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)