Hear ART TALK

 

Paul Brandwein at Axom

South Avenue, Rochester, New York

In the South Wedge, I relaxed on a sofa at Axom to listen to Paul Brandwein speak about the development of his art.  There was a fine group of some of his small abstract paintings on view at the time I visited in early November.  The people who attended the talk had questions to ask and we found out a lot about how his art stems from experiments he made over many years working with ceramics to create attractive surface textures.  During his talk, Paul passed around some sample sheets that looked like leopard spots on paper.

How did he get those spots to show up like that?  Maybe a little alcohol in the acrylic paint to disperse the pigment; then let it all dry.. Then, where did he get his ideas for these paintings?  Well, we got to look through pages of his sketchbooks, and there we could see the development of forms - and all they would need is some colors to make them more distinctive! Some of the forms might remind one of a certain cactus or maybe a sea creature!

I really enjoy hearing the artist talk about the work we see in the gallery.  There are many things we can learn about  a process which normally goes on in the studio and which might take years to develop.

Later in November at The Memorial Art Gallery I went to see the new exhibition of paintings on loan from the Worcester Art Museum, which I will write about later.  On the day I visited the MAG, I went into the Auditorium to hear my friend Jim Mott give his talk about his devotion to painting the scenes outdoors that he finds in his many expeditions around the country.

Jim Mott being interviewed at 

The Memorial Art Gallery

I wrote about Jim Mott's Itinerant Artist Project for American Artist  Magazine almost twenty years ago.

He would say that he could travel around the country and make small scale paintings of scenes and then a few days later move on to a new spot.  His itinerary would include overnight stays with people he  had just met and as a way of saying thank you, he would make a small painting for them in exchange for his overnight stay at their home.

At the Memorial Art Gallery, we got to look through samples from his many years painting scenes from the places he visited.  Jim is a big fan of nature, and especially birds!  I imagine he has quite a life list!

He mentioned at his talk at MAG, that he had a very deep interest in bird watching and he used my father's illustrations from his guide book, "Birds of North America" that Golden Books published so many years ago!  I actually worked on revisions to that book with my Dad, back in the 1970s...

Since this blog post is about artists talking, I need to mention that an online magazine has just published an interview with me in their digital magazine called:  Magnate View.  You can read about a bit of my background in this piece, so here is a link: https://magnateview.com/a-lifelong-journey-in-art-education-and-innovation-an-interview-with-alan-singer-a-renowned-professor-from-the-rochester-institute-of-technology/

 

Alan Recommends

Opening at Nazareth University

Art Center Gallery

Care to spend some time looking at new artwork, or do you just want to read about it?

I want to do both!  Actually, since I have been writing this blog, I often spend some time out at gallery shows and later in the day I can read a bit before bedtime..that is my routine.

This Friday, I had the pleasure of walking into the Nazareth University Art Center to see the new two person art exhibition for Bradley Butler and Mitch Messina. Mitch is showing his new sculptures and Bradley has a selection of new paintings.  Before we enter the Art Center Gallery, walking up the stairway we see a wide arrangement of colorful glass pieces created by Michael Taylor that he calls "Right Place/ Right Time".  This  sculptural assemblage has been donated by the artist and it brings to mind clocks and the passage of time as part of the college experience ( see below ).

"Right Place/Right time" by Michael Taylor

Michael Taylor was also in the crowd at the opening of the Art Center Gallery and we had a quick chat. I looked around at the show and walked over to speak with Bradley Butler about his paintings - he was once my student when he studied at the graduate level in the studios of Rochester Institute of Technology back in the day..  After graduation Bradley worked for over a decade as the Director of the Main Street Arts in Clifton Springs - a few miles to the east, and he brought many interesting shows to that gallery representing the work of many other artists.  Now, Brad has moved on to be a song writer and performer as well as continuing his work as an artist and doing a bunch of teaching as well!

Bradley Butler with his paintings

Bradley's paintings are restrained in terms of the colors he selects and this allows for an engaging and poetic approach to an imagined landscape.  He takes us along a path and shares his vision of what we may find along the way. One painting by Brad really reminded me of the British artist Turner whose paintings had very active surface tension and movement.

Bradley Butler acrylic on canvas "Restless Peace"

Mitch Messina is a Professor  at Nazareth, and he has been working with metals and ceramics with a range of textures, creating new sculptures that have a relationship to still life.  Some of his new works are presented on a pedestal, so it is easy to walk around them and see them from every angle.  There is also an interesting piece called "Spigot" hung on a wall which could be viewed as a kind of exclamation, with texture, form and color.

Mitch Messina's art called "Spigot"

As I mentioned earlier, later in my day I can enjoy reading a book and I found one I can recommend by writer Martin Gayford, and it is called: "How Painting Happens ( and why it matters ). Stories inside this book take you into studios to speak with a variety of artists about what they do and why.  The texts begin to explore the questions that the books' title implies.  If you are at all curious as to what goes on in the minds of the artists, pick this one up and enjoy!

Martin Gayford writes about artists in their studios.

Well now, I have to get back to my own work in the studio. and before I set up my paints I glance outside on a sunny day and what did I find?

 

Alan looks out his window and finds his signature in the grass!

My Memory In Union

 

"Rope Piece"  Linda Montano and Tehching Hsieh in 1983-1984 in a New York performance

My mind lights up when I reflect on the artists we meet along the way in life. This week in The New York Times, I read an article about an exhibition that will open at DIA Beacon this Saturday, October 4th with the artists Tehching Hsieh ( I pronounce the name Tayching Shay ) and Linda Montano.  I want to go to this show because I met them years ago when we were living in Brooklyn, NY.

Performance artist

Tehching Hsieh born in 1950

You might have heard of his experience with "Rope Piece" - a real performance with Linda Montano that took place in 1983-1984. In a photo of them during this "happening" you would see that they are tied together by a rope and they never parted for the entire year!  The rope was eight feet long and they worked and slept in the same room and this was something I saw for myself, when I got a call to speak with them because I had a loft space that I rented and that they wanted to see.

I went into Manhattan to speak with Linda and Tehching and they came out to see the work space together - they were still tied to one another!  They eventually moved in!

Kendall Shaw, painter and teacher owned  a Union Street Loft Building

In Park Slope, Brooklyn, where we lived, I rented two floors for studio work on Union Street. The building at the time was owned by another artist and teacher, Kendall Shaw - who at the time was painting intricate grids and patterns - and I learned a lot from seeing him work.

Kendall Shaw was working on grids in the Pattern and Decoration movement

Also at the time in this same building were my friends Alex and Allyson Grey, and they are both painters who have developed a real following for their work.  You probably have seen Alex Grey do his TED talk or went to the exhibition space that he and Allyson have worked so hard to bring to life in the Hudson Valley.

Alex Grey

Alex Grey painting from the 1980s

This was a period of time when I was working on my own large scale paintings and I was happy to share my space and spend some time with  these very gifted artists!

You never know who you will meet...and I am so lucky to be in synch with the lives of these creatives! These artists were so into their work that it provided a center of energy that I can still draw on!

Art Tour

 

 Edvard Munch and his painting of Yellow Timber at

The Albright Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York

We were inspired on a cool grey day in autumn to take to the road and go see artwork on view at The Albright Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo.

My brother Paul and his wife Janet were visiting and they came along with us to take in the new show called: "Northern Lights".  This exhibition will be at AKG until January 12, 2026 so you have time to go and see the exhibit before it closes!  Some of the stars of the show include Edvard Munch ( though the Scream is not in this show ! ) and also they have paintings by Hilma after Klint ( 1862-1944 ).  Also there are a number of artists who we haven't seen at all and that was a nice surprise!

Hilma af Klint

The last time we saw art by Hilma after Klint was in New York City at The Guggenheim Museum in 2019 and that was revelation!  This new exhibit at AKG shows another side of her work because here she is painting as a representational artist and she is out in nature!  She is a powerful force, when working in abstraction but here she is getting down to fine detail and texture in landscape painting and she excels...

Exhibition at Albright Knox Art Gallery is titled: "Northern Lights"

These are two of the stars of the show

( but there are many more to see )

Wonderful paintings by Edvard Munch ( 1863-1944 ) are part of the this show and we just don't get a chance to see  his work here in upstate New York.  He has color, composition, and emotion in his work.Some of his things remind me of the painter Soutine!

"Northern Lights" introduces. a visitor to many artists that we don't see before and the exhibition highlights painters from Europe and Canada from mid 19th century to mid 20th century.  One surprise for me is the select paintings of Gustaf Fjaestad, especially his "Winter Evening by a River" which  you see below:

Gustaf Fjaestad, "Winter Evening by a River", 1907

There are bright paintings by Lawren Harris which have a bright kind of style that can remind a visitor of the work of Rockwell Kent. 

Lawren Harris

When we were at the AKG we did not have the chance to see all of the art on exhibition in the other building but we did find some of the classics that they have on view.  I found a great Frida Kahlo self portrait.

Frida Kahlo self portrait

The Albright Knox Art Gallery houses some really major abstract expressionist works by Jackson Pollock and others!  If you have a little time go and check it out for yourself, and don't miss the "Northern Lights"!

Jackson Pollock at The Albright Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York

Finger Lakes Introspective

The 69th Rochester Finger Lakes Exhibition is Rochester's longest running juried art exhibit and this year we have the juror Timothy Peterson;  he is now the new contemporary curator at The Memorial Art Gallery.  I remember this showcase as being a real boost for me when my painting was accepted back when I was still a graduate student at Cornell University back in the early 1970s!

Welcome to the 69th Finger Lakes Exhibition

at The Memorial Art Gallery

Rochester, New York

The Docent Gallery is an open space with room for a wide variety of artwork and when you go and visit the MAG you will find the creative products of ninety artists in this present edition.  Lucky artists who have their work accepted for the show also have a chance to win awards for their efforts.  When we walked in we spent some time looking at all the pieces from artists in this section of the state.

Needless to say, I know many of the artists who are included in the show ( the piece I entered was NOT accepted! ) but this  was a good time to catch up and see what people are doing...  My initial impression is that there is a lot more figurative art in this year's show.  I wonder whether this represents a trend - either locally or nationally?

"Dwayne" by Joseph Radoccia

This exhibition will close in early October so there is still time to get a good look!  There are a few standout pieces that one finds in this show.  Considering the political climate we find ourselves in, my attention rests upon Bob Conge's sculpture of the shark and flag.  This should be the cover piece for a New Yorker Magazine.  There are other artworks in this exhibit that also tell a story, but Conge nails it!

Shark Shreds the flag, sculpture by Bob Conge

Along these lines the painting by Ron Ferrara "The People Abandon Liberty" also tackles this subject.

Painting by Ron Ferrara 

Story telling is something important for this chapter in the life of our museum, but it is not the only thing to latch onto.  What about the giant sculptural work by Lee Hoag that is at your left when you walk into the show?  Or the Angler fish?  

Sculpture by Lee Hoag

Maybe there is an award for a quiet work that tells the story of fires in the Amazon that is suggested by the painting of the Aracari by Haley Dayis.  "The Guardian of the Amazon" on the wall label says that this painting was made from hand-forged mineral pigments.  I would say that this is one of the finest paintings in this exhibition, and since I am a bird watcher, this tells an important story about conservation that we should all be concerned with!

"Guardian of the Amazon" by Haley Dayis

Talking about nature, I was very happy to see a painting by Jennifer Apetz which has a solid look to it for a vast landscape in striking colors that grab your eye.

Painting by Jennifer Apetz

Another painting that has a thrill attached is the one called: "Leviathan", and it features a man plunging into deep water!  This looks like an interpretation of a photo based image and I think that the artist - Sarah Manrique does a fine job communicating this moment.

Painting by Sarah Manrique

There are many other works which will grab your attention and I think that the big portrait which I highlight at the beginning of this blog post is one I will remember.  The general feeling I get from this show is one of a more conservative set of selections - so as not to turn off visitors to the gallery.  Maybe we are in the mood for entrenchment and the story of this moment is to meditate on our situation!

Art by James Porto

at 

The Memorial Art Gallery

 

Over 6000 Artworks

Rochester Contemporary Art Center

"6 x 6"

18th Annual Exhibition

How many times have you walked into an art gallery and seen over six thousand pieces hanging on the walls?  Amazing!  That is what happened to us the other day when we strolled into RoCo!

Greeting you at the Annual 6"x6"

at RoCo

This is the 18th Annual show and sale of the 6"x6" artworks which has achieved an amazing amount of support from our community and from artists here and abroad!  If you haven't gone there to see the show - what are you waiting for?!! You have to go!  On view now on the gallery walls are the pieces that are still unsold - that's right - almost half of the over 6000 artworks submitted to RoCo have been sold!  This is a great way to support our community culture and RoCo in particular.

"Treat Soil As An Art Object"

this and other stories along with all of this creative endeavor at RoCo

I walked through the exhibition with my wife, and this show made me so happy!  In this exhibition there is an art for everyone, and you are bound to find something ( I confess ) hanging up in the gallery that you just have to buy for yourself ( or a nice gift for someone! ).

Any person  who is so inclined can enter a work for sale over the years, and you don't have to be a professional artist!  There are some beautiful works on view at RoCo, and even some by the pros!

Weavings, paintings, prints, sculpture, cartoons, and so much more at RoCo

Since they started this venture years ago, I have sent them a few 6" x 6" pieces each year and I have also purchased several for my own collection.  There is a nice video made at RoCo on the opening of the show and you can hear what people have to say about the annual show.  I noticed Mark Stash, the editor of "Life in the Finger Lakes" magazine - he was one of the people interviewed in the video and you can see three of his landscapes that he donated to the present show.

Wide variety of subjects and treatments in the 6" x 6" Show at

Rochester Contemporary

This is probably not an easy show to mount in a gallery especially with workers climbing up and down to fit everything in.  I want to thank all the workers and volunteers who put this show on the map!  This is something that RoCo should be very proud of, and it brings in a whole new audience each time! See this show before the last day on July 20th, then you can pick up the pieces you purchased!  Enjoy!

 

Our Home Turf

 

Anderson Alley Artists at 

Rochester Institute of Technology

University Gallery

Thru July 26, 2025

Here we are, walking into the University Gallery on the campus of Rochester Institute of Technology, going to see the exhibition of art on view now thru July 26th, honoring participating artists from Anderson Alley.  While this  show does not feature all the artists from this well-known building it does present twenty talented folks mostly from the third floor of this establishment.  Anderson Alley is a loft style building which has the space and light that works for most visual artists, and this exhibition has painters, printmakers, sculptors and much more.  The R.I.T. University Gallery welcomes these artists and the opening had a good turnout for a summer evening.

"Flow" by Karen Sardisco

Acrylic on canvas

Here was an opportunity to reconnect with people I haven't seen in a while, especially since I retired from teaching art at R.I.T. more than four years ago.  The campus has changed a bit as new buildings have been going up since I left, but the University Gallery is the same with wonderful space and light for all the guests to mingle and see the artwork.  Crossing the threshold, I had a chance to speak with Karen Sardisco whose painting "Flow" is one the first things one sees as you walk into this gallery.  Her piece has swirls of light colors that remind me of Jackson Pollock for all its vitality and movement.

Anderson Alley Artists include Peter Gohringer

I had a chance to catch up with an R.I.T. art historian Heidi Nickisher, and I did enjoy chatting with her and there were many others who we knew at this opening.  Richard Harvey is one of the Anderson artists who has work on view.  He has a selection of sculptural  faces and prints on paper also representing people.  He is one of the participating artists, and they are not just starting out - they show considerable expertise and the creativity on view is engaging and sometimes challenging!

The prints by Richard Harvey

I looked at work by Pat Bacon which has interesting organic images based in photography but also worked in with wax which leave an impression more like a painting, this being a true hybrid! 

 Next to Pat Bacon are two paintings by my friend Carol Acquilano.  These are expressive colorful compositions with fallen leaves as a subject.

 

Pat Bacon

Carol Acquilano

Among the most delicate art in this show is a wall of sculptural creations by Colleen Buzzard.  The idea is to make works with a thin line sometimes of wire and this very fine form casts a shadow on the wall which gives the work another dimension - it is both drawing and sculpture that is both quiet and dynamic at the same time.

Colleen Buzzard

Colleen Buzzard

Now, you may have seen some of these artists before, if you like to go on the First Fridays open studios tours.  I used to do a lot more of that kind of visit but since the Covid pandemic I curtailed these visits and so this is one of the first openings I have been to in a while.  There are many reasons I enjoyed seeing this show and I do want to support the work they are doing for our community!

Lynne Feldman, one of twenty

Anderson Alley Artists

at

University Gallery

Rochester Institute of Technology