Holiday Art Exhibit

The Shoe Factory Art Co-op announces their December art exhibit "...and to All a Good Night!".  Art lovers interested in buying artwork for gifts this holiday season will do well to visit the gallery featuring current work by Shoe Factory "House Artist" members. 

The Shoe Factory Art Co-op will be among the many open studios participating in this year's annual Holiday Gala at the Anderson Arts Building in Rochester's Neighborhood of the Arts.  Artists inhabiting the four floors of this historic brick building will open their doors inviting patrons into the usually private environment where they create their work.  A wide variety of art mediums are on display in the many unique studios for viewing and purchasing at this festive annual event. 

The Shoe Factory's gallery will have paintings, photography, mixed-media, fiber art, and jewelry created by members Chloe Bennett-Larson, Phil Bliss, Beth Brown, Wen-Hua Chen, Susan Jenkins, Lisa Johnson, Scott Lamont, Russ Lunn, Stan Merrell, Mona Oates, Colleen Virdi, David Walter, Mollie Wolf, and April Younglove. 

The Shoe Factory's "...and to All a Good Night!" art exhibit will be open during the Anderson Arts Building’s Holiday Gala on First Friday, December 7th from 5-10pm, and Second Saturday, December 8th from 11am-5pm.  Additional Shoe Factory hours are on Wednesdays from 12-5pm through December 19th.  Free admission.

The Shoe Factory Art Co-op is located in Studio 212 on the second floor of the Anderson Arts Building, 250 N. Goodman St., Rochester, NY 14607.

Phone:  585-732-0036 
Website:   www.shoefactoryarts.com 
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/theshoefactory
Twitter:  www.twitter.com/theshoefactory

Tone It Down a Notch!

 

The Shoe Factory Art Co-op celebrates their two year anniversary with a minimal art exhibit.

Art lovers who believe that less is more will enjoy “Tone It Down a Notch: Minimal Art”.  The show consists of 32 current works of art created by 18 individual artists basing their style on the minimalist art movement of the 60’s and 70’s.  On display are paintings, mixed media, photography, digital art, and sculpture, each piece expressing simplicity in technique, form, size, or color.

"Culture" digital archival print by James Mai of  Normal, Illinois

Artists from New Jersey, Georgia, Illinois, Nebraska, and Texas have submitted work to the show as well as artists from the Rochester region.   Participants include Chloe Bennett-Larson, Beth Brown, Marian Cameron, Nils Caspersson, Sally Deskins, Starr Fazzina, Gail Haile, Mary Ann Hanna, Susan Jenkins, Joe Kewin, James Mai, Sunyoung Moon, Mona Oates, Alessandro Perriello, Christopher Priority, Melissa Stimpfle, Dianne Webb, and Mark Whitney.

The public is invited to an artists’ reception for “Tone It Down a Notch: Minimal Art” on First Friday, November 2nd from 6-9pm.  Artwork will be available for purchase.  Free admission.

Location:  The Shoe Factory Art Co-op, 250 N. Goodman St., Studio 212 (second floor), Rochester, NY 14607. 
Exhibit hours:  First Friday, November 2nd from 6-9pm, Second Saturday November 10th from 12-4pm, and every Wednesday 12-5pm thru November 28th.
Phone: (585)732-0036

The Shoe Factory Art Co-op regularly seeks artists to submit work to their juried exhibits. November 10^th is the next entry deadline for “Let Them Eat Cake! Portraits of Pastries” to be held at Starry Nites Café, 696 University Ave. For more information visit the “Call for Artists” page on the Shoe Factory’s website at http://www.shoefactoryarts.com/CallforArtists.html.

Mona Lisa Tribute

Art lovers who yearn to visit the Louvre in Paris to view the Mona Lisa need go no further than The Shoe Factory Art Co-op for their upcoming show.  The gallery will feature the exhibit “I Want My Mona Lisa: Tribute to a Renaissance Icon” for the month of October. 

On display will be 46 versions of Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece created mostly by local artists.  12 of these clever reproductions of the Mona Lisa were submitted by regional artists in a variety of mediums.  An artist from Minneapolis contributed her image in the form of mosaic.  High school students attending Rochester’s School of the Arts and School Without Walls created the other 33 mixed-media show pieces as a project directed by their art teacher Elisa Bond.  Using their talents and imagination, the artists have reinterpreted the world’s most famous portrait into their own works of art. 

Participating artists include Chloe Bennett-Larson, Phil Bliss, Beth Brown, Marian Cameron, Zach Collins, Starr Fazzina, Susan Jenkins, Scott Lamont, John Midla, Mary Reynolds, Jonathan Schnapp, Colleen Virdi, and Mollie Wolf. 

Participating art students from School of the Arts are Mia Archer, Zach Bellucci, Margaret Blaszczak, Richard Bombard, Samantha Diltz, Yaundrell Dixon, Mawia Elawad, Tom Enders, Carlos Feliciano, Teeandra Felton, Shannon Koch, Leah Garlock, Erin Gresko, Jordan Heffer, Melissa Jensen-Stewart, Michelle Johnson, Kendal Lewis, Leon Lin, Thalia Maldonado, Kandice McGee, Claudia Moellering, Eysa Mohamed, Mia Nesmith, Gracie Parker, Elycia Plaza, Jaymes Reynolds, Nah’Tivah Ross, Isaac Santore, Aaron Scott, Brianna Twyman, and Charlotte Wiltse.         

Participating art students from School Without Walls are Husain Rashid and Ariana Wynn.

The public is invited to an artists’ reception for “I Want My Mona Lisa: Tribute to a Renaissance Icon” on First Friday, October 5th from 6-10pm.  Many of the Mona Lisa artworks will be available for purchase.  Free admission.

The Shoe Factory Art Co-op's gallery is located at 250 N. Goodman St., Studio 212 (second floor), Rochester, NY 14607. 

Exhibit hours: First Friday, October 5th from 6-10pm, Second Saturday October 13th from 12-4pm, and every Wednesday 12-5pm thru October 24th.

The Shoe Factory Art Co-op has frequent calls for artists to submit work to monthly juried exhibits.  The deadline for the next call for entries is October 20th for their November exhibit “Tone It Down a Notch: Minimal Art”. 

The Shoe Factory also hosts rotating exhibits at Starry Nites Café at 696 University Ave.  “Let Them Eat Cake! Portraits of Pastries” will be the next show at the coffee shop with a deadline for art entries by November 10^th.  For more information visit the “Call for Artists” page on the Shoe Factory’s website at www.shoefactoryarts.com.

Double Whammy Art Shows

The Shoe Factory Art Co-op will be hosting two new art exhibits in September. The first show “Green: What Does It Mean?” will be held at The Shoe Factory’s second floor gallery and opens with an artists’ reception on First Friday, September 7th from 6-9pm. The second show “Clouds in My Coffee” opens a block away at Starry Nites Café that same weekend on Sunday, September 9th from 2-4pm.

In support of Rochester’s “Greentopia”, an eco-fest that starts the following week at HighFalls, 17 artists have created their own interpretation of “green” for The Shoe Factory’s “Green: What Does It Mean?” show.  Paintings, photography, mixed media, fiber art, found objects, and recycled glass will be on display by artists from the Rochester region and from as far away as Virginia, Illinois, and Michigan. 

 

Participating artists include Robin Annlot, Kim Bellavia, Chloe Bennett-Larson, Phil Bliss, Marian Cameron, Nils Caspersson, Margot Fass, Monica de Gastyne, Jennifer Fletcher, Kim Guare, Patrizia Lafler, Mike Maiellano, John Midla, Colleen Virdi, Mino Watanabe, Heather Whitney, and John Whitney. 

 

The show runs through September 29^th and will be open for the Landmark Society’s Inside Downtown Tour.

 

The Shoe Factory Art Co-op is located at 250 N. Goodman St., Studio 212 (second floor), Rochester, NY 14607.  www.shoefactoryarts.com

Exhibit hours:  First Friday, September 7th 6-9pm, Second Saturday, September 8th 12-4pm, WednesdayS 12-5pm thru August 29th, Friday, September 28th 5:30-8:30pm, and Saturday, September 29th 11am-4pm.



“Clouds in My Coffee” will feature 11 local artists at The Shoe Factory’s “satellite gallery” at Starry Nites Café.  On display will be clouds and coffee themed artwork in the form of paintings, photography, and fiber art created by Chloe Bennett-Larson, Phil Bliss, Beth Brown, Marian Cameron, Shannon Elliot, Cathryn Leyland, Stan Merrell, John Midla, John Retallack, Todd Ryan, and Mollie Wolf.   

The exhibit runs through November 24th.  Starry Nites Café is located in the unique Flat Iron Building at 696 University Ave., Rochester, NY 14607 and is open daily.  Call (585) 271-2630 for hours or visit www.starrynitescafe.com.

 

Admission is free for both exhibits and artwork is available for purchase.

Crow Show

The Shoe Factory Art Co-op presents their August art exhibit "Crow Show"! 25 artists have created a variety of artistic interpretations of the notorious black bird in the form of paintings, sculpture, mixed media, glass, photography, and poetry.

Artists from Rochester and the New York region have submitted original artwork to “Crow Show” as well as artists from as far as Washington, Texas, N. Carolina, S. Carolina, and New Jersey.  

Participants include Jolene Beckman, Phil Bliss, Terrah Bretherton, Beth Brown, Indiana Brown, Nils Caspersson, Nancy Jo Gambacurta, Erin Hall, Aubrey Hedrick, MJ Iuppa, Angelina Kidd, Cathryn Leyland, Treelee MacAnn, Brandi Marino, John Midla, Stacy Mrva, Christopher Priority, Nancy Radzik, Richard Roberts, Angelia Salerno, Chris Schnaufer, Sally Stormon, Mary Taylor, Colleen Virdi, Allison Whitley, and April Younglove.

The public is invited to an artists’ reception on FirstFriday, August 3^rd from 6-9pm.  Crow themed music compiled by Shoe Factory member Stan Merrell will be on the c.d. player and Hamlin poet M. J. Iuppa will read some passages from her independently published chapbook “As the Crow Flies”.  Artwork will be available for purchase.  Free admission.

The Shoe Factory Art Co-op is located at 250 N. Goodman St., Studio 212 (second floor), Rochester, NY 14607. 

Exhibit hours:  First Friday, August 3rd from 6-9pm, Second Saturday August 11th from 12-4pm, and every Wednesday 12-5pm thru August 29th

Contact:  Director, Beth Brown
Phone: (585)732-0036
E-mail: studio212@shoefactoryarts.com
Website: www.shoefactoryarts.com 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/theshoefactory
Twitter: www.twitter.com/theshoefactory
Blog: www.theshoefactory.blogspot.com

"After Winter Comes Spring" Lithograph by Erin Hall

"When the Crows Come Back to Auburn" watercolor by Sally Stormon

"I Belong With You" oil on canvas by Aubrey Hedrick

 

"Caucus" watercolor by Richard Roberts

Sitcom Series

The Shoe Factory Art Co-op, a cooperative art gallery in Rochester’s Neighborhood of the Arts, presents their July show, “A Very Brady Art Exhibit”.  Member artist ColleenVirdi will introduce her new body of work called “Sitcom Series” on First Friday, July 6^th.  With an interpretative twist, Virdi’s paintings portray characters from familiar pop culture tv shows, mainly from the 60’s and 70’s. 

The collection features rerun icons from shows such as The Brady Bunch, Batman, Lost in Space, Bewitched, The Monkees, I Dream of Jeannie, The Adams Family, The Andy Griffith Show, I Love Lucy, and Gilligan's Island.  The artist’s colorful work is created with acrylics on cardboard and particle board in her trademark cartoonlike style.  Paintings will be available for purchase.

The public is invited to meet artist Colleen Virdi at The Shoe Factory Art Co-op’s gallery for a free reception called “A Very Brady First Friday” on Friday, July 6^th from 6-9pm.  First Friday is a citywide gallery night that encourages collaboration between non-profit, university, and commercial art venues.  The concept of First Friday was started by Rochester ContemporaryArt 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.

The Shoe Factory Art Co-op is located at 250 N. Goodman St., Studio 212 (second floor), Rochester, NY 14607. 

Exhibit hours:  First Friday, July 6th from 6-9pm, Second Saturday July 14th from 12-4pm, and Wednesdays 12-5pm thru July 25^th

Contact:  Director, Beth Brown
Phone: (585)732-0036
E-mail: studio212@shoefactoryarts.com
Website: www.shoefactoryarts.com  
Facebook: www.facebook.com/theshoefactory
Twitter: www.twitter.com/theshoefactory
Blog: www.theshoefactory.blogspot.com

Oxford Gallery Discovers Strohmeier

It's never too late to show your artwork.  James Strohmeier is setting that example by having his first art show at 84 years old.  Oxford Gallery discovered this unknown Rochester painter when the artist humbly contacted the gallery to inquire if they would take a look at his work.  They liked his paintings so much that they are hosting the artist's debut as part of their summer exhibit.

Strohmeier's main focus are his colorful still lifes.  Flowers, intricate folds in cloth, reflections in a silver vase or pitcher are some of the subjects he has studied and mastered in his own deliberate style. 

Strohmeier has been dedicated to painting his whole adult life.  With an office job by day, he honed his painting skills at night attending classes at RIT.  He currently works in the north light of his home studio.  Dissatisfied with the color quality of commercial oils, he happily grinds pigments to make his own superior paint.


Iris, oil

 

A Game of Chess, oil

detail of a James Strohmeier painting

 James Strohmeier's work can be seen at Oxford Gallery located in the lower level of the Roosevelt Apartment Building at the corner of Oxford St. and Park Ave. Ring the buzzer and they will let you in.

Exhibit runs through Saturday, August 25th. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday, 12-5pm, and Saturday, 10am-5pm. Admission is free.  Call 585-271-5885 for more info.

Oxford Gallery

Fly Me to the Moon

The Shoe Factory Art Co-op, a cooperative art gallery on N. Goodman St., is hosting an art exhibit just down the road at Starry Nites Café on University Ave.  “Fly Me to the Moon: Celestial Bodies at Starry Nites Café” features the work of 16 local artists depicting a variety of cosmic themed imagery.  On display are moons, stars, skyscapes, and outer space fantasies in the form of paintings, mixed media, collage, and stained glass. 

Participating artists are Chloe Bennett-Larson, Phil Bliss, Beth Brown, Daniel Chadwick, Jan Feldman, Nancy Jo Gambacurta, Simoney Hanna, Kathy Juda, Mary Beth Lee, Stan Merrell, Barbara Mink, Jeanette Musliner, Mona Oates, Tom Ritz, Deanna Varble, and Colleen Virdi.

Shoe Factory director Beth Brown and Starry Nites co- owner Aaron Lefebvre believe that cross-promotion is a great way to support each other’s businesses in the Neighborhood of the Arts.  The busy coffee shop acts as a satellite showcase for the gallery and in turn, the juried art exhibit brings in new customers to the bistro while enhancing the atmosphere with original art. 

“Starry Nites Café is a street level storefront open seven days a week, day and night.  They get a lot of daily traffic”, Brown says.  “My gallery is in the Anderson Arts Building on the second floor and we are not able to be open for as many hours.  Although our art openings are popular and very well attended, it’s great to offer more exposure for our artists.  I’ve always wanted to work with other businesses in the neighborhood and this is a nice arrangement.”

The public is invited to meet the artists at a free reception for “Fly Me to the Moon: Celestial Bodies at Starry Nites Café” on Sunday, June 10^th from 2-4pm.  Artwork is available for purchase as well as the café’s usual fare.   Patrons can enjoy specialty drinks, gourmet coffees, beer and wine, homemade soups, salads, sandwiches, and desserts. 

The exhibit runs through August 25^th.  Starry Nites Café is located in the unique Flat Iron Building at 696 University Ave., Rochester, NY 14607.  Open daily.  Call (585) 271-2630 for hours or visit www.starrynitescafe.com .

Artists that missed the deadline for the current exhibit can enter the next Shoe Factory/ Starry Nites show in September called “Clouds in my Coffee”.  Submit your artwork by August 11^th.  For more info, visit the Call for Artists page on the Shoe Factory’s website at www.shoefactoryarts.com . 

The Shoe Factory Art Co-op’s gallery is located at 250 N. Goodman St., Studio 212, Rochester, NY 14607. Phone: 585-732-0036 Email: studio212@shoefactoryarts.com  

"000000 - From Drupal Series", DeannaVarble

"Dance of the Planets", Jeanette Musliner

"Tyrian Purple", Mona Oates

Write About Art

A big thank you to local arts writers! 

There are a number of writers in Rochester who are covering art news, but there is so much going on in this town, more writers and photographers are needed to document these activities and keep the public informed about our rich arts community. There are so many artists, art venues, art exhibits, and artwork to be explored!

The most recognizable local writers are news journalists Stuart Low from the Democrat & Chronicle and Rebecca Rafferty of City Newspaper.  They both do a fantastic job of reporting and reviewing local art related news, but they certainly can't be expected to do it all.

Here are some other publications of note to add to your arts reading list:

The Arts & Cultural Council for Greater Rochester publishes a slick quarterly arts magazine called Metropolitan.  Since 2005, the publication has featured articles on regional artists, innovators, cultural organizations, exhibits, performances and events.  Council president Sarah Lentini pens each and every article herself!

Lake Affect magazine, a labor of love published by Michele Cardulla, has been around since 1994.  This independently owned biannual artzine seeks submissions of artwork, photographs, fiction writing, poetry, and essays to fill its pages.  Interviews with artists, writers, musicians, and other interesting personalities are featured in this alternative arts community digest.

Troy Smith and Victor Gomez's Subculture magazine focuses on tattoo art and culture, with additional articles on music, fashion, sports, film, dance and other visual arts.

Jaylynn Little provides a platform for aspiring artists pursuing fashion, music, and art in her magazine SOULife.  She challenges her readers to "dream, create, and inspire".

These local literary efforts generate informative and interesting reading for art enthusiasts.

As director of The Shoe Factory Art Co-op, I started this blog The Shoe Horn with the intention of writing about the many art exhibits we have in our gallery and the professional, emerging, and re-emerging Rochester artists that have walked through our doors.  We've had a variety of works of art in our shows worthy of commentary. 

I'd like to make The Shoe Horn as active as possible with a well rounded overview from different local writers.  Contributors are welcome to cover goings on at The Shoe Factory Art Co-op and around town, preferably visual arts.  If you would like an outlet to write about art, please send your writing submissions to my attention studio212@shoefactoryarts.com.  We have many an art exhibit to be covered and many an artist to be interviewed!

~Beth Brown

Cultural Crawl Painting Demonstration

This year's second annual Cultural Crawl is a concerted effort by City Newspaper and local arts venues to invite the public to take in the Rochester's arts and cultural scene all in one day!  Visit low cost or free arts activities on Saturday, April 21st from 10am-7pm in Rochester's Downtown, Neighborhood of the Arts, and East End districts.

The Shoe Factory Art Co-op will partake in this event by having a free live painting demonstration in their art gallery!  Shoe Factory members Doug Steward, Scott Lamont, and Susan Jenkins will let their creativity flow before your very eyes from 3-5pm!    

The Shoe Factory Art Co-op is located in the same building as City Newspaper at 250 North Goodman St.  Yellow door entrances in the alley parking lot will lead you to the second floor.  Look for our gallery in Studio 212.

City Newspaper's Cultural Crawl is brought to you by Visit Rochester.

Axom Gallery's Debut

Paul Garland (photo by Russ Lunn)

The Shoe Factory Art Co-op is pleased to welcome Axom Gallery to the Neighborhood of the Arts.  The new gallery is a close neighbor of ours, right down the road at 176 Anderson Ave.  Axom plans to rotate exhibits of contemporary visual artists throughout the year.

A family run gallery, the new venture is a team effort by Robin and Rick Muto and their daughter Margot.  The newly renovated exhibit room is housed on the second floor of the Muto's combined business & studio space.  Robin is an interior designer specializing in interior and lighting design www.robinmuto.com, and Rick is a fine artist and well known decorative painter and muralist www.rickmuto.com.  Their daughter Margot, also an artist, is director of the new gallery.

Their first show "Convergence" features the work of their long time family friend, Paul Garland.  His colorful acrylics on canvas and board feature abstract paintings juxtaposed with representational landscapes.

We were pleased to be invited to a preview show in advance of Axom's grand opening on April's First Friday.  We were very impressed with the bright, pristine gallery and the quality of Paul Garlands's fine work.  We felt welcomed by the Muto family's warm and inclusive hospitality.

We welcome Axom Gallery to the neighborhood and encourage art patrons to attend their opening reception from 6-9pm on Friday, April 6th.  Paul Garland will also give an "artist talk" on Thursday, May 3rd at 6:30pm.  Show runs through May 26th.

Axom Gallery (photo by Russ Lunn)

Rochester Artist has Blissful Exhibit

The Shoe Factory Art Co-op, a gallery in Rochester’s Neighborhood of the Arts, announces their March art exhibit, “Follow Your Bliss”.  The show will feature a retrospective, as well as current work, of award winning fine artist and illustrator Phil Bliss.  The exhibit will consist of landscapes, illustrations, and imaginative paintings of varying sizes done in oil, acrylic, watercolor, and gouache.  The display of over 20 years of work will reveal the talent, skill, and amazing versatility of this Rochester artist.  The Shoe Factory Art Co-op is proud to have Phil Bliss as a member and to present his first solo show.

Ever since he can remember, Phil Bliss has been creating art.  Following in the footsteps of his artist father, Harry, and two older brothers, Tom and Jim, his whole family was always actively doing artwork.  When his younger sister Ann came along, she did art as well.  Phil’s mom, Elvira, who passed away 10 years ago, was not a visual artist but expressed herself creatively through playing the piano and singing in the church choir.  “I never knew any different”, Bliss says. “My Dad is an award winning fine art painter, commercial artist, and art teacher.  We all did art.”  Many of Phil’s relatives from the Rochester area are award winning artists and art teachers as well.

Growing up in the suburbs, Phil graduated from Pittsford Sutherland High School with an art scholarship in 1975.  He went on to study art at Vesper George School of Art in Boston and won a scholarship award there.  He graduated with a BFA in 1978 and then became an illustrator, building his reputation and clientele.  By the 90’s he was making a good living as a commercial artist, sharing a house in Rochester with his brother Jim, also an illustrator.  Phil’s jobs came from around the country, with a majority of the work coming from New York City and Los Angeles.  His illustrations could be seen on the pages of books and magazines, book covers, advertisements, and commercial packaging.  Notable clients have included Time Magazine, Reader’s Digest, AT&T, American Airlines, and Citibank, among many others. 

But Phil’s success as a commercial artist started to change.  “9/11 happened and nothing seemed the same after that”, Bliss says. “I just wasn’t getting as many jobs any more.  Things have been on a decline ever since.”  Phil’s brother Jim has suffered similar circumstances.  Phil blames his lack of work on the economy and advancements in technology.  Not only have artists learned a new art medium through graphic design programs, but the internet has opened up competition from artists all over the world.  “Art directors are inundated and overwhelmed”, says Bliss.  “You can’t get an appointment anymore to show your portfolio.  The competition is fierce.”  Bliss, 55, now lives in a small studio apartment on Park Ave. with his cat Izzy and does his artwork there.  His illustration jobs have dwindled.  He has not kept up with technology, but is learning how to market himself on the internet.

Nevertheless, this has not stopped Phil from being productive or prevented his talent from being recognized.  He recently received Merit Awards for each of two illustrations accepted into the current American Illustration Annual book.  Two other illustrations have been accepted into the latest Society of Illustrators Annual book (a publication Bliss has been featured in many times in past years), and two more of his illustrations have been accepted into the latest 3 x 3 Illustration Annual book.

Locally, as a fine artist, Phil has won numerous awards from Rochester Art Club, of which he has been a long time member.  He has won many landscape painting awards, including best of show, from Genesee Valley Plein Air Painters of which he is a member.  His work has been accepted into many of the Rochester-Finger Lakes Exhibitions at the Memorial Art Gallery and the annual invitational at Oxford gallery.  He received an award at the annual regional exhibition at the Arnot Museum in Elmira.

Many of these same awards and similar accomplishments in art have been achieved by other members of the Bliss clan.  Phil’s 88 year old father, Harry Bliss, is still actively painting with as much enthusiasm and timeless talent as ever, despite some health problems.  He shows his work in as many art shows as he can.  Many of Phil’s siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, and extended family are creating art in some form or another and are each uniquely gifted in their own way, producing a legacy of eternal, artistic Bliss.

“Follow Your Bliss” opens with an artist’s reception on First Friday, March 2nd from 5-9pm and runs through Wednesday, March 28th.  Artwork is available for purchase.  The Shoe Factory Art Co-op is a member of the Regional Gallery Director’s Forum and will participate in their “Thaw” gallery theme by having a whole wall of Phil Bliss’s winter “thaw” landscapes on display at his show.

Artists’ Reception:  First Friday, March 2nd from 5-9pm
Show Duration:  March 2^nd thru 28th
Exhibit hours:  First Friday, March 2^nd from 5-9pm, Saturday March 3^rd from 11-5pm, Saturday, March 10^th from 12-4pm, and Wednesdays 12-5pm thru Feb. 28^th
Location:  The Shoe Factory Art Co-op, 250 N. Goodman St., Studio 212 (second floor), Rochester, NY 14607
Show Admission:  Free  

Contact:  Director, Beth Brown
Phone: (585)732-0036
E-mail: studio212@shoefactoryarts.com
Website: www.shoefactoryarts.com  
Facebook: www.facebook.com/theshoefactory

Twitter: www.twitter.com/theshoefactory

Cat and Dog Spaceship

Love Travels Through the Universe
by Lorin Easton

Unconditional love is what I sought
You infected me with all the love that you brought
I don't know where you came from, but here you are now
I expect that you'll stay for a while
 to fill my life with a bark and meow

You'll want to play all day and sleep all night
And push my buttons when the time is right
Your wisdom teaches me everyday
That I must honor our bond always and today

When I see you off
you better look to me and say with might
“Your stars are my stars and we are always in sight”
Traveling through infinity passing your constellations
Making a new home in your space station

You'll see amazing things and live free among the stars
Spreading more love to galaxies afar
Try to swing by every now and again
I'll watch for your ship on clear nights above the terrain

This mixed media piece was donated by Lorin Easton for our “Unconditional Love: Cats and Dogs” February art exhibit silent auction to benefit a local "No Kill" shelter. Bidding ends Feb. 25th at 4pm.

Lorin Easton

Pratt Cats

by Anne Smoral

These are pictures I took during my time at Pratt Institute.
The Chief Engineer of Pratt’s Historic Boiler Room adopted cats.
The other Engine Room workers fed and cared for the cats.
They were our campus cats (Pratt Cats) and each cat had its own personality and area on campus where it hung out.
The photographs are sentimental with a personal story.
A story about cats that provided the Pratt students, faculty, workers
and other people with unconditional love.

Sam and Stepsy

Big Momma

Frank, The Head Cat

These framed photos were donated by Anne Smoral for our “Unconditional Love: Cats and Dogs” February art exhibit silent auction to benefit a local "No Kill" shelter.  Bidding ends Feb. 25th at 4pm.

Art Show Promotes Spay Day!

The Shoe Factory Art Co-op announces their February art exhibit, “Unconditional Love: Cats and Dogs”. 48 artists will partake in celebrating February's Valentine’s Day and Spay Day with an art exhibit affectionately devoted to felines and canines as part of Spay/Neuter Awareness Month. The show will be one of hundreds of World Spay Day events that will be taking place across the country and around the world during the month of February. The Humane Society’s annual campaign promotes spaying and neutering as an effective means of saving animals’ lives, with the goal of putting an end to the suffering and euthanasia of homeless animals. 

On display at the exhibit will be drawings, paintings, photography, sculpture, mixed media, glasswork, and metalwork. Over 70 depictions of cats and dogs in varying artistic styles will grace the walls of the gallery. Artwork will be available for purchase as well as unique items such as handmade, organic dog biscuits. Some art pieces have been donated by the artists for bid through silent auction. A portion of silent auction funds and donations will be given to a local “no kill” animal shelter, to be announced.

“There are a lot of people who care about animals in this community”, says Shoe Factory director Beth Brown. “This show will express an outpouring of love and concern for cats and dogs by the artists participating and the patrons who attend. This compassionate message is the antithesis of others in the art world who abuse animals for the sake of art.” Brown’s face turns grim. “In particular, Tom Otterness”, she says. “The one who adopted a dog from a shelter and filmed himself shooting and killing it for his so called art film. The Memorial Art Gallery has commissioned him to create a permanent outdoor sculpture for the entrance of their future sculpture park.” Brown says with disgust, “People like this should not be rewarded. The park is right across the street from my gallery. I will be forced to look at this monstrosity every day and be reminded of the injustice of animal cruelty.”

Needless to say, Tom Otterness is not invited.

The show opens with an artists’ reception on First Friday, Feb. 3rd from 6-10pm and runs through February 25th. For more information about World Spay Day visit www.worldspayday.org.

Opening Artists’ Reception: First Friday, February 3rd from 6-10 
Show Closing: Saturday, February 25th from 12-4pm 
Gallery hours: First Fridays 6-10pm, and Second Saturdays 12-4pm, and Wednesdays 12-5pm 
Location: The Shoe Factory Art Co-op, 250 N. Goodman St., Studio 212, Rochester, NY 14607 
Show Admission: donations of cat food, dog food, or dollars


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

"Throne of the Woodland King"

by Khawafl Liverpool, Rochester writer and art enthusiast

A poem inspired by Lowell Lunn's "Rustic Chair" featured in The Shoe Factory Art Co-op's November 2011 exhibit "Once Upon a Coffee Table: Fine Art Furnishings"

"Rustic Chair" by Lowell Lunn, photo by Khawalf Liverpool

the elderly possum paused
it’s head inclined at a purposeful angle
pointing to the caravan sized buttress
at the base of an ancient tree
it made a sort of guttural noise
a plea almost, had it had the gift of voice
then, right there at the human’s unshorn feet
it martyred itself
it’s eyes fading into oblivion wide and knowing
never closing
even as it hit the ground
he was here,
where he had asked to be brought
and perhaps even seen
for an audience
with the Woodland king

a brisk breeze shook him from his skin
waking decade’s worth of leaves
from their slumber of decay
to their new purpose of serving as communion clothing
that his foul fleshy form not offend
and raise rotting memories
of the misdeeds of men

so there he stood, nearly nude
the feel of this new skin
not quite yet sinking in
a scent of sage and rosemary
hung playfully on the very edge
of the wind’s wispy breath 

this place was alive
not only with living things
but with the earth’s essential essence itself
its sweet rustic musk bursting forth
from soil leaf bark and skin
there were no real life forms here
just things that happened to form
fleshed out of fantasy and alchemical lore
around the shiny gleam of Life’s core 

and yet there  he stood
dwarfed by the ornate runes
etched into the rough hewn door
a pact prepared by man staining his hands
a truce, or more correctly a plea
for some measure of leniency
a coin pressed firmly in palm
in hopes of staying the executioner’s hand 

the Sovereign’s words were wood
hard, straightforward spat
with smooth grain and splinter alike
and his inflections popped like knots would
in protest to a flame’s hungry lick and searing bite  his displeasure clear, no matter the language barrier
they fell from his lips, snapping twigs and cracking bark
as faith and feeling drained
once again, from his heart
his pithy heart
once akin to spark and kindling
now a pit hearth of hard feelings and misgivings

and so
even without words that either truly understood
the crux of the proposed covenant was presented
and once again
man was found retreating in disgrace
from another bequeathed and bountiful world
that he had just laid waste
knees bent and face to the ground
as he couldn’t bear to stare
at the shame and disdain in the Sovereign’s face