Saddle Up

 

Thru July 15th, 2026 "Horse Power" at

Main Street Arts

Clifton Springs, New York

Yes, we had a beautiful day for a ride out to Clifton Springs to attend the opening of "Horse Power" a large group show at Main Street Arts, 20 West Main Street.  When we arrived, there were many people in attendance, and 57 artists whose work had been selected for the exhibition.  I saw a window display of sculptural work by Jappie King Black, a noted artist from Brockport.  The pieces she displays are haunting and have a dark, fragile personality.

Over the years I have seen many group shows at Main Street Arts, but this theme exhibition has a wide range of larger and smaller pieces with many paintings and some photography, all about horses.  There is a strong sculptural work that greets us as we all walk in.

A surprising thing about this presentation is the fact that I don't remember another theme show that has a focus on this animal - as popular as horses are.  I do remember having seen some wonderful horses in a carriage competition held in Pittsford at the Walnut Hill Farm, but that was many years ago!

Jacquie Germanow at Main Street Arts with her painting " Innocence on The Run"

Our friend, Jacquie Germanow has a beautiful and evocative acrylic painting in this show and we stopped to admire it and speak with the artist.  Her painting of a horse/unicorn is surrounded by waves of color, and if you look closely there are arrows pointing in the air giving this animal a very vulnerable appeal.  We spoke about the fact that she had just varnished the painting, and I had to ask her why... she said it had many layers of old paint and some colors were lost and needed refreshing!

"Abundance" by Ann Clarke ( textile collage and embroidery )

This show also has remarkable variations, and a fabric collage caught my attention.  This work is called "Abundance" and the artist is Ann Clarke.  In this artwork, the horse image comes along with a panoply of other focus features, and I just thought that the embroidery and composition must have been a real challenge to put this work together!

"MoonShadow" a painting by Valentina Yannotti

If you visit Main Street Arts, be sure to go upstairs ( you could even take the elevator! ) to see the art on the second level because there are some fine pieces like this painting above, by Valentina Yannotti.  Right nearby there is a wonderful photo ( is it printed on glass? ) called "Black Knight" by Diane W. Dersch. This black and white photo has a terrific texture, and really captures this alert animal!

"Black Knight", photography by Diane W. Dersch

 Upstairs there is a fabric collage by Beth Brown that I think you might enjoy!  All told, this show is fun, and it brings home the wonderful variety of approaches that artists can take with a subject that is certainly NOT ordinary!

 

Opening & Closing

 

At Monroe Community College

The Mercer Gallery

We can thank those who come out to support the arts and we celebrate the fact that we do have a lively art community here in Rochester, and you can come and see the Annual Member's Show at The Mercer Gallery.  University art galleries in our area serve a vital function and that is they offer the opportunity to see a wide array of artworks that otherwise might be hard to find!

On Sunday, May 31st, the opening  for The Print Club was well attended, with almost 40 different artists represented in this Annual Member exhibition.  Most art galleries act like retail stores, trying to make sales.  Since the Covid pandemic it has become a lot harder for retail sales to gain back their strength.  So, in the breach the university gallery - like the Mercer Gallery,  introduces the public to lots of new things...

As I have been working on a book project about The Print Club, I was eager to see this new show, and I also participate by showing one of my recent prints in this Annual Member's Exhibition.  Before I even went in to see the show I was introduced to Keely Wu, a young artist and printmaker who is just finishing her first year teaching printmaking at R.I.T.

Two prints by Keely Wu: "Hamster Death"  and "Just A Bird"

Once inside The Mercer Gallery, I found two framed prints by Keely Wu - and in this show they have character/characters:  "Hamster Death" ( a drypoint etching and screen print ) and "Just A Bird" ( screen print ).  There is a bit of the comic in both of these figurative, and colorful prints.  This is just the beginning...

Prints large and small at The Mercer Gallery

The Print Club 95th Annual Member Exhibition

A deep dark print by Nick Ruth was given "Best of Show" award  ( above on the left ) and there were several honorable mentions given to other artists.   I think one of the prints that stood out was by Myles Calvert of a gigantic teapot.  The wall label said it was a woodblock print, so I just wonder how this image was made!

Print by Myles Calvert

More than 20 years ago, I was once the President of The Print Club, and now in attendance is the current President, Richard Kegler, who spoke about the Member's show and gave out awards.  Richard has a letterpress monoprint in this exhibition with the title "Stars Not Aligned", and it has curious patterns or superimposed grids making an abstract environment.  Another past President was at the show, and she exhibited a lithograph of an interesting monument with a title of "The Stone Empress" ( see below )...

Katherine Baca-Bielinis

Many different styles of prints you can find at The Mercer Gallery, so just check the hours there online, if you can take a break and see the show.  I think there is something for everyone  to enjoy'1

Landscape prints by Laura Wilder