Category Archives: art gallery

Eternity & Infinity

According to artist Yayoi Kusama, the world is a circle – a polka dot blip in the universe.  You’ve gotta love a person who sticks to a bit (or blip).  She’s been cultivating ways (read installations) in which to incorporate her round motif for decades.  Apparently, her obsession stems from childhood trauma – hallucinations containing an influx of dots in her surroundings.

One with Eternity:  Yayoi Kusama is currently on view at The Buffalo AKG (formerly called the Albright-Knox Gallery),  1285 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, New York 14222.

There are three gallery spaces housing three different installations.  The first contains an enormous polka dotted pumpkin sculpture.  The second is a mirrored room filled with red and white amorphic shapes. These look to be of cotton fabric stuffed with poly fiberfill.

The third room is a sort of disco style light show thingy.  You enter the room through a curtained opening and find yourself in a house of mirrors.  She calls it a mirrored infinity room.

You must purchase tickets for the Yayoi Kusama exhibition in addition to a museum fee.   There is a timed-entry feature because two of the rooms are small and require a more intimate experience.  They only allow you forty-five seconds a turn.

We were able to have more time because there were less people in attendance.  Even still, three minutes wasn’t a lot, especially when you travel over two hours to get there, lol.

There is still time to immerse yourself in polka dots.  The show continues through March 2, 2026.

Thank you, Penny, for a fabulous adventure.  So fun!

Intertwined

I was lucky enough to spend the day with my dear friend and fellow artist, Penny Santy.  It was a lovely day for a drive to Little Falls, New York where Penny’s art show, Intertwined, is currently on exhibition at the Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts (MVCA), 410 Canal Place, Little Falls, New York 13365.

Penny gave a talk today explaining her process and the emotion that defines her work.  It is to do with motion – in winds, in ocean currents and in the way people must physically move, working together to attain goals, helping each other rise up the emotional ladder too, all while intertwining with nature.

Ghostly figures emerge from the abstracted canvases, which are inspired by her personal life, one of beach water sports, travel and enjoying time with family and friends.  In addition, she infuses a tribute to Native American mores and interprets favorite poetry stanzas then titles these oil paintings accordingly.

There are seventeen paintings in the show.  Several are still available for sale.  You can view this exhibition through November 14, 2025.  See the MVCA website for the deets including hours of operation.

The Talent

Here is the flyer for the Member’s Exhibit at Baltimore Woods.  The reception is on Sunday, November 2, 2025 from 2:30 – 4:00 PM.  The show will run from November 1, 2025 to December 16, 2025.

I am exhibiting this butterfly painting.  Baltimore Woods Nature Center is located at 4007 Bishop Hill Road, Marcellus, New York 13108.

Edgewood in Color

Jim Ridlon, Tom Slocum and Rebecca Carr of Belle Pietre Designs are the artists featured in the latest exhibition at Edgewood Gallery, 216 Tecumseh Road, Syracuse, New York 13224.  The show is titled Colorful Celebrations.

The art reception was Friday evening and by 8:00 PM many of the items had little red stickers on their tags indicating they’d been sold.  The artwork is very reasonably priced with some of Ridlon and Slocum’s pieces going for $200 or less.  The jewelry is cash and carry, as the small jewelry case can be replenished.

Jim Ridlon’s paintings dominate the space.  It is amazing how prolific he is.

Tom Slocum’s resin infused wood sculptures are particularly interesting, whimsical and let’s face it – touchable.  That resin looks like water and it is such a cool technique!

I wish there was more space for the jewelry.  I’ll have to go back and revisit the pieces on a day when there are less people in the gallery.

Colorful Creations continues through November 14, 2025.  The gallery and frame shop is open Tuesday – Friday 9:30 AM – 6:00 PM and Saturday 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.

Zoe in the Flesh

Twenty-four-year-old Zoe Sauvé is more than just flesh and bone. She is a highly accomplished technician.  Her line quality is Mary Cassatt proficient.  Her color choices exemplify an acute understanding of the formal principles of art, color theory and synergy.  I am blown away by the detailed power, as well as its emotional dynamic expressed in these paintings.

Am I biased because she was one of my art students once upon a time?  I’d love to take credit for the small part I played in presenting this emerging figurative artist to the world.

Not biased, no.  I both envy and admire Zoe Sauvé’s ability to bare her soul, to be such a brave and authentic artist.  In these life-sized self portraits, Zoe insists we look at her raw yet vibrant image.  She sketches herself in front of a mirror then proceeds to find any available work surface to paint on – repurposed plywood or random size canvas.

I forgot to ask her how she’d transported them to the gallery.  Maybe a truck?

Art in the Atrium is located in City Hall Atrium, 201 E. Washington Street in downtown Syracuse, New York (13202) next to The Fish Friar.

The opening reception was today.  There is one more day to view the work, as this venue has been doing micro pop-up events.  You can still see the show by visiting tomorrow, Sunday, October 5, 2025.  They will be open noon – 6:00 PM.

Bravo, Zoe!  I am so proud of you! <3

 

Upcoming!

I’m preparing for three art events.  On Sunday, October 19th, 2025, I will participate in an artisan day at the Neat Whiskey Bar, 6706 E. Seneca Turnpike Building B, Jamesville, New York 13078.  More details later but I believe it will be a noon – 6:00 PM thing.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/harvest-festival-at-the-neat-whiskey-bar-tickets-1644595231609?aff=oddtdtcreator

Karen Tashkovski, ANGELIC, 2025, encaustic & collage, 4″ x 4″ painting mounted on 6″ x 6″ chalkboard (with stand)

I will bring my own table and set up smaller cash and carry items – I do take Paypal and Venmo.  I have a few weeks to figure out the details and I will let you know as soon as I can.  I might share my Christmasy stuff or I might just do all the small heart paintings.

I will be exhibiting one painting at Baltimore Woods Nature Center, 4007 Bishop Hill Road, Marcellus, New York 13108.  They are having a member’s show November 1, 2025 – December 19, 2025 with a reception on Saturday, November 1, 2025, 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM.

I will also be exhibiting one painting at the Rochester Contemporary Art Center (137 East Ave., Rochester, New York 14604).  They are having a member’s show too.  This will be December 5, 2025 – February 14, 2026 with a reception on Friday, December 5, 2025, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM.

Currently, I’m prepping a new series of thirty-six paintings.  I placed three layers of wax on each hardboard (they are 8″ x 10″).  Later today or tomorrow I will carve the designs and eventually begin the rest of the encaustic process.  <3

 

Nature’s Gem

The Baltimore Woods Nature Center is a gem of a place, located at 4007 Bishop Hill Road, Marcellus, NY 13108.  I recently became a member of this organization.  There are miles and miles of nature trails – no bikers or dogs allowed.  These trails, maintained by a staff of volunteers, are pristine, hilly and the perfect place to spend an afternoon zenning out.

In addition, they have a library on-site, a gift shoppe and an art gallery.  There will be a members exhibit in November, so I wanted to view the space.  The last time I was here, I hid rocks in the woods.  I don’t think the building was open that day.

The current exhibition is a series of nature photographs by Don Crumb.  The photographs are mainly of local and regional landscapes.  There is a fabulous portrait of a fox – clearly the star of the show.

A collection of taxidermy mounted wild animals is also housed here.

The gallery can be rented out for parties, as it is connected to a full kitchen.  They also host events in the room.  You can investigate this further on their website.

Don Crumb – Nature Photography continues through October 27, 2025.

The building is open Monday-Friday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM and Saturday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.  Closed Sunday.

The hiking trails are available every day dawn to dusk.  I would recommend walking with a friend.  I sort of kind of got lost in there until I realized I could GPS and compass my way out.  It wasn’t scary because I was so zen after two hours of zigzagging the paths.

It’s an amazing place!

Currents & ReCurrents

Last night I attended the latest art reception at Gandee Gallery.  So fun!

The gallery is divided into three sections:  the front room houses the gallery’s contributing artists, the middle room is home to the current exhibition, ReCurrents, and the back room is the art/ceramics studio.

Ceramics are the main attraction but the gallery also sells paintings, notecards, and jewelry.

(from the website)

ReCurrents: Contemporary Ceramics

This past summer, the Gandee Gallery curated Currents in Contemporary Ceramic Art at Featherstone Center for the Arts on Martha’s Vineyard. We are excited to now showcase a select number of ceramic works from this exhibition at the gallery in Central New York. ReCurrents features artists at various career stages, from emerging talents to established artists. Gandee’s curatorial vision brings together artists as diverse as their identities and narratives, creating a rich tapestry of contemporary ceramic expression. . It will be on view through Oct. 12th.

The Gandee Gallery is located at 7846 Main Street, Fabius, New York 13063. They are open 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM Thursday-Saturday and 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM on Sundays. Call (315) 416-6339 for more information.

(From the website)

ReCurrents: Contemporary Ceramics

Participating artists: Jen Allen (WV), Peter Beasecker (NY), Andrea Denniston (VA), Ruth Easterbrook (PA), Jee Eun Lee (KY), Shanna Fliegel (MA), Jen Gandee (NY), Chris Gustin (MA), Noelle Hoover (IN), Liz Lurie (NY), David MacDonald (NY), Andrea Marquis (PA), Matt Mitros (CA), Ted Neal (IN), Jeremy Randall (NY), George Rodriguez (PA), Shoji Satake – (RI), Isaac Scott (PA), Taylor Sijan (NY), Sorrel Stone (OH), Errol Willett (NY), and Renqian Yang (NY)

 

Members Only 2025

Joyce Hertzson, Pittsford, NY, The Fall Cometh, 2025, eco-print and watercolor
Jackie Dickinson, Aurora, NY, Shear Shape, 2025, found object in wood and metal
Steven Assmann, Auburn, NY, Niagara’s Plumes, 2025, oil on canvas
June Szabo, Trumansburg, NY, Common Ground, 2024, Sculpture

I had the opportunity to preview the Schweinfurth Art Center’s Member Show 2025, on display now through October 11, 2025.

I am a member of the museum but I did not participate this year.  They hang everything submitted.  It is really astonishing how cohesive the show is – a lot of artists using blue, for example.

Address: 205 Genesee St. Auburn, NY 13021, United States.

 Phone: 315.255.1553

 Email: mail@schweinfurthartcenter.org

Adele Anderson, Rochester, NY, Big Apple, 2025, water-miscible oil on canvas

Click here for the list of exhibiting artists.

Robert Whiteside, Pittsford, NY, Uovo d’oro, 2025, oil
Faithanne Flesher, Syracuse, NY, Dark Spring, 2025, mixed media, ink, paper, watercolor

Sherry Allen, Syracuse, NY, Breaking the Circle, 2024, mixed media
Steven Strauss, Cornwall on Hudson, NY, 3 Pileated Woodpeckers, 2024, oil and spray paint on MDF
Helen Bishop-Santelli, Rochester, NY, Twister, 2025, oil on canvas
Symmes Gardner, Ithaca, NY, Plnetarium, St. John’s College, 2023, oil on canvas
Michael Delaney, Auburn, NY, Metal Works, 2023, metal

Diana Godfrey, Syracuse, NY, From Above, 2024, acrylic/mixed media
Christina Bang, Pittsford, NY, Quietly into the Woods, 2024, Sculpture

Regina Sweet, Millport, NY, Night Sky Stars, 2023, beaded embroidery

Betsy Menson Sio

On a recent visit to Cazenovia Artisans, 39 Albany Street, Cazenovia, New York, 13135, I met co-op member Betsy Menson Sio, a former art teacher in the Jordan-Elbridge School District, now working as a full-time artist and jewelry designer.  She is selling earrings made of vintage tins that speak of recycling paired with sterling silver.

The pieces are whimsical, meant to be worn for fun with everyday casual gear.  She calls her business East Street Tins.

This is a materials driven art form.  She must first find the vintage tins – soda cans, candy or coffee canisters, perhaps even motor oil containers – then decide on the shape and cut forming two symmetrical bespoke pieces.

She also creates necklaces and bracelets when not taking her weekly turn as salesperson at the gallery.

As mentioned, Cazenovia Artisans is a co-op.  Artist members must be voted in with the understanding that they will commit to retail sales as well as providing cohesive artwork for sale and paying a monthly fee.  There are other avenues as well – offering work on consignment or being considered as a guest artist.  All information is listed on their website.

Current hours of operation:

Mon

10:00 am – 06:00 pm

Tue

10:00 am – 06:00 pm

Wed

10:00 am – 06:00 pm

Thu

10:00 am – 06:00 pm

Fri

10:00 am – 06:00 pm

Sat

10:00 am – 05:00 pm

Sun

10:00 am – 04:00 pm