Last night was just magical.

I wanted to go the Schweinfurth Art Center in Auburn, NY.  There was an art reception for Water Effect – Art Inspired by Water, but I had a power headache brought on by a dumb sinus infection that has been bothering me for more than a week.

I was able to finagle a last minute appointment with my nurse-practioner, got the meds, popped into Panera Bread for a strawberry-banana smoothie and miraculously felt better than ever!

In less than forty minutes, I arrived.  And as soon as I walked in, I saw my friend Katie Turner and her husband Ralph, two of my favorite people in this universe – we only met last year when she exhibited her Terraskin watercolors of flowers in the Chittenango Middle School library, but we clicked like life-long friends.  Here she is next to her piece, The Pines ($275).

I believe this was a juried exhibition, by the way.  I only knew a few of the other artists, like James Skvarch…

and Mary Giehl.

I had amazing conversations with the artists who were in attendance.  Gordana Vukovic…

Susan Weisend…

and Carol LaBorie.

Carol retired from a non-art job and is now a full-time artist who has studied encaustic technique under a number of artists, often going to workshops and artist’s retreats.  I just loved her enthusiasm and passion!  Fifty-three artists from throughout the region are represented in this exhibit, which continues through October 18, 2015.

In addition, there is a wonderful show of landscapes and barn paintings by Kathryn J. Schylinski.  OMG, I loved her!  She’s from Skaneateles, NY, but will be relocating to my neck of the woods soon and verbally agreed to working with me in the future – à la my art gallery in the school library!  I told her that I sometimes do a painting lesson using  Wolf Kahn references and she said she channels Kahn and crosses him with an Edward Hopper flair…and that is so true!  You can totally get that.

All of the work, including Kathryn’s, is for sale and will be available for pick-up at the end of the exhibit. (Hers ends October 18th as well).

The Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center is located at 205 Genesee Street, Auburn, NY.  They are open Tuesday-Saturday 10 am – 5 pm and Sundays 1 – 5 pm.  For more information contact them via their web site, www.myartcenter.org or by phone, (315) 255-1553.