Press Release for the Exhibition "Five Years at Delavan"

Delavan Art Gallery proudly reopens with the exhibition "Five Years at Delavan"

SYRACUSE, New York -- August 25, 2008 -- Delavan Art Gallery is proud to reopen after a six month break to celebrate its five year anniversary and launch a new year of exhibitions. The first, appropriately titled, "Five Years at Delavan," opens September 11, 2008 and runs through October 25 featuring prints by the Atelier Four (Amy Georgia Buchholz, Bruce Muirhead, Jake Muirhead and Bill Salzillo) as well as sculptures by Dexter Benedict and Donald S. Sottile. In addition, as part of the new changes at Delavan Art Gallery, an exciting flex-space called "Wild Card" is being launched this fall. The first two exhibits in this area are paintings by C.J. Hodge from September 11 through October 4 and political cartoons by Joe Glisson from October 9 through November 1, 2008.

The Atelier Four is a group of artists associated with Hamilton College working together in the collaborative workshop spirit often found among printmakers. Linked philosophically to the Arts and Crafts Movement that has deep roots in Upstate New York, this group is committed to keeping the tradition of studio printmaking alive while promoting its contemporary relevance. The selection of intaglio prints exhibited in "Five Years at Delavan" compares and contrasts the working methods of the four whose teacher/student relationships developed into life-long friendships that have shaped their art and careers. From a historical perspective the selection also references the important influences of the upstate New York printmaking laboratories centered around Robert Marx at Syracuse University and Harvey Breverman at The University of Buffalo.

The Atelier Four at work

Despite similar goals, each of the four artists represents a different approach to intaglio printmaking. Bruce Muirhead is a self-defined painter/print-maker in the romantic mold. His Middlebury College colleague, David Bumbeck, who learned his craft from Robert Marx at Syracuse University, introduced him to the intaglio process in the early 1970's. Bruce is Professor of Art at Hamilton College where he teaches painting and also runs the print shop.

Bruce Muirhead, "The Italian House" Etching / Aquatint

William Salzillo, also a Professor of Art at Hamilton College, learned printmaking as a student at the Rhode Island School of Design, and later studied lithography with Garo Antresian, a founder of the Tammarind Institute at the University of New Mexico. Salzillo's new prints reference historical styles, a direction inspired by his curatorial research as Director of Hamilton's Emerson Gallery from 1982 to 1993 and 1999 to 2001.

William Salzillo, "Sun Drawing" Etching / Aquatint

Amy Georgia Buchholz studied art at Kirkland College in Clinton, NY. She earned her MFA at the University of Buffalo where she was Studio Assistant to the Director of the Printmaking Program, Harvey Breverman. Buchholz has received a NYFA Fellowship, a Kirkland College Fellowship and a NYSCA Artist-in-Residency Grant. Her recent dry points, based on nature subjects, reference the aesthetic philosophy of the Etching Revival.

Amy Georgia Buchholz, "Fledglings" Etching with Dry Point

Jake Muirhead grew up in Clinton, NY and also attended Hamilton College, majoring in art. He did post graduate work at George Mason University, in Fairfax, Virginia, where he earned his MFA in printmaking. Jake has participated in numerous national and international print competitions. He is currently Associate in Charge of Etching at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center in Maryland in addition to teaching drawing at Montgomery College and printmaking at the Washington Waldorf School.

Jake Muirhead, "Glass Factory Road" Etching

Dexter Benedict is a sculptor and the owner/operator of the Fire Works Foundry and sculpture studio in Yates County, New York. He is known for a number of commissions ranging from small commemorative awards to monumental bronze portrait figures. He states, "The process is fascinating, from the evolution of an idea in transitory soft clay to the conversion into enduring bronze..." Benedict received a B.A. in Art from Ottowa University and an M.F.A. in Sculpture from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. In addition to his work as a sculptor, Benedict also teaches at Keuka College.

Dexter Benedict, "I dreamed a crow landed on my head" cast bronze

Donald S. Sottile of Penn Yan, NY, is an accomplished sculptor working in both bronze and wood. For 23 years he worked at Wendell Castle as an engineer, designer, painter, sculptor, teacher and then Director at the Wendell Castle School. In December of 1999, Sottile became a full-time artist, producing commissioned work such as eleven bronze child figures, public statues in bronze of Abe Lincoln (Town of Westfield, NY and Hartford, CT) and life-size solid wood carvings including a mahogany Madonna and Child for Grace Episcopal in Seneca Falls, NY.

Donald S. Sottile, "Sylph" carved wood and acrylic color

C.J. Hodge is a painter and photographer living in Jamesville, NY, and teaching art at Cortland Junior Senior High School. In "The Tile Series," Hodge works with digital images of people that he has captured and manipulated using image editing software. Using these images as reference, he then sketches the images with pencil, adds an acrylic under-painting and then a grid, eventually treating each square as an individual piece of art and completing them with oil pastel and pencil drawings. The exhibit of C.J. Hodge's paintings will open with "Five Years at Delavan" on September 11 with a reception from 5-8 p.m. and will continue through October 4, 2008.

C. J. Hodge, "Turning Away" Painting

Joe Glisson is a political cartoonist with a new book being released titled "Seems Like Old Times." The book is a political cartoon retrospective of work published in the Syracuse New Times, featuring major events and politicians of the past 25 years, including local topics and persons. Delavan Art Gallery is exhibiting a collection of Glisson's originals beginning on Friday, October 10 and running through November 1, 2008. A reception will be held from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, October 10. Joe Glisson will be at Delavan Art Gallery for a book signing on Saturday, October 18 from Noon to 3 p.m. The new book is available for purchase at the gallery at any time during the exhibit.

Joe Glisson, "Garbage In, Garbage Out" Political Cartoon, Pen and Ink

Delavan Art Gallery is a 3,800 square foot showcase and sales venue for fine art created by area artists. Located in a convenient, downtown location at 501 West Fayette Street, Syracuse, the gallery is free and open to the public. Off-street parking is available and the gallery is handicapped accessible. Delavan Art Gallery reopens on Thursday, September 11, 2008 with regular gallery hours on Thursday and Friday afternoons from 12-6 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. and at other times by appointment.