Join the Print Club

 

The Print Club of Rochester

Annual Member Exhibition

at University Gallery, R.I.T.

Really nice turnout for the Artist's Reception on Saturday, June 29th in the University Gallery,  when I stopped in to see this show.  If you haven't been there, the University Gallery is at the Vignelli Center in Booth Building on the campus of Rochester Institute of "Technology.  There was a rare opportunity to buy prints from the Club's archive which goes way back, just as the members celebrate the 93rd anniversary.  A person can become a member - you don't have to be a working artist to do that, just someone who has a curiosity and willingness to support an arts organization.

Printmakers practice their form of art in many ways, and it goes way beyond the traditional woodcut, engraving or etching.  If you look at the selection of prints in this year's show, and take the time to read the labels, you will see that there are many kinds of prints in this show even one that requires a Lightbox ( see below ).  Denise Anderson wins a Juror's Award for her piece called "Wandering Amongst the Stars".

Denise Anderson's "Wandering Amongst The Stars"

Each year the Print Club mounts the Member's Exhibition, and this year the University Gallery hosted the show with wonderful light and open space.  A guest can really make some comparisons among the artwork on view now through July 20th.  You might even get a chance to speak with one of the artists whose work you might be interested in.  Here is Nick Ruth with his photogravure featuring the back of a signpost on the "Thruway".  This is a new method of making prints for Nick, and why not explore new avenues!  This print won a Juror's Choice award.

Nick Ruth and his photogravure "Thruway"

With so many methods of making a print, it takes some practice to create an image and then even make a small edition for people who may want to collect your artwork.  The nice thing about buying a print is that it usually is a lot less expensive than a painting or a sculpture, but it can truly represent the artist's  vision in a graphic sense.  If you become a member of the Print Club each year you can count on  getting a commissioned print as part of the reward for supporting this  organization.   I saw a print from Dan Welden in this show, and reading the label I see that he donated the work to the Print Club.

Print by Dan Welden as a donation to The Print Club

Out near Sag Harbor on Long Island, Dan Welden has been making prints for many years, in fact the first time I met him ( more than 40 years ago ) he was helping my father, Arthur Singer, to make a series of etchings of birds which were shown in galleries in New York City.  Below you will see one of the etchings that Dan Welden printed for my father all those years ago.  This is a traditional line etching made in a limited edition.  This print was Not in the show at R.I.T.,, but I include it here because this work was influential  for me because I later became a printmaker myself after seeing how the process unfolds.

Arthur Singer's Harpy Eagle printed by Dan Welden circa 1975

Some of the prints included in the Print Club show are actually mixed media where the printed piece is only part of the work.  I am thinking about the big work by Pamela Drix with its colorful fabric collage as well as other pieces in the exhibition that employ a variety of techniques.

Art by Pamela Drix

Print by Alan Singer

My own print in this exhibition I call "Tanager".  Tanager is a colorful bird and the wonderful thing about this print is that I use a kind of mathematical equation to arrive at the rendering of this creature.  This print is unique - I don't often make editions of my images, so this is one-of-a-kind.  I have been in practice as a printmaker for many years and have made probably a thousand images by now.

And in fact I was a teacher at Rochester Institute of Technology for more than 32 years and one class I enjoyed teaching was printmaking!

Print Exchange allows members to share with each other

I think there is something for everyone in this show and take the time to go out and  see the University Gallery at  R.I.T. , it is a wonderful space with excellent art on view now!

Flexion, on Reflection

 

"Remembering a Dream", watercolor by Barbara Fox

at

Oxford Gallery, 267 Oxford Street

Rochester, NY 14607

My readers may understand that I write about art - not as an art critic but as an interested person who grew up with art and artists at home in New York.  I have been writing about the visual arts for over forty years, and I want to continue on this path.  I like to communicate about what I see and how I see it.  I really value the human connections and looking at art for me is a great way to get to know other folks and how they view their world!

"The Stuff of Dreams" is the theme of a new exhibition open now at the Oxford Gallery in Rochester, N.Y.

I stopped in to speak with Jim Hall the long-time owner and Director of the gallery and we spent some time looking at a few of the stand-outs in this show.  One work in the entry caught my attention by Barbara Fox, of a lady with an origami bird in her hand while other silhouettes of birds flock around the background.  Such a life-like quality in this painting on paper!

I should say right away, that I was pleased to be invited to be part of this group show, and I found the theme to be very engaging!  Did I try to make my art based on one of my dreams?  No, but I did make an artwork that has a dream-like quality.  And what is that quality?  Something that maybe words can't quite express!  In many cases this exhibition presents artworks which are unusual for the way they deviate from the norms.  My art seen below is made from a mathematical set of functions...

"an Enigma" print on paper by Alan Singer

Sometimes the artist just wants to have fun with a theme show.  "Pipe Dream" by Bill Keyser says it all.  His piece is a kind of reductive sculpture that grasps at a simple statement or a poetic visual that can make one smile.

Pipe Dream by William Keyser

Having an actual object become a character on a stage is what is happening here.  This is what I mean by deviate from the norms... Or maybe, it is the unusual approach from above that makes the painting by Jim Mott seem like the clouds are parting on a dream-like land down below!

"Ariel Dream" , oil on canvas by Jim Mott

A Theme - "The Stuff of Dreams", does this concept make you happy?  Here, is the success you always dreamed about!  If I think about my dreams, it is more like watching a crazy movie, some sort of action picture, and there is more than one scene flashing by that catches my attention.

"In My Dreams", oil on canvas by Paula Crawford

Another thing about dreams - that you can't dictate what happens in your dreams, though circumstances in your real day-to-day life can shape a dream.  I have a recurring dream of trying to drive my car from the back seat!  What is that about??  I think about the many times I walked around New York City when I was a teenager, and how that often comes back to me in my dreams...

Now back to the show at Oxford Gallery.  Please be sure that you call ahead ( 585 271-5885 ), because on the day I stopped in they were fixing the front steps of the building at  267 Oxford Street, and I almost left before I found out there is a side entrance!

"George's Dream", oil on linen by David Dorsey

So in many ways, painting is a kind of a dream exercise.  You often paint on a flat two dimensional surface but you make an attempt at an illusion of three-dimensional space.  It is eyesight and insight that you create.  And in the process the details can be very revealing - like the hovering figure in the upper left of David Dorsey's large painting in this exhibition.

Then there are also images that bring you closer to reality, even if it is FAR AWAY!  Power to the Peaceful is written on the walls of the wrecked images of real people's lives!  Go see it for yourself!

See "The Stuff Of Dreams" at Oxford Gallery, Rochester, New York

Spring Spectrum

Welcoming guests, I give an introduction to "Our Nature" the art & design

of the Singer family - that is Arthur Singer, his wife Judy

and sons Paul and Alan Singer...

This is the Spring of 2024 and the season presents a spectrum of events and we are on a ROLL!  In March my art was featured in an online magazine that Renee Rose in Chicago produces, and I was very happy to participate in a video interview with her as we EXPLORE ART.  She introduces us to a whole realm of visual art that comes as a result of her active engagement with seeking out new art and artists from all over the globe.

A little later in the month I did a second interview with Seth Voorhees  and  this was a look at our exhibition in the Mascioli Gallery in the Central Library, Rundel Building in downtown Rochester, New York.  If you have not seen the interview - here is the link:

https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/news/2024/03/21/ghost-army-arthur-singer-

There is a segment about my father and his participation in the "Ghost Army" during World War II, and you can view a PBS  documentary on the Ghost Army coming to  your television on May 27th, 2024 on WXXI.  The documentary is written up in the new May issue of CITY, which has become a monthly magazine which I find for free at Wegman's or you can subscribe to the publication.  The PBS documentary was created by Rick Beyer - who was our guest speaker when "Our Nature" had the opening in mid - January of this year.

CITY writes up the Ghost Army and "Our Nature" in the new May issue!

The photo shows my brother Paul and his wife Janet sitting in the front row of the ceremony honoring the members of the Ghost Army in a celebration held in Washington, D.C.  At this very amazing meeting the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson in a very bi-partisan moment,  announced that the Ghost Army soldiers would receive the Congressional Gold Medal.  Three of these men were actually on hand ( they are all over 100 years old ) to receive the award, and that was very moving to hear from them...

Needless to say there were good vibrations coming from D.C. that day. in March!  When we arrived back home in the Rochester area, we knew we had  witnessed a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and even had a replica of the medal to show our neighbors!

Congressional Gold Medal award goes to The Ghost Army soldiers of World War II

And the neighbors did come out for our Totality party when the eclipse of the sun happened to roll over our area earlier this month....  Here I am with guests at the entrance to The Central Library in downtown Rochester, New York.

"An Enigma", print on paper by Alan Singer

Now at The Oxford Gallery, Rochester, New York

If you are in Rochester, The Oxford Gallery has a new show which I am glad to be a part of, and it is all about the stuff of dreams....  Jim Hall, the Gallery owner and director has selected artists for this show which has become an annual production.  I was glad to be able to have  this new work on view for the duration.  "An Enigma" is a transfer print I made on my etching press, and it is a beauty, if I can say so myself!  Go check it out!

 

Talk & Walk

 

Anthony Mascioli Gallery

Rundel Library Building

115 South Ave.

Rochester, NY

Join us for a little walk through the exhibition now on in the Central Library, in downtown Rochester, New York.  The Talk & Walk in the Mascioli Gallery begins at 2 pm on April 20th, 2024.  Alan Singer will lead visitors through the exhibition called "Our Nature".  You can have a conversation with him and find out about the artists in the Singer Family.  There is a also a link here, if you want to view a short video that was broadcast by Spectrum News last week around the time that Arthur Singer was given a posthumous Congressional Gold Medal for his service in "The Ghost Army". here is the link:

https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/news/2024/03/21/ghost-army-arthur-singer-

Your Attention, Please

 

Thursday, March 21, 2024 

at

The Capitol, Washington, D.C.

Our family and several hundred others arrived in the morning at The Capitol for a once-in-a-lifetime experience,  to witness the award ceremony for survivors and family members of The Ghost Army of World War II.  This day would be the culmination of years of work to lobby congress and get a bi-partisan bill to the desk of President Joe Biden for his signature. After the bill was signed it would still take many months of work to get the  time and place for the award ceremony, and on Thursday, March 21st we were on the guest list, ready to take our place and witness history being made.

Groups assemble on the Capitol Steps

It is a perfect day in Washington, D.C. - the cherry blossoms are in full bloom with a cloudless horizon while we walked and waited to secure our spot in the Visitor Center.  We are escorted down stairs overlooking a vast hall with hundreds of chairs and many statues of historical figures.  I have never seen such a gathering before - how lucky we are today!

Take in the scene, the ceremony will begin shortly....

The battalion of the Ghost Army, a little over a thousand men, conducted top secret maneuvers in Europe during World War II.  Their mission was to create deceptions on the battlefield using camouflage, sound systems, and decoys to distract the enemy - and it worked!  My father, Arthur Singer ( 1917-1990 ) was conscripted into this group based on his talents as a visual artist!  Arthur was not alone - there were theatre people, fashion designers, sound engineers, advertisers all working to deceive the enemy during the later part of the war effort.

Statue of Freedom

at The Capitol

My father, Arthur Singer, never spoke openly about what his role was during  World War II but he did leave many letters he wrote home when he was off duty.  He also found time to paint portraits of his fellow soldiers when he was not on duty.  My mom, sent him paper, paints, and brushes during the war and Arthur came home when the war ended with a visual record of what he had seen and where he had been - even if he wouldn't speak about it!

Statue of Frederick Douglass

in The Capitol

We took our seat opposite a statue of Frederick Douglass, which we felt was appropriate since we had just driven down from Rochester for this ceremony.  Frederick Douglass was known as a resident of Rochester too, back in the later 19th Century, and we so admire his contributions to our nation!

The ceremony was about to begin and soldiers marched in carrying our flag and that got everyone's attention.  A brass band played our national anthem, and we all stood up!

"Oh say can you see..."

We noticed Senator Chuck Grassley from Iowa sitting nearby and we also noticed loads of seats set out for members of congress who ultimately did not show.  Nancy Pelosi smiled at us as she walked by decked out all in purple!  The ceremony began with a benediction and an introduction with Louisiana Representative, and Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, who welcomed us all and gave a big round of applause for the three soldiers here in the Capitol, who are still alive today, and who admirably served in the Ghost Army during World War II.

Soldiers and family would receive the Gold Medal

awarded by Congressional approval and signed by President Joe Biden.

The medal is produced by the Treasury Department and is about the size of a silver dollar.

The list of speakers including Mike Johnson, was impressive... I liked to hear from Senator Susan Collins of Maine, and also Representative Hakeem Jeffries.  We  felt proud to be in such company, and also that our friend Rick Beyer who wrote the book on the Ghost Army got a round of well-deserved applause.  We also were so moved by the fact that living members of the Ghost Army were present to receive their awards, and even had a chance to speak.  Here is Bernard Bluestein being interviewed by the news media...

Mr. Bluestein one of three surviving members of The Ghost Army

at the award ceremony

Washington, D.C.

March 21, 2024

We are so proud of our Armed Service Members, THANK YOU!

Here is a short video posted on Spectrum News that I recorded with reporter Seth Voorhees last week: https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/news/2024/03/21/ghost-army-arthur-singer-

Finally Fine Art

 

Yayoi Kusama at The Memorial Art Gallery ( above and below )

University Avenue and Goodman Stree, Rochester, New York

Finally, I have some time to see some fine art, just before I head off to Washington, D.C. for the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony on March 21st.  I  have been looking forward to seeing the Infinity Mirrored room by Yayoi Kusama now here at The MAG.  This mirrored room has been on view in many places for years and it is not the first time that I have seen it, but still, it is a great thing to behold!

Go and get your timed ticket today!

Infinity Mirrored Room by Yayoi Kusama

I have been a fan of her work for so many years!  I remember going to an opening of a show she did back in the mid- 1960s, and I was the only person aside from the artist who was there - so dots weren't such a draw back then!  I am glad to say that she is now one of the most famous artists on the planet.  

The mirror balls that suspend from the ceiling make an analogy to our universe - going off in all directions.

I am glad that The Memorial Art Gallery is making a real effort to showcase art by women who finally get some recognition. While I mention this, I should also say that we get to welcome Sarah Jesse who takes on the position of Director at The MAG, and I wish her well on her new position.  As we gradually pull out of the pandemic mind set, I am sure that institutions have to devise new strategy to bring in an audience.

Helen Frankenthaler at MAG

So you can go and see the well known artists like Helen Frankenthaler ( see above ) and then you can take a look at artists  who are just being recognized here maybe for the first time.  One artist I was not familiar with has a big work in glass that is quite complex.  Take some time to study Judith Schaechter's stain glass work now on view at The MAG.

Glass art by Judith Schaechter

Also great to see that my friend,  artist G. Peter Jemison has a new work  in the collection at The MAG.

He is a foundational figure in the arts and in the development of Ganondagan State Historic Site and Museum in Victor, NY.  His painting could be a logo for diversity in the arts.

Art by G. Peter Jemison

Thinking about diversity, I found a collection of images recently at The Rochester Contemporary Art Gallery that represents at the very least a diversity of performers and other artists caught by the illustrator David Cowles.  His show is called ROC Stars, and these are the portraits of people who have a unique connection to Rochester.  Many of them are well known performers like this image  I saw there of Cab Calloway.

David Cowles ROC Stars

Cab Calloway by David Cowles

And a funny thing is that this reminded me that my father, Arthur Singer made a similar portrait of Cab back in the early 1940s that really has a striking resemblance to what David Cowles did.  Take a look at my father's illustration used on this tee shirt:

Arthur B. Singer and a portrait of his friend, Cab Calloway circa 1940

While you have a chance, the paintings and sculptures at RoCo, are also very engaging, and one can wonder how Ronald Gonzalez makes all these small sculptures that look like they have been subject to extreme weather!  Cars and trucks in beds?  They are all the size of toys, but are not meant to be played with!

Sculpture by Ronald Gonzalez

My friend Cynthia Hawkins and her abstractions can engage the viewer and really have color and form on the move.  I certainly feel that this has been a great day to check out the arts in Rochester.  Very Rewarding!

Paintings by Cynthia Hawkins at RoCo

137 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14604

 

Our March News

 Mark Stash paints Keuka Lake view in acrylic

at

Pittsford Fine Art

This month I have a waterfall of news to share!  Starts off with a visit to Pittsford Fine Art, a gallery in the center of Pittsford, New York.  This building has had some recent renovations so on the ground floor is Pittsford Fine Art and on the second floor there is the new Pittsford Upstairs Gallery.  Pittsford Fine Art was having an opening by some of the members, including Mark Stash who paints the landscape above.

Mark Stash is known to us as the editor and developer of the magazine: "Life in the Finger Lakes" and this is the first show we have seen of the paintings he likes to do.  We want to know how does one have the time to publish a regular magazine and also do the detailed landscapes that we see of his at this exhibition?

The view that Mark paints,  which greets a visitor coming into the gallery,  is a kind of painterly realism that is tactile and full of vitality.  A sweeping vista down Keuka Lake is life-like and I really appreciate his handling of the sky!

A selection of paintings by Mark Stash

This is a kind of artwork that can inspire one to pick up a brush and try it for yourself!  There are so many fine sites in our area, and I know as a painter that I will go out and do some landscapes myself...  While we were at the opening I had a chance to chat with another one of the exhibiting artists - Bill Finewood.  Bill is an illustrator and also was a colleague of mine when we were both teaching at Rochester Institute of Technology.  Bill has done some very fine paintings that verge on photo realism, and it was really nice to see a group of his recent works.

Macintosh Apple by Bill Finewood

Pittsford Upstairs Gallery had a poetry reading when we walked up and there are selections of art and craft on view including some striking flower portraits that I admired.  These paintings by Judy Baker had unique treatment of color applications that I had not seen often and they had a certain impact.

Flowers by Judy Baker on view at Pittsford Upstairs Gallery

Both of these gallery shows were worth the visit and I will be sure to keep that in mind when I want to go out and see some recent artwork.  When I was back at home I received a package with a book: "Wings of the Gods" by Peter Gardella, published recently by Oxford University Press with cover art by my father, Arthur Singer ( 1917-1990 ).  I was so happy to get this new edition with the beautiful Albatross that my father painted so long ago!

Alan Singer holds a new copy of "Wings of the Gods"

by Peter Gardella

This month has so many great features, first and foremost for our family is the fact that we are going to drive down to Washington, D.C.  for the award ceremony in the U.S. Capitol Building, where the Ghost Army will be celebrated for their participation in World War ll.  The Congressional Gold Medal will be given to the members of the Ghost Army, a battalion whose contribution to the war effort was determined by the deceptions they created on the battlefield in Europe.  My father was part of this effort as were other artists and theatre people, a few of the soldiers are actually still alive who were in the war, and that is something we do not want to miss!

The Ghost Army book by Rick Beyer

Cover artwork on top is by Arthur Singer

The participation of artists during the war effort was mainly centered around camouflage, but it was more than that.  You can read about it in this book by Rick Beyer.  Rick was on hand in January when we had the opening of the exhibition "Our Nature" in the Rundel  Building of the Central Library in downtown Rochester, New York.  You can find a video survey of our show on my website: www.singerarts.com.

And check this out!  A new issue of Explore Art Project is out and my artwork is featured there, including a wonderful interview with the founder and editor Renee Rose.  Here are some live links to visit if you want to know more!

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/exploreartproject

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exploreartproject

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@exploreartproject

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@exploreartproject

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/90694516

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@explorearttalk