A busy schedule and a chance to meet the artists Anne Yoch Russell and Rhoda Kahler
By Lele Galer, Columnist, The Times
As October draws to a close, we have many opportunities to see the last week of some wonderful exhibitions across Chester County. The Church Street Gallery in West Chester is in its last weeks of showing the wonderfully talented pastel artist Jessica Turgoose, whose exhibit ends November 2nd. Her work is full of beautiful color, and masterful use of the pastel medium, in subjects ranging from pastoral Chester County scenes to figural work.
Mala Galleria in Kennett Square, is about to end its show “Metamophoses” which exhibits art from Serbian husband and wife artists Jugoslav and Violeta Ocokoljic. The detailed, moving imagery ranges from Russian style icons to powerful archetypal mythic paintings. These artworks are very reasonably priced around $250 each, and are truly unique to our Chester County. The show left me wanting to see more, and also learn more about the creative minds of this fascinating artist couple.
Anne Yoch Russell
Anne Yoch Russell with be showing her absorbing, brilliantly colored and patterned oil paintings and photographs at this Thursday’s Pop up Art show at Galer Estate Winery from 4-8pm. With an excellent arts education from San Francisco Art Institute, Tyler, and Moore College of Art, Anne manages both a career as an exhibiting artist and well as an art teacher in the Downingtown High School West. Anne explains that her work “explores the tension between the beautiful and the destructive” and while the result is quite abstract, she focuses on her observations of seas and waterways. Meet the artist and see her unique artworks this Thursday at Galer Winery.
Rhoda Kahler and her mural work at West Chester University.
Also in Kennett Square this Thursday October 24th from 7:30-8:30, The Longwood Art Gallery will host “An Evening with Rhoda Kahler.” Come meet this famously talented and charismatic local ceramic artist and hear her describe her techniques and give a demonstration of how she creates her amazing wall art. Admission is free, and refreshments will be served.
If you have ever driven by the new art wing at West Chester University and seen a full scale mosaic masterpiece tucked away in an alcove – that is by Rhoda. You should park your car and check it out face to face; it is extraordinary, rhythmic, out of this world and grounded at the same time. There is simply nothing like it anywhere! Rhoda regularly exhibits her smaller tiled works and ceramic forms and is currently working on an inspiring new mural for the Chester County Art Association’s new donor wall. If you would like to have your name incorporated into that mural, contact CCAA. Watercolor artist Judy Antonelli’s solo show at The Longwood Art Gallery will be ending October 31st, so this will also be a nice chance for you to see that show before it goes away.
The “Flying Colors Art Show 2014” will be held at the Montgomery School in Chester Springs this Friday through Sunday. This show of local artists exhibits works in a range of media and will benefit the Domestic Violence Center of Chester County. The opening reception is Friday October 24th from 6-9pm, and will offer visitors a chance to buy local art at reasonable prices, all for a great cause.
Calling all artists- the Beauty Art Gallery in Newtown Square is accepting art submissions for their “2014 Small Treasures Art Show” which opens November 29th. This show is open to any art media, as long as it is priced $300 or less. There are many cash prizes, and it draws a nice crowd every year. The Art Gallery at Franklin Commons in Phoenixville is accepting artwork for on Friday October 31st for their upcoming “Seasonal Interpretations” show which open November 8th; and for the first time they will exhibit small 3D works including ceramics and jewelry. The Chester County Art Association will be accepting works on Friday October 31st and November 1st for their juried “Tribute to Great Artists” show. I love that theme ! Karen Delaney, the new Executive Director of CCAA always has such creative ideas for their shows. Karen says that “the idea for the artist tribute is to recognize someone who has influenced you – by borrowing from, or in some way recognizing another artist in their own artwork…an inspiration for artists.”
www.malagalleriakennettsquare.com
www.franklincommons.net/art-gallery/exhibitions/
www.facebook.com/FlyingColorsFineArtists
Lele Galer is an artist who has chaired numerous art shows, taught art history and studio art, public art and has chaired, written and taught the Art in Action Art Appreciation series for the UCFD schools for the past 12 years. She worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and wrote for the Asociated Press in Rome. She has been dedicated to Art History and art education for most of her adult life. Lele and her husband Brad own Galer Estate Winery in Kennett Square.
