Local Artists “Paint-In” the New Year!

The Shoe FactoryArt Co-op announces their first event of 2012, “A New Year’s Painting Marathon!” on First Friday, January 6^th from 6-9pm, and Second Saturday, January 14th from 12-4pm.   Eight local artists will set up canvases and easels in the gallery, along with samples of their work, to do a live painting demonstration.  Visitors will be able to wander through and observe the painters at work as each artist creates an acrylic painting or two.  The performing painters are Shoe Factory members PhilBliss, Rina Miriam Drescher, Stephanie Cusenz Green, Susan Jenkins, ScottLamont, Doug Steward, Colleen Virdi, and Mollie Wolf.

The Open House is intended as a fundraiser to help support the gallery in continuing its grassroots efforts to provide more exhibit opportunities for local artists. Patrons will be able to bid on or purchase original artwork, learn about becoming a member of the gallery, and get to know the evening’s painting participants and their approach to creating art. Information will also be available about new drawing and painting classes that will be offered at The Shoe Factory.

In its short existence, The Shoe Factory Art Co-op has shown the work of over 200 regional artists as well as artists from out of state.  After twelve art exhibits of varying themes, the gallery is gaining in popularity with local artists and art lovers.  “Since our first show in November 2010, we’ve had nothing but positive feedback from the community”, says gallery director Beth Brown. “This kind of exhibit space is sorely needed for the many artists who inhabit Rochester.  There are not that many galleries in the area to represent artists and show their work.  Our patrons take a lot of pleasure in viewing and purchasing local art.” Art mediums that have been shown in the gallery have included paintings, photography, sculpture, mixed media, fiber arts, glass, furniture, metalwork, and jewelry.

In the Main Gallery, The Shoe Factory rotates a schedule of open juried “Call for Artists” group shows and individual artist solo exhibits.  Across the hall, the Co-op’s “House Artists Gallery” features the work of 18 local artists who rent their own display spaces and help out as members.  The gallery has recently acquired a third studio in which they plan to develop new art, video, and photography related activities. The fledgling gallery has had a good start and hopes to continue to grow and develop as an arts destination in Rochester’s Neighborhood of the Arts. 

The Shoe Factory Art Co-op is located at 250 N. Goodman St. on the second floor of a four story brick building that used to belong to E.P. Reed & Co., designer of women’s shoes.  The former Reed factory, built in 1906, was a key player in Rochester’ rich shoe manufacturing history.  Anderson Arts Building, as the building is now known, is owned by Arthur Goldfeder, original owner of Fabrics and Findings.  Most of the building is currently rented as art and photography studios, but other tenants include City Newspaper, Good Luck Restaurant, Booksmart Studio, House Digital, and Anderson Alley Artists.

The Shoe Factory Art Co-op’s opening night of “A New Year’s Painting Marathon!” will fall on January’s FirstFriday, a citywide gallery night that encourages collaboration between non-profit, university, and commercial art venues.  The concept of First Friday was started by RochesterContemporary Art Center to help coordinate art events around town into one monthly community night that encourages the public to venture out and experience art in Rochester.

Address:  The Shoe Factory Art Co-op, 250 N. Goodman St., Studios 212, 212A, 215, Rochester, NY 14607
New Year Gallery hours:  Wednesdays 12-5pm, First Fridays 6-9pm, and Second Saturdays 12-4pm   
Admission: Donation
Call or email for more information about exhibits, art classes, becoming a member, and how to enter art shows, or visit their website.
Phone: (585)732-0036
E-mail: studio212@shoefactoryarts.com
Website: http://www.shoefactoryarts.com/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theshoefactory  
Twitter: @theshoefactory      

Call for Artists for February 2012 exhibit!

The Shoe Factory Art Co-op is accepting submissions for our 2012 February art show, “Unconditional Love: Cats and Dogs”. In celebration of the month of February’s Valentines Day and Spay Day, the art exhibit will be devoted to our feline and canine best friends! Artists are asked to create and submit work inspired by our appreciation of cats, dogs, or both!

All art mediums considered. All sizes considered. Exhibit held in our Main Gallery, Studio 212. Juried by The Shoe Factory Art Co-op. 

Submission deadline is January 16th, 2012. Artists’ reception is First Friday, February 3rd from 6pm-10pm. Show duration: February 3rd-25th. For more information and submission form, visit the Call for Artists page on our website http://www.shoefactoryarts.com/CallforArtists.html . 

Tom Otterness need not apply.

The Shoe Factory Art Co-op
250 N. Goodman St., Studios 212, 212A, 215
Rochester, NY 14607
(585)732-0036
e-mail: studio212@shoefactoryarts.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/theshoefactory
Twitter: @theshoefactory

The Greatest Gift of All!

Sick of the malls? Tired of what corporate America is spoon feeding you? Looking for a holiday gift that’s different?

The Shoe Factory Art Co-op announces their December art show “The Greatest Gift of All” featuring one of a kind, handmade art gifts created by 27 local artists.

Unique holiday items such as artistic ornaments, decorative trees, and festive menorahs will be available for purchase. Also on display will be paintings, photography, jewelry, fiber arts, metal works, mosaics, furniture, and kinetic sculpture.

Show duration: December 2nd-24th.
Opening reception: First Friday, December 2nd from 5-9pm.
Exhibit hours: Weds. thru Saturday from 12-5pm.
Free admission!

The exhibit will be held at The Shoe Factory Art Co-op
250 N. Goodman St., Studios 212 and 212A (second floor), Rochester, NY 14607.

Website: www.shoefactoryarts.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/theshoefactory

Happy One Year Anniversary to The Shoe Factory Art Co-op!

This month we celebrate our one year anniversary with our tenth art show!  Our November exhibit, "Once Upon a Coffee Table: Fine Art Furnishings", starts tonight at our opening reception from 5-9pm!  One year ago, on the same First Friday, we had our premiere namesake art exhibit "Boots and Shoes: Variations on a Theme"!

Including our current show, so far we've had ten art exhibits made up of 7 call for artist shows and 3 artist solo shows.  We've shown 221 different artists, the vast majority of them local!  

Many artists have been in more than one of our shows!  Many have shown twice and about ten artists have been in 3-5 of our exhibits.  Winners this year of being in the most Shoe Factory shows are Colleen Virdi (seven shows), Scott Lamont (six), and Mollie Wolf (six)!

We will continue on our journey promoting local artists and providing opportunities for artists to exhibit and sell their work in Rochester's Neighborhood of the Arts!

It's been a lot of hard work, but the best part has always been meeting a ton of really creative people in our community!  Onward to the next year of art!


Our first exhibit November 2010



Interview with Rochester Metal Artist Kathleen Kosel

Kathy in the gallery using Gilders Paste to color her metalworks

A retired art teacher, Kathy Kosel has only recently started working in metal.  She has grown leaps and bounds learning about her new art form, experimenting and creating new works. Kathy’s steelwork can be seen in the House Artists Gallery at The Shoe Factory Art Co-op.  Her work is also featured in the November exhibit “Once Upon a Coffee Table: Fine Art Furnishings” in the Shoe Factory’s Main Gallery.

Shoe Factory:  Where did you grow up?  Where do you live now?
Kathy Kosel: I was born in Rochester and have lived here most of my life, except for a 4 year stint in Las Vegas.  I now live in Webster.
SF:  What is your art medium?  What materials do you use?
KK:  I currently work with plasma cutting and MIG welding cold rolled steel.
SF:  How and when did you get into working with metal?
KK:  I started working in steel in September of 2010. I took a great little weekend class at Mahaney Welding Company where I learned how to plasma cut and weld. I do credit that instructor with getting me really thinking about welding as an art form! They have greatly enlarged their shop, now making welding and glass working a possibility in the Rochester Area.
SF:  How do you make your art? What is your process?
KK:  I start a piece by first deciding if it will be decorative, functional or ritualistic in intent. Then I sketch basic concepts in a sketch pad, followed by some research on the computer to help develop my idea. I then make a hard copy to draw onto the steel.
It may be the former teacher in me, but I do lots of “homework” before I start a project. For example, I did research on furniture makers and table design because I wanted to create work for the “Once Upon a Coffee Table: Fine Art Furnishings” show at The Shoe Factory Art Co-op. I came upon a very interesting woodworker named Paul Evans. He had hired a welder to add metal to his wood pieces. Now his works are well-known for their steel details!  It is interesting to find someone out there who is like-minded, and then play off of that artist with my own interpretation. My ceramics professor at Nazareth College used to say, “It has ALL been done before, only the details are different”.  So I take an idea that’s been done before, like designing a coffee table, and give it my own influence.
SF:  What are you currently working on?
KK:  Right now, I am “playing” with the metal cutouts I have accumulated over the past year that are leftover from my first pieces. It is a real joy! I make them into whatever I want, whatever moves me, like doodling in metal.  I challenge myself to find the right piece for a spot on a sculpture never altering that piece by cutting it again. I’ve made a human figure sculpture, a number of wall hanging masks, and a bunch of candle holders, such as some freeform Menorahs, all sculpted with these metal cutouts.
I am influenced by the Cubists (especially Picasso and Braque) and I use their deconstruction, re-assemble methods in my new additive sculptures. I am also interested in Louise Nevelson and Alexander Calder’s sculptures. My works have always had an architectural aspect to them...whether in painting, printmaking, ceramics or sculpture.
SF:  What or who are your influences? 
KK:  Art is in my family.  My mother was a very good artist and helped me develop my talent.  As a young child my father would take me over to his cousin Achille Forgione's metal studio in Rochester.  I became fascinated with the tools and the materials.  One summer Achille had me over and showed me how to weld and construct a sculpture from metal rods and steel.  He used a gas torch and welding rods.  I believe that now, all these years later, his inspiration has returned to me, and I really enjoy working with steel.
As an art teacher and student, my education gave me the chance to connect with all art from all over the world. I have traveled to West Africa, China, Europe, and lived in the Western US. I take all these experiences and use them in my works.
SF:  How has being an artist changed or affected your life?
KK:  Since I have stopped teaching in a school classroom setting, I challenge myself with the same questions I used to ask my students, “What do I want to say? Do I have a message at all?” Being an artist makes me feel like a creative being, that some people are meant to make things.  There is a great satisfaction to that.  
SF:  What is your favorite art-related experience in life so far?
KK:  My favorite art experience happened in Africa. I was visiting my son Scott, who was in the Peace Corps. He brought me to a woman in a local village who was the pottery maker for the entire region. She lived totally off the land and was very poor. She and her 11 daughters dug the clay, made the clay, built things with it, fired it, and sold it.
She invited me to sit with her and make clay wares. Without knowing her spoken language, we connected through our language of art-making. I realized then, that I could go anywhere, watch any potter, and know what they were doing. Making connections between ideas, process, and finished artwork is very important to me. There are many universal symbols in fine art and fine crafts.
SF:  What is your ultimate goal as an artist?
KK:  My goal is to grow in my understanding of working with steel. I feel once my techniques are mastered the creativity factor will increase! Joinery and structure are the bones of any metal work! As for the surface of the steel, there are acids, stains, waxes and paint finishes, all of which I am learning more and more about!
Creatively, I want to make work that I enjoy and people can relate to and use in their living space.  I’d love to get into being funded to do larger, public outdoor installations, perhaps having to do with the history of Rochester.
SF:  Why did you become involved with Shoe Factory Art Co-op?
KK:  I decided to become a House Artist because it has inspired me to think like an artist! I am taking my art more seriously.  Instead of occasionally working on my welding, I now work on it 5-6 hours every day of the week! I have seen a great deal of growth and development in what I make since I’ve started working that much on my art.  I also like to come to gallery meetings and openings. Everyone is very talented, interesting, and enjoyable to be around!  I usually gallery sit once a week.  I work on coloring my metal pieces while gallery sitting and usually end up having some interesting conversations with our patrons!SF:  What are your needs as an artist in Rochester?  What would you like to see changed?
KK:  Rochester is chock full of artists because of our schools, universities and businesses.  We are an intelligent community who values our creative people.  I would like to see a commitment made to our school-aged children about the importance of all the arts and not reduce the budgets for these programs. I know when I was teaching, I made a point of structuring my art lessons so they allowed students to develop a voice through their art. I would often hear "I didn't know I could do this...or make that...or that I had it in me.”  While Math and Sciences are important for business, the arts are important for the soul. As far as my wish for artists in Rochester, it would be cool to have some kind of emerging artists show for artists who are working towards a professional art life, but are at the beginning of it, like me.

Freeform Menorah

Tabletop in progress

Call for Artists for Holiday Exhibit!

The Shoe Factory Art Co-op announces a call for artists to exhibit work for their December show, “The Greatest Gift of All”.

Artists are asked to submit original, handmade fine arts and fine crafts (any medium) for the holiday gift giving season.  Artwork can be holiday related or non-holiday related. 

All mediums and sizes considered.  Juried by The Shoe Factory Art Co-op.  Submission deadline is November 12th, 2011.  Artists’ reception is First Friday, December 2nd from 5pm-9pm.  Show duration:  December 2^nd- 24^th.

For more information and submission form for this upcoming opportunity, visit the “call for artists” page on their website www.shoefactoryarts.com .

The Shoe Factory Art Co-op is located at 250 N. Goodman St., Rochester, NY 14607. 

Exhibit will be held in the Main Gallery, Studio 212.

Contact:  (585)732-0036 or e-mail studio212@shoefactoryarts.com

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/theshoefactory

Rochester Furniture Makers Come Out of the Woodwork!

The Shoe Factory Art Co-op, Rochester’s alternative art gallery, announces their November art exhibit “Once Upon a Coffee Table: Fine Art Furnishings”!  20 furniture makers and artisans of home décor will be featured in this juried exhibit.   On display will be hand crafted tables and other functional creations made with a scintillating variety of hardwoods, veneers, inlays, metalwork, glass, and paint finishes.   

Styles will range from fine to funky and showcase the talent of the Rochester region’s finest furniture makers who will have their portfolios on hand for their patrons’ viewing pleasure. Woods used in the pieces are mahogany, East Indian rosewood, cherry, white ash, poplar, birch, white oak, walnut, walnut burl, quilted maple, rock maple, curly maple, Macassar ebony, Gaboon ebony, purple heart, wenge, and recycled wood.   

Furniture is for sale and custom orders are encouraged!  Upon viewing these beautiful works, a visitor might be inspired to order a custom dining room table made to their specifications to proudly serve their family and guests for the holiday season.  Also on display will be artistic handmade lamps and unique wall pieces.

Opening reception will take place on First Friday, November 4th from 5-9pm.  Furniture makers and artisans will be on hand to meet and talk about their work.   Free admission.

Exhibitors: 

Emily Awad, Neal Barrett, Peter Basil, Phil Bliss, Michael Borowski, Sage Churchill- Foster, Byron Conn, Domenic Fiorello, Scott Grove, Susan Jenkins, James Johnson, Donald Kitchen, Kathleen Kosel, Lowell Lunn, Graham Ottoson, John Pennisi, Carter Rich, Jonathan Schnapp, Susan Stair, Rebecca Tracey, William Tracey, Mollie Wolf, Thomas Zachman 

The exhibit will be held in The Shoe Factory Art Co-op’s main gallery located at 250 N. Goodman St., #212 (second floor), Rochester, NY 14607.  
Show duration:  November 4^th -26th.  
Exhibit hours: Weds. thru Saturday from 12-5pm. 
Contact:  (585)732-0036 or e-mail studio212@shoefactoryarts.com 
For more information, visit their website at http://www.shoefactoryarts.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/theshoefactory

The MAG is Doggone Wrong!

As director of The Shoe Factory Art Co-op, I am appalled at the Memorial Art Gallery’s decision to select Brooklyn based artist Tom Otterness to design and build a sculpture of monumental proportions to be installed on the grounds of the museum’s future Centennial Sculpture Park.  This decision was made knowing the artist’s history of once “adopting” a dog from an animal shelter, chaining it to a fence, and shooting it to death in order to film the animal’s agonizing end of life for an “art” project.  I am saddened that this disturbing information did not cause the MAG to cross out Tom Otterness from their list of candidates.

Since our first exhibit last November as a grass roots art gallery, The Shoe Factory Art Co-op has had eight art shows featuring the work of more than 200 artists, about 95% of them from the Rochester region.  The Shoe Factory has been a proud neighbor of the Memorial Art Gallery, adjacent to their property on N. Goodman St.  As gallery director and promoter of local artists, I have been excited about the MAG opening their grounds by removing their iron fence and the prospect of their new sculpture park benefiting the Neighborhood of the Arts and our community as a whole. 

I am not only extremely surprised and disappointed by the MAG’s decision to hire this figurehead of artistic animal abuse, but I am also now faced with being forced to look at this giant sculpture every day and have my stomach turn. 

The MAG’s argument seems to be that Tom Otterness is now contrite about his heinous act of long ago.  They seem to think he is an all around nice guy and great to work with and should be forgiven.  Whether he is genuinely contrite or whether this happened a long time ago does not change the fact that he committed a violent act against an animal and ended its life for the sake of art. It is part of his art bio and he is forever linked to animal abuse because of it.  As an institution that teaches about art, the MAG has a great responsibility.  By showing their respect for this artist through hiring him for an expensive and important public art installation they send a strong message that anything is okay to draw attention to yourself for the sake of art and not to worry!  People will forgive and forget if you kill an animal on a creative whim! This will not impede your art career by any means!

Adding this significant and profitable public art project to Tom Otterness’s resume offends my principles and strong feelings about defending the rights of animals.  The thought of being associated to Tom Otterson in any way, shape, form, or proximity disgusts me and makes me want to move my gallery out of the Neighborhood of the Arts, or even out of Rochester entirely.  This is my reward for what I’ve been working so hard for in this neighborhood? Trying to provide underserved local artists as well as myself to have a venue to their show art?  To have this giant insult of an artist’s work looming over our neighborhood?  This is so hugely disappointing and discouraging for me.  I’m having difficulty even understanding and processing my anger and trying to put my gut feelings into words.

Other cities don’t want Tom Otterness’s art and neither do I.  I’m asking others to join me in protest and making it known to the Memorial Art Gallery and the world that we do not approve of tarnishing our city’s reputation with a permanent Tom Otterness sculpture.  We, as citizens of Rochester, are independent thinkers and will not sit back and allow the misguided decision of a few cast a dark shadow on the hard work and progress of the many who have stood up for animal rights.  We refuse as a community to send the message that we reward people who commit violence and abuse towards animals.

The Shoe Factory Art Co-op has been in the process of planning a call for artists exhibit for February 2012 entitled “Unconditional Love: Cats and Dogs”.  This exhibit will honor our feline and canine best friends through an open call for art of all mediums to be created by artists from the Rochester area and beyond.  This exhibit will coincide with the month of February’s Valentine’s Day and Spay Day and is intended to express support, love, and care for animals through art.  Tom Otterness is not invited.

Signed,

Beth Brown
Director of The Shoe Factory Art Co-op

   

Sign Petition #1 Over 2,800 signatures from Rochester and around the world and counting!

 Sign Petition #2

Complain to the Memorial Art Gallery

Underdogs for Justice / Mad at MAG website

"Boycott the Memorial Art Gallery" Facebook Page

"Boycott the Memorial Art Gallery" Twitter

"Rochesterians Against Tom Otterness" Facebook Page

"Boycott Tom Otterness" Facebook Group

Interview with Rochester painter Nancy Jo Gambacurta

Nancy Jo and husband Ken Kassel
Nancy Jo’s work can be seen in the House Artists Gallery at The Shoe Factory Art Co-op.  44 of her paintings are featured in her solo exhibit “October Sunset: The Paintings of Nancy Jo Gambacurta” in our Main Gallery thru October 29th.

Shoe Factory:  Where did you grow up?  Where do you live now?
Nancy Jo Gambacurta:  I grew up in Brighton and Penfield.  I attended Penfield schools, MCC, SUNY Binghamton and Empire State College.  I currently live in Irondequoit in Summerville by Lake Ontario.
SF:  What is your art medium?  What materials do you use? 
NJG:  I started as a sculptor but now I’m an acrylic painter painting mostly on canvas, sometimes on canvas paper.
SF:  How do you make your art? What is your process? 
NJG:  I photograph the subject, draw a thumbnail sketch and then do a small acrylic wash painting. From that I produce a large acrylic painting on canvas, sometimes several on the same subject.  I always work in a series, 3 to 10 paintings at a time.
SF:  What are you currently working on? 
NJG:  I’m currently working on a series of Adirondack paintings focusing mostly on streams and rivers.
SF:  What or who are your influences? 
NJG:  I love the work of many 20th century artists but have been most influenced of late by Georgia O'Keefe and Rockwell Kent.  I also love Janet Fish and Wayne Thiebaud.
SF:  Have you always been an artist? How has being an artist changed or affected your life? 
NJG:  I always loved to paint, draw and sculpt but became determined to be an artist after seeing Michelangelo's Pieta at the World's Fair in NYC in 1964.  I started taking private lessons at age 14.  Being an artist has always satisfied an inner calling and made me feel happy and complete.  It also always kept me broke!  I have worked a variety of different jobs over the years to keep afloat.
SF:  What is your favorite art-related experience in life so far? 
NJG:  Traveling out west and to the Adirondacks and studying sculptural forms in landscapes.  I also love painting the human form and flowers and gardens.  I look for the inner structure in all forms.  That's the sculptor in me.
SF:  What is your ultimate goal as an artist? 
NJG:  To produce a large body of work and continue to grow in my work.
SF:  Why did you become involved with Shoe Factory Art Co-op? 
NJG:  I joined the Shoe Factory to be part of a group of artists I respected and to have contact with other artists.  I also was hoping for some exposure in the cultural district.
SF:  What are your needs as an artist in Rochester?  What would you like to see changed?
NJG:  I would like to see more recognition of non-traditional work and avoid an art scene run by suburban flower painters.   

Teton Range

Roots on Sawyer Mountain

Welcome to The Shoe Horn! Seeking writers!

Welcome to The Shoe Factory Art Co-op's online magazine!  Our goal is to bring you news about artists and artwork in the Rochester, NY area and beyond! 

We are looking for writers to contribute reviews of our art shows, musings about artwork, interviews of our artists, submit poetry related to our exhibits, and take photos to illustrate the articles. 

If you are itching to volunteer your writing skills and want to do any or all of the above, contact us!  Submit your article proposals and poetry submissions to studio212@shoefactoryarts.com.  Your work will be reviewed, and if accepted, edited and published by our Shoe Horn staff. ~Beth Brown, Director