Not a Full Deck

The ShoeFactory Art Co-op will feature a new exhibit opening on February FirstFriday.  The show entitled "Not a Full Deck" will feature artwork inspired by standard playing cards. Characters such as Jack, Queen, King, Joker, or suits such as hearts, diamonds, spades, and clubs are some of the imagery that can be found in the art pieces. 13 artists have created works in the form of digital art, mixed media, painting, photography, and sculpture. 

Participating artists include Nicole Alioto, Brenda Allen, Beth Brown, Bill Cooke, Ashley Ludwig, Brandi Marino, Jeb McConnell,  John Midla, Julie Podskalny, Tom Ritz, Viviane Schupbach, James Spitznagel, and Katelyn Tudi. 

In addition to the theme show, a variety of artwork created by Shoe Factory House Artist members will also be on display in the gallery.  

Show dates are Friday, February 6th from 6-9pm and Saturday, February 14th 12-4pm. The show continues the following month on Friday, March 6th from 6-9pm and Saturday, March 14th from 12-4pm.  Free admission!  Artwork available for purchase.

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

Website:  www.shoefactoryarts.com  

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/theshoefactory  

Twitter:  www.twitter.com/theshoefactory

Sirens & Seahorses Art Show

Mermaids and seahorses abound at The Shoe Factory Art Co-op’s new exhibit, Sirens & Seahorses! 

(Promo art features the work of Frank Argento, Mandy Burke Dermatis, Samara Doumnande, Gwendolyn Kerney, Mary Beth Lee, and Amanda Zimmerman)

Everyone’s favorite finned females and their seahorse sidekicks will be on display in a variety of art forms!  The fishy subject matter inspired 38 artists to create original paintings, drawings, mixed media, fiber art, and stained glass for this show!

"Returning Home" oil on panel Todd Ryan

"Aqua Equestrian" colored pencil Rob Marvin

Show dates:

First Friday October 3rd, 6-9pm

Second Saturday October 11th, 12-4pm

First Friday November 7th, 6-9pm

Second Saturday November 8th, 12-4pm

"Old Mermaid of Tokyo Bay" acrylic on wood Tom Ritz

Participating artists come from the Rochester and New York State region as well as Maryland, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas! 

"Longing" acrylic on wood Beth Brown

Artists:

Brenda Allen, Ty Anderson, Sharon Arffa, Frank Argento, Stephanie Lynn Barkley, Chloe Bennett-Larson, Diana Bonilla, Beth Brown, Linda Lunn Chadwick, Dennis Collins, Mandy Jo Burke Dermatis, TeeJay Dill, Samara Doumnande, Lorin Easton, Diane Elmslie, Wendy Forrest, Ellen Frazier, Elizabeth Graham, Shannon Halligan, Gwendolin Kerney, Mary Beth Lee, Russ Lunn, Brandi Marino, Rob Marvin, Marla McLean, John Midla, Julie Podskalny, Jenn Richter, Tom Ritz, Todd Ryan, PD Schmidt, Ben Slomovic, Anne Smoral, Thomas Sundberg, Katelyn Tudi, Colleen Virdi, Heather Whitney, Amanda Zimmerman

"Siren & Seahorse" oil on canvas TeeJay Dill

Also on view will be artwork by Shoe Factory House Artist members. 

Free admission!  Artwork available for purchase.

"Seahorse" stained glass Mary Beth Lee

Location:  

The Shoe Factory Art Co-op

250 N. Goodman St., Studio 212 (second floor), 

Rochester, NY 14607

"Siren Spiral" watercolor Heather Whitney

 

E-mail:  studio212@shoefactoryarts.com 
Website:  www.shoefactoryarts.com
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/theshoefactory
Twitter:  www.twitter.com/theshoefactory

Gail Cunliffe: The Box of Eight Explodes!

The Shoe Factory Art Co-op presents a new art exhibit at Starry Nites Café. “Gail Cunliffe: The Box of Eight Explodes!” features new acrylic paintings on canvas by the Webster, NY artist. Whether approaching her abstract imagery with a palette knife or carefully planning an architectural retro design, Cunliffe delivers a variety of painting styles in hot, bold colors.

A Rochester native, she spent most of her adult life raising a family while teaching school; fourth grade at Rochester City School District and second grade at Holy Cross School.  Not until retirement did she venture into painting.  We interviewed the fledgling artist to gain insight into her creative life.

Shoe Factory:  When did you start creating art? 
Gail Cunliffe:   I did not start to formally create art until I retired.  What I realize now is that during my twenty years of teaching, my classroom was my canvas.  Walls were always covered with murals and other colorfully explosive displays related to various subject matter. 

"Symphony of Colors" acrylic on canvas by Gail Cunliffe

SF:  Where did you learn your craft?  GC:  Upon retirement, I took an introductory art course that absolutely changed my life.   I was always in awe of the beauty of the world around me, both outside and inside environments.  And now to be able to put my interpretation of these spaces on canvas was a gift that I had given myself.
I’ve studied with Lori Aman for two years.  She is a local artist and an art educator.  I have taken workshops from Judy Soprano, Betsy Liano, Valerie Larsen, Sandra Grana, and Jim Mott, all of whom are local artists.

"Cabo" acrylic on canvas by Gail Cunliffe

  

SF:  What is your art medium?  GC:  I paint with acrylics using a variety of materials such as brushes, plastic and metal scrapers, squeegies, sponges, foam brushes, rollers, etc.

SF:  How do you make your art?  GC:  My intent is not to always create what I see.  I am thrilled by using color crashing onto canvas as my own interpretation.  For example, my southwest canyon series is painted in an abstract format.  My interiors tend towards a more realistic approach but always with an element of abstract and a touch of the whimsical.

"Gray Matters" acrylic on canvas by Gail Cunliffe

SF:  What are you currently working on?  GC:  I have begun to explore painting an enlarged single flower in an abstract, somewhat blurry format.  A constant is my use of bold color.  Colors that compliment each other and colors that clash with a lot of noise.

"Blooming Flower" acrylic on canvas by Gail Cunliffe

SF:  What or who are your influences?  GC:  My influences are artists John Nieto, Michelle Chrisman, Phyllis Kapp, and Barbara Bowles.

SF:  Have you always been a creative person?  GC:  I'm a pretty straight forward kind of person who sets herself free when I have a colorful palette and an artistic tool in my hand.

"Red Sunglasses" acrylic on canvas by Gail Cunliffe

SF:  How has being an artist changed or affected your life?  GC:  My style of art fits my wish to be less than perfect.  It allows me the freedom to "mess" with the world around me.

"Uptown" acrylic on canvas by Gail Cunliffe

SF:  What do consider some of your artistic accomplishments?  GC:  It is very encouraging to have my work validated by professionals in the field who honor me with awards at local art shows.

SF:  What is your favorite art related experience so far?  GC:  The weekend that I spent in Albuquerque, New Mexico taking a workshop from Michelle Chrisman.  Painting on the banks of the Rio Grande from a high bluff left me speechless.

"Fireworks" acrylic on canvas by Gail Cunliffe

SF:  What is your ultimate goal as an artist?
GC:  To continue having people who purchase my art come back to tell me how much they enjoy walking into their homes to be greeted by my paintings.

SF:  What are your needs as an artist in Rochester?  What would you like to see changed?  GC:  I would like to see more local artists given the privilege to create art for local facilities such as hospitals, Hillside, the Al Sigl Center, etc. I will never forget the television program that featured how art along the halls of cancer center hospital was often the catalyst towards healing as patients spent great amounts of time walking, observing, and being thrilled by the donated works of art.  I would also like to see more themed art as fundraisers, for example:  artists create a painting in their style on the face of a violin as a fundraiser for Rochester's RPO.  

Webster, NY artist Gail Cunliffe

 
Exhibit Location: Starry Nites Café, 696 University Ave., Rochester, NY
Show duration: January 20th-April 5th, 2014
Hours: Open daily & nightly, call (585)271-2630, free admission

While viewing Gail’s artwork, Starry Nites patrons can enjoy specialty drinks, gourmet coffees, beer and wine, homemade soups, salads, sandwiches, and desserts!

Starry Nites Cafe website: www.starrynitescafe.com
Shoe Factory Art Co-op website: www.shoefactoryarts.com

To apply for an art show, visit the Shoe Factory website: http://www.shoefactoryarts.com/CallforArtists.html

O Come All Ye Art Lovers!

EXTENDED HOLIDAY HOURS:
Friday, Dec. 20th 6-9pm! 

 
’Tis the season to visit our holiday art show at The Shoe Factory Art Co-op!  On display in our gallery are paintings, photography, mixed-media, fiber art, ceramics, and jewelry created by local artists!  Enter to win our spectacular Art Gift Basket raffle!   

Artwork available for purchase!  Free admission!

First Friday, Dec. 6th 5-10pm

Saturday, Dec. 7th 11am-5pm

Second Saturday, Dec. 14th 12-4pm 

Wednesdays 12-5pm

Ex-Hippie Cures Winter Blues with Island Color

featured photo "Bow Silhouette" by Bruce Bozman

Rochesterians can enjoy some relief from seasonal grey skies and winter doldrums by viewing Bruce Bozman’s new photography exhibit “Island Color”.  The Shoe Factory Art Co-op is hosting the Hammondsport artist’s vibrant show in its satellite gallery at Starry Nites Café.  The images on display are tantalizing abstractions of Bozman’s travels, highlighting visual snippets of his sailing journeys in the Caribbean and Grenadines as well as artistic viewpoints of his home base in the Finger Lakes.

"Water Rivulets on Red Keel" by Bruce Bozman

Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Bozman’s interest in photography started in college.  He began shooting images on backpack motorcycle excursions, developing rolls of film in a homemade black and white darkroom.  He majored in industrial design at the University of Cincinnati, making the Dean’s list and completing four of the five year program before dropping out to join the youthful revolution of his era.  He headed west in 1968.

"Beached Workboat" by Bruce Bozman

His free spirit landed him in San Francisco, where he received a post-college education living in a commune.  Bozman still values the mind-expanding, counterculture experiences an authentic hippie lifestyle had to offer.  Outgrowing tight living quarters, Bruce traveled across country with a VW bus search party to find new digs.  A dilapidated farm in Steuben County, NY became the ultimate choice for the entire commune (15 adults and 8 kids) to move east with the intention of living off the land.  Although the group disbanded after a few years, Bozman felt at home in the beauty of the Finger Lakes and has lived in the region ever since.

"Sailboat Hull" by Bruce Bozman

He went on to open a high end woodworking business in 1979, designing and building custom office furniture for corporate clients.  He developed a line of hardwood computer furniture and enlisted a production crew of six employees.  Finding a niche, Bozman’s enterprise was hired to create display cases and pedestals for Steuben Glass, Baccarat Crystal, and Lalique Crystal.  When steady client Stueben closed up shop in 2011, Bozman followed suit to pursue the photographic arts.

"Sea Turtles" by Bruce Bozman

Bozman’s rekindled passion for photography closed the door on his primitive darkroom of years past.  He now makes use of new technology with a digital camera and a playground of filter enhancements and printing processes.  What hasn’t changed is his sense of adventure, travel, and exploration with his artistic eye.  Showing his work in the art festival circuit has proven to be a good fit.  In a very short time he has won recognition with numerous awards of distinction and best in show. 

Photographer Bruce Bozman during sailboat race

The current "Island Color" exhibit features Bozman’s tantalizing abstractions of the Caribbean taken on his yearly catamaran sailing trips.  He finds his images while anchored, combing the beach or swimming with a waterproof camera.  His compositions feature glimmering light on ship's bows, sterns, and sails.  Sun beaten boats reflect water and sky in hot colors.  Other pieces are similarly shot closer to home on Keuka Lake.   Whether the photo is a well-composed pictorial of an exotic beach or an indistinguishable abstract of the weathered hull of a sailboat, Bozman’s colorful and sunlit images guarantee the viewer cheer and escape from the Northeast winter blues. 

"Sunlight Reflections on White Hull" by Bruce Bozman

“Bruce Bozman:  Island Color” is hosted by the Shoe Factory Art Co-op and is currently on display at Starry Nites Café through January 18th, 2014.  Admission is free.  Photographs are available for purchase, printed on canvas or matted and framed under glass.

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. 

Artists who would like to display their work at Starry Nites may apply through the Shoe Factory Art Co-op’s website http://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.