Arts & Entertainment

Vote for Your Favorites at Phoenix Village Art Center

The Annual Members' Exhibition is going on now.

Editor's Note: This article was written by James D. Fitzgerald and was submitted by Phoenix Village Art Center. You can reach James at jimfitzart@yahoo.com.

It might be tough, but someone’s got to do it. That someone is you.

Now through Saturday at 6 p.m., the People’s Choice awards are open at for the Seventh Annual Members’ Exhibition.

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The exhibit will be open May 6 through May 30. All are welcome to come and enjoy the marvelous assortment of fine art paintings, drawings, watercolors, sculptures, mosaics, ceramics, wood carvings, mixed media and feather constructions. 

This exhibit is an open show featuring 50 artists exhibiting over 90 pieces. There is an awards ceremony planned for Sun., May 15 announcing the prize winners in each medium.  

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The People’s Choice award is a public affair with each vote costing $1. The funds from the voting will be awarded to the winning artist. Please come by on Fri., May 13 until 8 p.m. or on Sat., May 14 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and participate by voting for your favorite. 

There is a debate going on with some of my New York City art friends about the schism between the cultural power centers and the rural “rest of” the country. Their concern is that everyone outside NYC doesn’t know who Phillip Guston or Julian Schnable are, and say folks beyond Gotham don’t “get it.” Well, I remember Andy Warhol describing himself by saying, “I come from nowhere.”  And he did come from a place similar to Phoenixville.

Good art seems to come from “nowhere.” Let me begin my review of this show on this point.

One of my favorites in the show is an acrylic painting by Steve Shank, “Top Sail Island,” a beautiful image and composition with saturated color (not chalky), painted with great clarity.

David Knocklein’s still life is pure and reminds me of a Phoenixville painter of international acclaim, the late Lucius Crowell. Then there is Bob Hakun whose construction I love. Phoenixville’s own Bob Libby can “get away” with a few gestures and there you have “Big City.”

Virginia Stewart is a tasteful, sensitive surrealist artist whose drawings of biomorphic nature and powerful automatism flow and would grace any collection or decorum. Stewart’s art is displayed next to Al Watson’s wood block prints. Watson is an artist and poet. I can see him as a famous collectors’ choice in the future. Watson is quite a character, and his wood block prints can take on Dan Miller’s and his poetry is Lawrence Furlengetti. 

Frank Giammetto is another favorite of mine. With silk-screens on woodblocks, mixed media, hyper tasteful color, Giametto’s work is on a par with Bryce Maursden’s early work. Kristina Davis offers up a hyper-hip neo post-modern graphic photo print with hand-written prose. Carla Schaeffer’s mosaic piece titled “Happy Day” is bright and crisp and reminds me of an early Julian Schnabel. Janice Labarge’s encaustic piece titled “Wisps” could swing it with Stuart Stils anytime, and it’s priced at only$100.  

Neil Dreibelbis’ mixed media and college painting could prove to Robert Raushenberg that not all abstract painters are self destructive. Dreibelbis has been having fun with life on the canvas surface for his entire career. Suzanne Halstead’s “Phoenix Rising” pastel reminds me of the later art of Paul Klee. And then there is me, with an acrylic I have in the show titled “Mortimer,” but I’m not going to review myself. That’s your job. 

These are just a few of the PVAC member artists. So many more deserve mention. All this “good art” is right here in “little ol’ Phoenixville.” Well, I love “nowhere.” Good art seems to come from “nowhere,” and it’s a great place. Like the surface of the moon … blameless.

The following local businesses have donated gift certificates for our award winners: Columbia Bar and Grille; the Colonial Theatre; Franklin Goodkin, Ph.D.; First Step Fitness; Jaworski's Music Center; Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant; Steel City Coffee House; Philly Pretzel Factory, Strawberry Fields; Artisans Gallery and Café; and Express Pizza.

The exhbit is on display through May 30 a Phoenix Village Art Center, located at 207 Bridge St., Phoenixville.

 


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