Tag Archives: Munson

art, art exhibition, art museum, Karen Tashkovski, sculpture

Ethereal Beauty

Image Leave a comment

If you haven’t yet travelled to Munson (310 Genesee Street, Utica, NY 13502) to see Celestial Bodies, then I will say you’re welcome in advance because, well, it is that magnificent.  I trust you will love it too.

New Yorker Karen LaMonte graduated from RISD then began a journey that took her from a glass blowing workshop in New Jersey to Prague to international fame as a sculptor.  She has won numerous awards and fellowships for this impressive body of work.

She works in glass, stone, bronze – working with experts as a team to produce life-sized female forms.  The headless sculptures are exquisitely draped gowns.  Although they resemble Greek caryatids, they are incredibly modern in design – ruched halter tops, asymmetrical sleeves, the appearance of stitched seams and floral embroidery – OMG, they are spectacular.

In addition to the life-sized items, there are quarter-sized miniatures.  They are so beautifully feminine.  As I viewed the show, I imagined myself wearing these gowns because each one was a perfect #ootd.  And because they were missing someone else’s head and arms and were clearly my size, it was an effortless phenomenological vision that induced movement, dance, joy and above all, elegance.  A girl can dream….

Karen LaMonte is my new favorite artist.

Munson is open Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM and Sunday noon – 5:00 PM.  Call (315) 797-0000 for more information.

Celestial Bodies:  Sculpture by Karen LaMonte will be on view through December 31, 2025.

abstract, art, art education, art exhibition, Karen Tashkovski, painting

Generations

Image Leave a comment

Central New York artists are currently exhibiting artwork at Munson (formerly known as the Munson-Williams-Proctor) Museum of Art, 310 Genesee Street, Utica, New York 13502.

Anita Welych (b. 1958) – The former Cazenovia College art professor has created an installation with a focus on printmaking – a study of birds/migration/nature.

Carlie Miller Sherry (b. 1990) – The artist is a visiting professor of art at Pratt Munson. She uses an indigo palette to express a futurism concept – movement that conveys a sense of agitation/unrest.

Lynette Stephenson (b. 1959) – She teaches studio art at Colgate University. Stephenson’s paintings are large scale florals that speak of vibrant color and textural intensity.

Mary Gaylord Loy (b. 1930) – An established painter with seventy years of expertise under her belt, this artist allows herself to unravel the mysteries of mark making. These immense pieces are all new and I am truly inspired – to contemplate such longevity as an artist for myself; to continue to create art and go big – that is the dream of dreams.

Gregory Lawler (b. 1963) – Pratt Munson students can learn from their master – their professor has created puzzles of wisdom juxtaposed as allegory in these visual college oil paintings.

John Loy (b. 1930) – The retired professor is fascinated by the visual language of the elements of art creating tangled paths of line, shape and color to create exciting visual textures.

Ken Marchione (b. 1962) – This Yale graduate and Pratt Munson drawing professor has recently created combines that reflect a sabbatical journey to European cities/museums. There he was exposed to figurative statues and incorporated nameless faces of people he encountered (other tourists and locals) into his assemblages. They are in-progress works as he continues to reflect and digest his time out of the classroom.

Me (b. 1963) – I contributed a work of art to the museum. Bobbi and I had so much fun investigating the nooks and crannies of this amazing place! I drew her portrait in an art activity room.

We stumbled upon a private room with an on-loan from somewhere else Mark Rothko painting. There were also works by Pablo Picasso and Jackson Pollack and so much more!

Thank you, Munson, for inviting us to your Art Educators night out. We loved it.

Generations – Artists of Central New York continues through January 7, 2024. View hours of operation on their web-site and other information such as art classes, museum memberships and other opportunities.