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Valerie Berner Art Exhibit

graphic design by Beth Brown

When not working as a full-time art therapist helping local youth and families at one of Hillside’s Family of Agencies, Rochester artist Valerie Berner spends much of her free time creating her own artwork.  She finds her inspiration in nature and expresses her artistic talents in the form of acrylic paintings on paper.  Her current body of work can be seen at her solo art exhibit “Sunrise to Moonset” at Starry Nites Café.

"A Bridge for Li Po" acrylic on paper

Berner’s graphic painted designs often depict either a single sphere, or multiple globes, set in a bold landscape of colorful skies, mountains, water, trees, and flowers.  These orbs can be interpreted as rising suns and descending moons, or vice versa.  Her palette of bright blue, green, purple, red, orange, and yellow paint gives the simple shapes a pleasing visual impact.  Her completed works are professionally matted and framed under glass, adding a finished gloss to her painted paper.  Sizes and prices vary for the artist’s original paintings and giclee prints.

"Gumball Trees" acrylic and ink on paper

Having created art throughout her childhood, Berner focused on painting in college.  She studied psychology and fine arts at St. Lawrence University, ultimately achieving a master’s degree in art therapy from Nazareth College.  Valerie utilizes the healing power of expressive arts on a daily basis through her employment as a licensed creative arts therapist.

“Sunrise to Moonset” is hosted by the Shoe Factory Art Co-op and can be seen at Starry Nites Café from August 5th through September 28th.  Show extended through November 2nd. An artist’s reception will be held at the cafe on Friday, August 16^th from 6-8pm.  Admission is free and artwork is available for purchase.  

Valerie Berner in her studio

Starry Nites Café is located in the unique Flat Iron Building at 696 University Ave., Rochester, NY 14607.  Café patrons can enjoy specialty drinks, gourmet coffees, beer and wine, homemade soups, salads, sandwiches, and desserts.  Open daily and nightly.  Call (585) 271-2630 for hours or visit www.starrynitescafe.com .  

"Their View" acrylic on paper

"Days Getting Longer" acrylic on paper

Artists who would like to display their work at Starry Nites may apply through the Shoe Factory Art Co-op’s website www.shoefactoryarts.com/CallforArtists.html.  

To view more artwork by local artists, visit the Shoe Factory Art Co-op’s gallery at 250 N. Goodman St., Studio 212, Rochester, NY 14607. 

"Lone Tree" acrylic and ink on paper

"New Waves" acrylic on paper

Valerie Berner art opening at Starry Nites Cafe August 2013

Hex Signs & Barn Stars Exhibit

Rochester artist Beth Brown is obsessed with stars.  Not the celebrity variety of Hollywood fame, but the kind that adorn the barns of Pennsylvania’s farm country.  Hex signs to be exact.  These colorful geometric designs enclosed within a circle have been painted on barns in the rural counties of PA for nearly 200 years. 

 

Brown’s fascination with this subject has resulted in her series of painted studies for an exhibit called “Hex Signs & Barn Stars” now featured at Starry Nites Café.  Loosely based on the traditional designs, she has created a variety of stars with acrylic paints on mostly round shaped canvases and wood.  5, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 16 pointed stars are depicted, many painted with a crackle finish to make them appear worn with time. 

Starry Nites Cafe display

German in origin, this type of traditional folk art was sprung from fraktur drawings, stemming from the rich history of Pennsylvania Dutch (Deutsch) culture.  Hex signs were used by farmers to decorate their barns and, some say, to ward off evil spirits or bring good luck or fortune to the farm dwellers.

 

Beth Brown painting a hex sign

Brown’s recent fixation on the historical signs started about six months ago.  “I’ve been carrying around a library book on Hex signs like it’s my bible,” she says.  “As an artist, once I get motivated creatively by a new art form, I try to absorb and learn the subject as much as I can, visually and intellectually, until I get it out of my system and move on to a new inspiration.”  Regarding her attraction to the subject, she explains, “I’m not really sure why I’m so drawn to them.  To me, the stars on the barns express the historical and cultural heritage of the community and a sense of pride in their livelihood.  The signs act as beacons speaking to passersby throughout the Pennsylvania countryside.  But mostly they evoke a sense of mystery and wonder that captures my attention.”   When asked about the association of magic in the signs, Brown says, “I find the folklore relating to the stars fascinating, but I don’t pretend to be an expert on the purposes of their symbolic meanings.  I’m mostly focused on their decorative aspects.” 

Although the paintings for sale at the exhibit are strictly for interior use, Brown can also custom make the signs to hang outdoors on homes, garages, or barns.

Brown studied drawing and painting at The School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.  She is a fine and decorative artist, portrait and mural painter, and art gallery owner.  She represents local artists in her exhibit space The Shoe Factory Art Co-op located in Rochester’s Neighborhood of the Arts.  Her business Moonblossom Signworks features her hand painted signs for home or business, and vintage style faux antique signs.  She teaches drawing and painting for teens and adults in her workshop, Beth Brown Art & Design Studio.

The show, hosted by the Shoe Factory Art Co-op, is on display at Starry Nites Café from May 13th through August 3rd.  Admission is free. 

Starry Nites Café is located in the unique Flat Iron Building at 696 University Ave., Rochester, NY 14607.  Café patrons can enjoy specialty drinks, gourmet coffees, beer and wine, homemade soups, salads, sandwiches, and desserts.  Open daily and nightly.  Call (585) 271-2630 for hours or visit www.starrynitescafe.com .

Beth Brown’s websites:  www.moonblossomsignworks.com, www.bethbrownartist.com

To view more artwork by local artists, visit the Shoe Factory Art Co-op’s gallery at 250 N. Goodman St., Studio 212, Rochester, NY 14607.  Phone: 585-732-0036 Email: studio212@shoefactoryarts.com Website: www.shoefactoryarts.com .

Mona Oates & Wen-Hua Chen Exhibit

The Shoe Factory Art Co-op’s May exhibit will feature the work of surrealist painter Mona Oates and floral painter Wen-Hua Chen.  A First Friday gallery opening will include an unveiling by Oates of her three most recent oil paintings in a series called “Fleeting Stages”.  The evening’s reception will also serve as a farewell art show for Chen as she will be returning to her homeland in Taiwan, providing a last chance for the public to view and purchase her artwork in Rochester.

The paintings of Rochester artist Mona Oates evoke imagery to the viewer that is both imaginative and thought provoking.  The mysterious organisms and strange architectural forms are depicted in otherworldly environments of her own creation.  Oates, 26, was born in Germany where she was active in music and arts as a child.  She pursued an art education after high school in Singapore through a United World College scholarship.  From there she continued her art studies while traveling to a number of Asian countries, and enduring some harsh winters in the Northern European country of Estonia.  She attended the University of Chester in England, graduating with a bachelor of fine arts degree and winning the University’s Fine Art Prize.  During this time she started to develop her artistic style of rendering surreal and abstract organic forms with refined old masters painting techniques.  In England she met her husband Joseph Oates, a Rochester native, and moved here with him in 2010. Since then she has been actively painting and involving herself in the Rochester art scene.  She is currently employed at Rochester Art Supply and is a member and House Artist at The Shoe Factory Art Co-op.

Wen-Hua Chen painting at The Shoe Factory. photo by Russ Lunn

Flowers are the favorite subject and focus of painter Wen-Hua Chen.  Her talent lies in realistic interpretations of varying species of blooms using watercolors or oils.  Also impressive are her painstakingly detailed studies of traditional Taiwanese graphic floral patterns.  Chen, 25, was born in Taiwan.  Although she was interested in art in high school, she got a BA in Philosophy at National Taiwan University in Taipei.  Having taken a number of art classes her senior year of college, she realized she wanted to pursue a masters degree in art.  Her parents encouraged her to apply for graduate school in the United States.  She attended Rochester Institute of Technology’s Fine Arts Studio MFA program and graduated in spring 2012. Her thesis exhibit at RIT not only featured her flower paintings but also a baby grand piano, its entire surface hand painted with a bold and graphic floral design.  On this objet d'art, her prized possession, she has resumed her classical piano training from childhood.  Since graduating, she set up a studio space along with her piano in the Shoe Factory Art Co-op’s gallery.  She had hoped to stay in the US but was not able to find employment in her desired field.  She will return to Taiwan at the end of May before her Visa papers expire.

Both artists will have their paintings on display along with a variety of artwork by other Shoe Factory House Artists on First Friday, May 3^rd from 6-9pm and Second Saturday, May 11^th from 12-4pm.  Oates will give a talk about her artistic inspiration and techniques with Q & A at 2pm on Second Saturday.  Additional gallery hours are on Wednesdays from 12-5pm.  Open to the public.  Artwork is available for purchase.  Free admission.

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

Beachcomber Designs Jewelry

 Local artist Lisa Johnson is a seeker of artifacts, small pieces of manmade and natural objects which long ago have been discarded and forgotten.  These treasures unearthed in her wanderings, often on the shore of Lake Ontario, are what inspire Johnson to create jewelry for her business Beachcomber Designs. 

Discovering beauty in a common stone or a weathered piece of beach glass, Johnson is compelled to enhance the object’s simplicity by translating it into an attractive piece of jewelry to be worn and enjoyed.  She forges silver to dress up her earthy finds, or makes a mold of a textured natural object, such as a tiny feather, to create a silver replica.  

Another of Johnson’s passions is to create intricately woven beadwork.  Using ancient off-loom techniques such as peyote stitch and right angle weave, she painstakingly threads hundreds of beads into a finished piece of jewelry.

The Shoe Factory Art Co-op will feature Lisa Johnson’s jewelry for the month of April.  Among her interesting selection of wearable art will be necklaces, bolos, earrings, bracelets, and rings.

The public is invited to meet the Brighton artist on FirstFriday, April 5^th from 6-9pm and on Second Saturday, April 13^th from 12-4pm.  Additional gallery hours are on Wednesdays from 12-5pm. 

Jewelry by Beachcomber Designs is available for purchase along with a variety of other artwork on display by Shoe Factory House Artists.  Free admission.

Location:  The Shoe Factory Art Co-op, 250 N. Goodman St., Studio 212 (second floor), Rochester, NY 14607. 
Phone: (585)732-0036
Website:  www.shoefactoryarts.com
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/theshoefactory
Twitter:  www.twitter.com/theshoefactory

A Tasty Art Show

The Shoe Factory Art Co-op, an art gallery in Rochester’s Neighborhood of the Arts, is hosting a tasty art show at nearby Starry Nites Café.  The exhibit “Let Them Eat Cake! Portraits of Pastries” will whet the appetite of café patrons by displaying artistic depictions of baked goods by 15 imaginative artists. These delectable artworks of subjects such as cakes, muffins, donuts, and pies are in the form of paintings, photography, mixed media, fiber art, and glass. 

The show will feature the work of Phil Bliss, Diana Bonilla, Marian Cameron, Starr Fazzina, Mark Groaning, Ryan McAlpine, Janel McKee, Mary Beth Lee, Mary Lee Pagliaroli, Jessica Pembroke, Tom Ritz, Ria Tafani, Dani Wagner, Pauline Wegman, and Mollie Wolf. 

Artwork is available for purchase. Admission is free.


Star Spangled Muffin acrylic by Phil Bliss

Also on view is the café’s glass display case of tantalizing fresh baked pastries one can choose from to accompany a Starry Nites gourmet coffee or specialty drink.  Beer & wine, homemade soups, salads, and sandwiches are also on the menu.

Show runs February 18^th through May 12^th.

Starry Nites Café is located in the unique Flat Iron Building at 696 University Ave., Rochester, NY 14607.  Open daily and nightly.  Call (585) 271-2630 for hours or visit www.starrynitescafe.com .

To view more artwork by local artists, visit the Shoe Factory Art Co-op’s gallery at 250 N. Goodman St., Studio 212, Rochester, NY 14607.  Phone: 585-732-0036 Email: studio212@shoefactoryarts.com Website: www.shoefactoryarts.com .

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