January Art Matters

Jerry Uelsmann (born 1934) Untitled, 2003 Gelatin silver print 19 3/8 x 15 in (49.1 x 38 cm) © Jerry Uelsmann. This and other photo montages by Uelsmann will be on display in the exhibition “The Mind’s Eye” at the James A. Michener Museum, Jan. 19 to April 28.

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Friday, December 28, 2012

A celebration of women

ames Ingraham’s fine art photographic works of art are much more than endearing images of women; along with conveying strength, confidence, self-awareness, defiance and even ownership, the message throughout his collection is that women are to be honored, celebrated and appreciated for the beauty that they all possess, especially women of color.

Ingraham’s images reflect his efforts to also exude the warm feelings of memories, emotions, grace and elegance.

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His powerful images, along with his passion and devotion, are projected from the image on the canvas and create an emotional connection with his viewer. His inimitable style has been referred to as being “romantic, challenging and intriguing,” as he “brings a sense of peace and reflection to the modern-day world.”

Ingraham’s photographic style of replicating and melding the techniques and styles reflecting the perspective of the old masters using todays photographic methodologies and his cultural

ideology that especially women of color deserve to be subjects of fine art collections has been his passion and mission.

His interpretation of the human figure, especially the female figure, evokes sensuality, a sense of innocence and still a sense of pride, ownership of self-worth and strength; the images embody complex imagery, dynamic human forms and serve as symbols that all women can offer pure enjoyment, pleasure and value and appreciation as collectable works of fine art.

Ingraham’s work has been exhibited in galleries and is displayed in private collections throughout the nation and globally; he can be reached at 856-589-9114 or email at jameseip@ electronicimagingplus.com and his work can be viewed at www.electronicimagingplus.com.

Ivy Wilson Gallery Owner/ Artist/ Ivy Chaya Art Gallery 106 E. Pine St. Millville, NJ 08332 609-425-3510 www.ivychayaart.com

James Ingraham with several of his artistic nudes.

Winter Exhibit at ABstract EXpressions Gallery

ABstract EXpressions Contemporary Art Gallery announces its winter exhibit of works by Monmouth and Ocean county, New Jersey artists Jean Hutter, Wayne Lerman, Lorraine Madsen, and Leona and Scot Shultes.

“These artists are old friends and long-time painting colleagues of mine as well as alumni of the Gallery, having been in previous shows in 2008 and 2009,” said Gallery Director James Kent. “I am pleased to present a selection of their recent works. It is very exciting to see their development over the past few years.”

The winter exhibit is on view at the Gallery from December 1 through February 23, 2013. Three “Meet the Artists” receptions will be held. The receptions will be on Saturday December 15, Saturday January 12, and Saturday February 9. Each reception is from 2:00 until 4:00 PM. The public is cordially invited.

Also on display in the Gallery are paintings by selected Gallery artists; ceramics by Veronica Kairos, Nancy Reese, Helge Speth, Rose Marie Strippoli, and Eric Wolff; sculptures by Dan Becker, Frank Krimmel,

Donna Payton and Michael Taylor; and furniture by Greg Melartin and William Robbins.

ABstract EXpressions Contemporary Art Gallery is located at 70 High Street in Mount Holly, New Jersey.

Gallery hours are Friday from 1:00 until 7:00 PM and Saturday from noon until 7:00 PM, and by appointment. Contact the Gallery at 609-267-7513, by email at ABstractEXpressionsGallery@comcast.net or visit the Gallery’s website at www.ABstractEXpressionsGallery. com.

Friday, December 28, 2012

State

of the

Art

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Murray Dessner: Master of Light

30 pieces that emphasize the most substantial phases.

The hard-edge abstracBy Adam Crugnale tions of the 1960s (lots of thick, bold shapes and hen we think ablines), the poured paintings stract, some may of the ’70s (the paint is litertend to picture a ally poured onto the canvas, jumble of colorful images resulting in movement and meshed into a psychedelic fluidity), the mysterious pattern. We think Jackson Greece-inspired paintings of Pollack — art that works the ’80s, the more figurative like a visual language and skips over describable real- “memoir” works of the ’90s and, last but not least, his atity and speaks directly to mospheric paintings (largethe heart and soul. It was scale ambrosial works that Wassily Kandinsky (1866attempt to pull the viewer 1944), a pioneer of the in, creating a surrounded abstract method, who said, “The soul is the piano with sensation).

“It’s the story of his career its many chords. The artist is the hand that, by touching as an artist,” explained Wilthis or that key, sets the soul liam Valerio, the museum’s director. “The earliest piece vibrating automatically.” in the exhibit was made The abstract, almost when he was only 25, and otherworldly pieces found from there we can follow within the Woodmere Art all the twists and turns of Museum’s current exhibit, Murray’s career in a very “Murray Dessner: A Retpersonal way.” rospective,” will certainly “Murray Dessner: A set your soul vibrating, if Retrospecnot move it tive” will completely.

If You Go be on view It works as through Jan. a homage to “Murray Dessner: 6. To view a the life and A Retrospective” few examples work of a will be on view at the of his work, PhiladelphiaWoodmere Art Museum, visit www. born artist 9201 Germantown Ave., murraydessand abstract Chestnut Hill, PA 19118. ner.com. Acexpressionist. through Jan. 6. companying Murray Admission: $10; senior & the exhibit is Dessner, a student discounts available. a brochure well-known Hours: Tuesday - Thursday, that contains and respected & Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. – an in-depth Philadelphia8:45 p.m.; & interview based artist, Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. with the artist passed away Info: 215-247-0476 or about his life, in September www.woodmereartmuhis art and his of 2012 at seum.org. artistic phithe age of 77. losophy while His work has been — or is still — on dis- also archiving his career for play at numerous locations, visitors.

Dessner explored light, including the Philadelphia color and the relationship Museum of Art and the between them in his work.

Pennsylvania Academy of This is especially evident in the Fine Arts. It’s categohis large-scale, atmospheric rized into various sections, typically by decade: Wood- paintings — some of which mere’s show contains about stretch close to billboard-

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sized creations — a brilliant expression of this dialogue of colors and how light can manipulate them, not to mention the technique required to demonstrate the affair between the two.

Showcased in this exhibit are bright swaths of color that fuse together seamlessly, lending to a sunrise (or perhaps a sunset) effect.

The paint gradually washes out only to kindle again, the cold edges giving way to arcane warmth. Dessner also titled most of his works, possibly imparting the artist’s frame of mind and the reason behind the painting’s conception.

One of his more recent efforts is a beautiful blend of colors measuring 54 inches by 42 inches titled

“Waves” (2011). It flows like polished onyx, eventually giving way to ripples of violet and blue in dozens, maybe even hundreds of hues, and eventually yields to a rounded sphere of golden light.

“The purpose to make art that size is to envelop the viewer,” said Valerio.

“Some of them are very psychedelic paintings, a primordial soup of color, if you will. Something that exists outside the confines of reality.”

“Spanish Skies, Egyptian Sands” (2007) lends heavily to the imagination. Slashes of scarlet and crimson, anchored by what could be interpreted as a fiery shoreline, transports one to the Strait of Gibraltar. The strait

One of Murray Dessner’s paintings, now on view at the Woodmere Art Museum in the exhibition “Murray Dessner: A Retrospective,” through Jan. 6.

is the closest point between Gibraltar (located at the tip of Spain) and Morocco, in Africa.

The exhibit has a $10 admission fee, but these alien landscapes of color,

along with Dessner’s other works make it an enriching experience. Though he has since passed, this artist’s memory has been carved in stone (or paint) and his light will carry on.

Wednesday, January 30 – Sunday, February 3

11 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (Sunday, Feb. 3 • 11 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)

Ellen Gavin

Eugene Coggins

Art Artshow showand andsale salefeaturing featuringoriginal original works by 100 professional artists. works by 100 professional artists.

Painting • Photography • Sculpture Painting • Photography Sculpture Ceramics • Jewelry • •Glass Ceramics • Jewelry • Glass

A portion of the sales will benefit A portion ofRetreat the salesHouse. will benefit Malvern Malvern Retreat House.

No PA sales tax and 35% of all artwork sales are tax deductible.

No PA sales tax and 35% of all artwork sales are tax deductible.

Free admission. Open to the Public.

Free admission. Open to the Public.

Rev. Daniel McLaughlin

Angela Colasanti

Jack Hanson

Feb. 1 • 5:00-8:00 p.m. | Friday Night Social Complimentary wine and cheese reception

DEMONSTRATIONS MAKE GREAT GIFTS Wed., Jan. 30 • 2:00 p.m.* | “Colorful and Contemporary, the Work of Lynnette Shelley” (Ambler) Mythology and folklore art influence. $20 fee with refreshments.

Thurs., Jan. 31 • 6:00 p.m.* | “Sculpting with Light” with Harold Ross (Lancaster County). Photography technique using still life. $40 fee includes casual light supper.

Sat., Feb. 2 • 10:00 a.m.* | “Decorating with Artwork” Malvern Retreat House McShain-Horstmann Family Life Center

315 S. Warren Ave. Malvern, PA 19355 www.MalvernRetreat.com

Suzanne Kent

Judi Larkin of Lark Interiors (Paoli). Solve the puzzle of placement and lighting. $15 includes breakfast treats. *Advance reservation required for Artists’ Demonstrations, call 484-321-2544 or email moneill@MalvernRetreat.com.

For general information, call 484-321-2534. g

Friday, December 28, 2012

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Franklin Museum gets a well-needed face-lift I

By Diane M. Fiske

n the spring of 2013, Benjamin Franklin’s image in Philadelphia will no longer be relegated to a string of wood-framed Colonial shops in the 400 block of Market Street. The shops include Franklin’s 18th century post office, which has become a place to buy souvenirs and hear of the life of one of the Revolutionary era’s heroes.

Since the Bicentennial in 1976, the oft-quoted Colonial master of many trades from postmaster through diplomat was best-known by way of a courtyard and museum behind the shops.

In this space, a 54-foot-high steel outline of Franklin’s long-demolished house designed by the well-known Philadelphia architects Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown allowed visitors to imagine the life of the 18th century hero and his family.

The outline invited guests to fill in the walls and furnishings of the long-demolished structure with more imagination than they could do in yet another Society Hill preserved house facilitated by docents.

Beside the courtyard where the “ghost house” of Franklin’s home and garden stood, a museum displayed many of Franklin’s artifacts. The museum exhibit included a reproduction of Franklin’s armonica, also called a glass harmonica, which consists of a set of graduated glass bowls on a rotating shaft that produce tones when a finger is pressed to the moistened rims. Mozart wrote a piece just for Franklin’s new instrument. Other Franklin inventions include a Franklin stove and a swim fin, an

early water wing.

In a large darkened room in the museum, a series of touch-tone princess-style phones could be picked up, allowing visitors to hear testimonials of Franklin’s work and philosophies quoted by actors portraying historic figures from Thomas Jefferson through Lafayette and George Washington.

Well, the idea of bringing the words of 18th century American leaders to Philadelphia was clever, but the princess phones became dated and the museum began to look a little seedy.

For the past six years, the museum has been undergoing a modernization and a face-lift. The courtyard, with its outline of Franklin’s house, the “ghost house,” will remain much the same, but the garden and the seating area are being refurbished and the area has been largely closed to visitors.

Jane Cowley, public affairs officer for Independence National Historic Park, said the new museum and Franklin Court will open in the spring of next year with modern equipment that will ease contemporary visitors into a knowledge of Franklin and his contemporaries.

She said of the phone exhibit that allowed guests to dial a quote about Franklin, “The old phones were installed in the days of rotary phones and we found that today’s kids had no idea how to use a rotary phone,” she said. “We changed to push buttons, but that was also hard to deal with.”

Cowley said the exhibit is being redeveloped so there would be open rooms, with each showing Franklin’s different skills, including those as a printer, diplomat, sci-

Franklin Court — Benjamin Franklin’s “ghost house.”

Franklin Court — Benjamin Franklin’s “ghost house.”

entist, businessman and so forth. A library would also display different examples of Franklin’s work.

In the museum renovation, designed by the Washington, D.C., firm of Quinn Evans, there will also be a theater showing visitors movies about Franklin’s work and his imaginative courage in exploring scientific developments such as electricity and astronomy.

The approximately $22 million project is being partially funded by Pew Charitable Trusts and the Lenfest Foundation .

“The project started with planning in 2006,” Cowley

An artist’s conception of the new Franklin Museum.

said. “We will see many changes and upgrades in the museum, the “ghost house” will remain largely unchanged.”

ers will be welcomed. Diane Fiske can be contacted at — This is a monthly column about architecture, dfiske_19118@yahoo.com. city planning and landscape design. Feedback from read-

Friday, December 28, 2012

Your Claim To Frame announces the first exhibit in the ELEMENTS series.

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85TH ANNUAL JURIED EXHIBITION ART ASSOCIATION OF HARRISBURG 21 N. Front St., Harrisburg, PA 17101

January 25-February 16 Artists are invited to submit works in any medium that are either created by fire or use fire or it’s effects as a subject matter.

Call (610) 404-4640 or email mail@yourclaimtoframe.com for a prospectus.

Deadline for entry is January 19, 2013.

CALL FOR ARTISTS!

GoggleWorks Center for the Arts 2013 Juried Exhibition Home: Interpreting the Familiar Grand Prize: solo show in the Cohen Gallery at GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, the country’s largest, most comprehensive interactive arts center.

Cash prizes for first, second & third place. Open to all media. Each artist may submit up to 3 works for $35.

Juror: Genevieve Coutroubis, award winning photographer and Director, The Center for Emerging Visual Artists, Philadelphia, PA. Deadline: January 30, 2013.

Exhibition: May 11 – June 23, 2013 Prospectus: www.goggleworks.org/ Exhibitions/Call-for-Artists/.

201 Washington St., Reading, PA, 19601, 610.374.4600

May 17 - June 20, 2013 Two entries per artist, $15.00 per entry.

Entries must be submitted as digital JPEGs, high-resolution images on CD BY FEBRUARY 28, 2013. Include self-addressed, stamped envelope with CD and entry form for notification of acceptance/ rejection. Juror: N. Lee Stevens, Retired Senior Curator Art Collections, The State of Pennsylvania.

Call 717-236-1432 for entry form or visit www.artassocofhbg.com

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ARTISTS & CRAFTERS WANTED 25th Annual Lansdale Festival of the Arts Saturday, August 24, 2013 Memorial Park, Lansdale, PA A juried exhibit & sale of fine art, handmade crafts, performing arts, cash awards, & more.

Jury will be held Saturday, April 27th. For prospectus & jury Information 215-361-8353, jgrubb@lansdale.org or visit www.lansdale.org

Sponsored by Lansdale Department of Parks and Recreation

Wayne Art Center

CALL FOR ENTRIES wayne art center

Jurors Garth Herrick and Jennifer Frudakis $2,000 in Prize Awards Artists may submit up to 3 images of companion animal works in drawing, painting, pastel, mixed media, ceramics, ���������� ������������ ����� ��� �����

Online application only.

January 1 - March 1, 2013 www.reigningcatsanddogs.com Exhibition will open April 5th and remain on display until May 4, 2013

wayne art center

413 Maplewood Ave Wayne, PA 19087 ���������������� 610-688-3553

Wayne Art Center 7th Annual Plein Air Festival Call for Entries:

Wayne Art Center is pleased to announce a CALL FOR ENTRIES beginning January 1, 2013 for the 7th Annual Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival open to artists working in the plein air method. Thirty artists will be chosen by this year’s juror, Jim Wodark to compete in the festival from May 6 - 10, 2013 in Wayne, Pennsylvania and its historic and pastoral surroundings. Works completed during the festival week will be judged for prizes amounting to up to $6000.

The exhibition will open at a Preview Party and Artist’s Reception on May 10th. Paintings will remain on display, open to the public and for sale through June 28th.

The Wayne Art Center 2013 Plein Air Festival prospectus can be downloaded at www.waynepleinairentry.com as of January 1, 2013.

Deadline for entries is March 1, 2013.

Your resource for finding artists, soliciting entries, renting art studious and for promoting your service.

For more information call 215-628-9300, ext. 226

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Friday, December 28, 2012

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Friday, December 28, 2012

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Darkroom magician on display at the Michener

Jerry Uelsmann (born 1934), “Apocalypse II,” 1967 Gelatin silver print 10 3/4 x 13 5/8 in (27.2 x 34.5 cm) © Jerry Uelsmann.

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ost of the photographs we see everyday Salvador Dali and Max Ernst, artists who were associated are readily recognizable representawith surrealism, a style that enjoyed considerable creative tions of people, places and things notoriety back in the first half of the 20th century. normally encountered Currently, a fascinating solo retrospective in the surrounding of 90 selections by Uelsmann are on view If You Go world. Generally, they in the James A. Michener Art Museum, on are made with the use of a camera and a Pine Street, next to the Bucks County Public “The Mind’s Eye,” photography by Jerry negative image, processed from light sensiLibrary, in Doylestown. The installation is Ueslmann, tive film. titled “The Mind’s Eye.” It is scheduled to will be on display at the By contrast, the photo-montages put remain on display in the museum from Jan. 19 James A. Michener together by Jerry Uelsmann are composed to April 28, 2013.

Art Museum, in the dark room from pictorial sources The overall display presents examples 138 S. Pine St., present on several separate negatives. They drawn from Uelsmann’s personal archive of Doylestown, PA 18901, are structured by employing several enlargvintage accomplishments. Besides the actual Jan. 19 – April 28. ers and very precisely executed light and photo montages, the exhibition also includes Info: 215-340-9800 or shadow maneuvers. work prints that furnish visitors with helpful www.michenermuseum.

Jerry Uelsmann (born 1934), “Magritte’s Touchstone” (first version), 1965 Gelatin silver print 13 5/8 x As a rule, the images that emerge from insights into the artist’s way of arriving at his org.

8 3/4 in (34.7 x 22.2 cm) © Jerry Uelsmann. implementing these procedures come forth as finished results. strange composites of form, rich with a sense Visually, the show is an exciting gift for of dream-like fantasy. By and large, they remind spectators connoisseurs who value the exercise of exceptionally adroit of what they find when they examine paintings conceived by craftsmanship joined with a distinctively daring aesthetic

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imagination. Clearly, the total presentation projects an array of Jerry Uelsmann (born mysteriously combined images, 1934), Untitled, 1977 each of which is extremely provocaGelatin silver print 13 tive. Perhaps the most interesting 1/8 x 10 5/8 in (33.5 aspect of these enigmatic visuals x 27.1 cm) © Jerry is the way they seem to contradict Uelsmann. the oft-repeated notion that photographs never lie. In spite of this, on a profoundly revealing level, they give poetically lyrical expression to ideas and feelings that successfully illuminate truths about reality and life.

Besides being very much at home with the language of design, Uelsmann also enjoys a reputation for his humorous use of verbal expression. Typically, one of his quips maintains, “I think of my photographs as being obviously symbolic, but not symbolically obvious.”

Born in Detroit in 1934, Uelsmann earned a B.F.A. degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology and an M.F.A. from Indiana University.

For many years, he was a professor at the University of Florida in Gainesville, where he continues to live in retirement from teaching with his wife, Maggie Taylor.

Along the way he has also offered many workshops and lectures throughout the world.

Uelsmann’s accomplishments have been honored with a variety of notable prizes. They include a Guggenheim Award in 1960 and a National Foundation for the Arts Fellowship in 1972. In addition, many of his extraordinarily inventive montages are included in major art museum collections, both here in America, as well as abroad. And, as one might expect, he has also published a number of striking books in which his photographs appear.

With the passage of time, his photographs have come to provide superb leaps of daring, demonstrating the making of offbeat approaches to photographic vision.

Together, they reflect a capacity for activating a courageous apJerry Uelsmann (born 1934), Untitled, 1976 Gelatin silver print 19 5/8 x 14 1/4 in (49.9 x 36.3 cm) © proach to the pursuit of sincerely Jerry Uelsmann. significant, personal expression.

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