Yesterday afternoon I attended the art reception for the Art Haus summer exhibition. Called Smorgasbord, this is the first time the curators have displayed eight artists at once. Usually the shows include about four artists.
Peter Allen
This time there is a sculptor, a photographer, an assemblage artist and several abstract painters,
Tyrel De Bique
The eight artists all happen to be men this time: Peter Allen, Tyrel De Bique, CJ Hodge, Dennis Kinsey, Steve Nyland, Steve Pearlman, Marc Anthony Polizzi and Robert Poorman,
Art Haus is located at 120 Walton Street, Syracuse, New York 13202. Current hours of operation are Tuesday and Wednesday noon – 7:00 PM, Thursday and Friday noon – 8:00 PM and Saturday noon – 6:00 PM. Visit them on Facebook for updates to this schedule.
It’s a great show with a little bit of everything that you never knew you wanted – color, texture, size, shape. Viewing art in person in order to understand an artist’s point of view is just the best!
The M & T Bank Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival is in full swing again this year. Vendor’s tents are set up on the streets around Clinton Square in downtown Syracuse, New York. If you are looking for something to do today, July 28, 2024, they will all be here from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM!
Some of the talented people I visited while shopping yesterday…
BARBARA CONTE-GAUGEL
Barbara has a new product in addition to her amazing hand-made shoulder bags and totes – it is a little pouch/clutch and they are selling like hotcakes!
WOAH-BOTZ
These are whimsical sculptures made with found object, antique canisters and steel. You can also purchase them at Cazenovia Artisans too. I love them!
CATHY JACKSON
Cathy really has her finger on the pulse of what young women want to wear – she has created retro ’70s inspired garments, jewelry and wall hangings using knit and crochet elements. All stuff you might find at Stoned Immaculate (but for a lot less money).
STEVE PEARLMAN
Steve Pearlman is selling his black & white and color photographs – landscapes/streetscapes peppered with figures that depict both local imagery and time spent in New York City.
APPLE AN
Apple An is a historian who has written and published memoirs. I really enjoyed speaking with her and aspire to be among the artists in a future memoir collection. She is selling books – the entire collection of Stone Canoes are for sale at her booth as well.
SAHI NEW YORK
I recognized these leather accessories from Cazenovia Artisans where he is a member. They are hand stitched wallets, purses, belts et al and they are of magnificent quality.
MICHELLE DARIN
Michelle’s aesthetic has a retro feel. It embodies youth, vitality and fun using colorful enamels and patterned leathers. You can never buy just one piece – they look best in multiples. We all want to be Michelle. She is the real deal.
FRANCO RAMIREZ
Franco is from Mexico the country, not Mexico, New York – I think he travelled the furthest to be at this show. He doesn’t speak English – I said I can understand you if you speak Spanish and I think I did. He said the sculptures are hand-carved of wood then hand-painted using acrylic paint. They are very special. I like the little rabbits the best.
Every year I install art exhibitions in the Chittenango Middle School library in Chittenango, New York. I seek out professional artists in the region – four per year as follows: September – November/Thanksgiving-ish, November – February/Winter break, February – April/Spring Break, and April – June.
It’s a captive audience scenario. They go into the school library to get books, use the computer, take classes, have a study hall…and in addition, they are subliminally bombarded with art/aesthetics and all around good taste.
They are the very people artists target – students who can learn to appreciate art at a young age and become life-long patrons of the arts – as artists themselves, hobbyists or consumers who appreciate…or all of the above!
Steve Pearlman is my current artist-in-residence with fifteen photographs showcasing his interest in Syracuse, travel, fashion and an amazing eye for contrast, composition and perspective.
He will give an artist talk to students during our after school time/tenth period (2:20-2:50 pm) on Tuesday, October 27, 2015. I’m sure he will share what he told me – that aside from his family, he has no greater love than the love he feels while holding his camera, pointing the lens and capturing a unique image that freezes time. Art is sometimes the most beautiful gift you can give to yourself. When I spend time talking to other artists about their contributions including hopes and dreams for themselves, it really feels amazing – we are more similar than different with regard to the love of creating.
I was just talking about this with my students yesterday. The importance of emotion as a component in a work of art. It is always the hope that students will make these connections to their own lives in order to be happier, and in order to lead supercalifragilistic artistic futures.
