokes of watercolor and gouache paints, this attitude is revealed in her vibrant vistas, lush landscape, and affectionate portraits alike. She began exhibiting her art three years ago, after retiring from her career as a commercial artist. 

“I am now enjoying creating art for the love of it,” she added. 

Such passion is evident throughout Winners Showcase, a celebration of the courage of creation and ecstasy of expression. 

The public is invited to an opening reception on Saturday, Jan. 28 from 1 to 4 p.m. to meet the exhibiting artists and view their work. 

Mills Pond Gallery is located at 660 Route 25A, Saint James. Hours of operation are Wednesdays to Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends from noon to 4 p.m. 

For more information, call 631-862-6575 or visit www.millspondgallery.org.

'Love Spark' by Ron Becker

By Heidi Sutton

It’s time to celebrate the best of the best. This Saturday, the Smithtown Township Arts Council opens its annual Winner’s Fine Art Showcase at the Mills Pond Gallery in St. James. The show will highlight the talents of seven artists who were prize winners in the gallery’s 2019 and 2020 juried exhibitions. 

It is a show that Allison Cruz, Executive Director of the Mills Pond Gallery, looks forward to every year. 

“I always love the Winners Showcase! It gives us an opportunity to enjoy a larger body of work from these talented prize winning artists,” she said.

‘For My Mother’ by Caryn Coville

“For the artists, it is an excellent opportunity to share work with gallery visitors that they either haven’t shown or maybe was not selected in recent juried exhibitions. For me, this is an opportunity to find out more about the artists … maybe find out that they work in different mediums or styles other than those exhibited in our shows. It is always an adventure!”

This year’s Winners Showcase features artists from Long Island as well as Idaho, Buffalo, Maine and New York City. 

“The out of town artists will show only a few works in this show … we could not expect them to pack and ship many pieces to the gallery,” explained Cruz. “We are grateful for their participation and the opportunity to see what artists across the country are creating! The public can explore a larger body of their work on our website.”

Participating artists and the juried exhibits they were in are: Ron Becker (Deer Park) “Celebrating Creativity”; Caryn Coville (Greenvale) “Hand Drawn”; Lupe Galván (Idaho) “Hand Drawn”; Yuke Li (New York) “Transformations: Figures of Our Other Selves”; Joseph A. Miller (Buffalo) “Contemporary Realism”; Holden Willard (Maine) “Transformations: Figures of Our Other Selves”; and Patty Yantz (Setauket)  “Water, Water Everywhere.”

Cruz invites the public to come see this amazing exhibit. “There is nothing like standing in front of these original works of art … seeing the brushstrokes … and feeling the passions and the messages in their pieces. Enjoy the exhibit and experience Art’s capacity to bring joy and hope in challenging times.”

Mills Pond Gallery, 660 Route 25A, St. James presents the Winners Fine Art Showcase from May 8 to June 6. Gallery hours are Wednesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends from noon to 4 p.m. Social distancing and the use of masks is required and limited numbers of visitors (25) are allowed in the gallery at one time (5 per gallery room). Admission to the gallery is always free. 

For more information, call 631-862-6575 or visit www.millspondgallery.org.

Images courtesy of Mills Pond Gallery

By Heidi Sutton

Do you have a case of the winter blues? A surefire cure is a visit to the Winners Fine Art Showcase, currently on view at the Mills Pond Gallery in St. James through Feb. 15. The gorgeous exhibit features the works of local artists Ross Barbera, Kyle Blumenthal, Julie Doczi and Liz Kolligs, who won the 2018 Members Showcase, along with Cliff Miller who took first place in the 2019 Water, Water Everywhere exhibit. The artists were selected by juror Dawn Lee, art curator of the Omni Gallery in Uniondale, professor and chair of the art department at St. Joseph’s College, and coordinator of the artist-in-residency program at Fire Island National Seashore. An artist reception was held on Jan. 25.

According to STAC’s Executive Director Allison Cruz, the annual exhibit was created over 30 years ago “to allow the public to experience a larger body of work from winning artists.” Each artist chose from 6 to 14 of their favorite pieces to showcase and then Cruz was tasked with the design aspect, filling four gallery rooms and the center hall on the first floor of the historic 1838 Greek Revival mansion.

“That is my favorite part of the show … those days before when I get to spend time with the works and figure out how each piece might be best presented in what space,” she said. “It’s a challenging puzzle but so satisfying and I really learn so much about the artist during this time.” 

The executive director is proud of the end result. “I think this is an impressive exhibit. There is such a wide variety of painting styles and mediums and techniques by five accomplished artists … and all from Long Island! Viewers should easily connect with the works in this show.”

While completely unintentional, much of the artwork shares a common theme − the beauty of Mother Earth. “I love the threads of nature that run through almost all the works in this show,” said Cruz. “Each artist clearly has a love and respect for the natural world. Although their work is very different in style, medium and color palette, that theme is strong throughout the show. That does not usually happen in a Winners Show but when it does it is just wonderful. It makes for a strong exhibit.” 

A perfect example of this is “Mountain Mallards” by renowned illustrator, portrait artist and muralist Cliff Miller. Beautifully executed, it is sure to be a conversation starter (yes, it is an oil painting; no it is not a photograph!). The Seaford resident has several other pieces in the show including a jaw-dropping Western-themed portrait titled “Desperado” and a humorous oil on gesso panel piece titled “The McDivots,” which features a golfer riding an alligator to the next tee.

Pastel lovers will be drawn to Julie Doczi’s delicate landscapes including “Croatian Stream,” “Connecticut Marsh” and one of the artist’s favorite, “The Lavender Harvester.” In her artist statement, the Port Jefferson Station resident said, “My journey into painting as an adult began when I encountered the medium of pastel. I began to find my view of the world around me opening up in a way never experienced before. It is a joyous experience to put these perceptions onto paper, to capture a scene and ultimately have it achieve its own unique identity.” Doczi’s “First Bloom” depicting a blue morning glory is simply stunning.

If you have a soft heart for horses, you’ll love the large equine oil on canvas paintings of Liz Kolligs including “A Herd of Your Own,” “Reflection” and “Bell – A Portrait.” The artist also has several beautiful wildlife paintings on display including “At the Edge of the Woods” and “Mill Neck Creek.” As a lecturer and demonstrator of equine painting techniques and anatomy throughout Long Island, the Glen Cove resident has truly perfected her art.

Perhaps the most unique art represented in the exhibit is by Kyle Blumenthal, who also has the most pieces in the show. Drawing inspiration from nature, her large 3-D paintings made from fabric, including several from her “All the Future Is in Today” series, explore the ocean and the Earth in an abstract manner. 

“I like to see my work float in midair,” the Stony Brook resident said in a recent interview with TBR News Media. “More and more of my paintings have started to come away from the wall as if to free themselves from restrictions and straight edges.”

Rounding out the exhibit are the massive landscape paintings of Ross Barbera. Created in acrylic on canvas and watercolor on paper, Barbera “strives to create images that communicate a sense of beauty, painterly integrity, and capture specific places in terms of time, light, space and texture,” according to the Ronkonkoma resident’s artist statement. One can’t miss the 48- by 72-inch winter-themed piece, “The Athabasca Glacier, Alberta Canada” or the eye-popping “Bonnie’s Summer Garden.”

“These talented artists are making passionate statements about the things they value in this world but in a gentle way,” said Cruz. “There is so much room for wonder!”

The Mills Pond Gallery, located at 660 Route 25A, St. James, will present the Smithtown Township Arts Council’s Winners Showcase through Feb. 15. The gallery is open Wednesdays to Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call 631-862-6575 or visit www.millspondgallery.org.