The holiday exhibit at Edgewood Gallery (216 Tecumseh Road, Syracuse, NY 12334) is refreshingly uplifting. The opening reception was last night. No talk of religion or politics, or negativity of any kind! It was just animals. Animal art in many different, albeit colorful, incarnations.
Ellen and Dia Haffar, the mother-daughter duo of Smokepail Studios brought their bunny rabbit and little piggy iconography A-game with images hand drawn and glazed onto mugs, cups and vases. The whimsical elegance of this work reflects the artists’ fun and friendly personalities.
Although C.J. Hodge is highly allergic to cats, he still loves them and it shows in these large scale pieces. His acrylic on wood panel cat paintings are filled with visual texture and pattern. He sold three paintings before I arrived . This show is a cash and carry situation, which works for those of you interested in gifting art this Christmas.
Dana Stenson is the real deal. She crafts jewelry using sterling silver and precious gem stones. She has been juggling several art events, having spent last weekend at that Plowshares thing plus selling her work at Cazenovia Artisans where she is a member of their collective.
She was influenced by birds, butterflies and dragonflies for this showcase.
Amy Cunningham creates her animal portraits and floral designs using a combination of watercolor, goache and inks. She adheres the watercolor paper to a hardboard canvas via matte medium then paints the image with precision and finally seals the work with wax. I find the layers in this work so incredibly satisfying because the flatness of the imagery is just an illusion.
The exhibit continues through January 9, 2026. The gallery is open Tuesday-Friday 9:30 am – 6:00 pm and Saturday 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.
