The Little Couture Show That Could

A dream…exuberance of young talent…risk taking…community support, and voila! You have couture designed by two energetic, self-taught early 20 year olds introduced in a show that they produced to benefit the peoples of far-away Haiti. Here’s how the story of the show unfolds. A few months before, Bilaya Jackson (age 21) and Me’lisa Matthews (age 22) were directed to stop in at the Delavan Art Gallery, across the way from the fabric store the pair often traded at. With their small portfolio of sketches in hand, they met gallery director Bill Delavan who was impressed with their work and encouraged them to continue.

Not very long after that first visit, the girls returned to the gallery and booked the venue for a show in which they would introduce their own unique couture. The show date was March 12, 2010, just two months away and leaving barely enough time to create and finish designs for models to wear. The heavy task had to be squeezed in between work at local nursing homes and numerous meetings of counseling on how to start and promote a special event, much less to tout the start of a new business.

The night of March 12 finally arrived (a little too soon for several of those involved in helping Bilaya and Me’lisa). The gallery itself was transformed into a professional runway as low white platforms were placed throughout gallery spaces under the capable hands of director Bill Delavan and manager Caroline Szodza-McGowan, each platform surrounded by group seating with tulle-netted mini refreshment tables centered among the groupings and proper lighting installed in the overhangs above.

Admission fee was $15 and family, friends and the public began filing in as soon as the door opened. Within minutes, gallery staff had to set up more chairs beyond the 75 already in place. And still, audience kept coming until the gallery was filled to capacity with many standing in the ‘aisles.’ At precisely 8:05 pm, the program got underway. Bill Delavan welcomed everyone, recognized co-chairs Van and Linda Robinson and introduced the evening’s MC, Maureen “Moe” Harrington who first introduced Joseph Slavik, President, Catholic Charities and Community Services and Diocesan Director, Haiti Relief Fund. Then “Moe” called Bilaya and Me’lisa to the podium to be recognized before each of the girl’s couture designs were unveiled.

In every bit of the showman style for which she is theatrically known, “Moe” began the runway show, starting with Bilaya’s first segment of Billie Dreams Couture titled, “A Soldier’s Story.” Then came Me’lisa’s first segment of JEMA Couture, “Glamrock.” Second show segments followed with Bilaya’s “Concrete Jungle” and Me’lisa’s “Everything That Glitters.” Gorgeous, tall models slowly strutted and pivoted the runway, giving an appreciative audience time to savor the unique colors, fabrics and designs.

Rewarding gratitude for the night’s success came in many forms. First, there was the experience of seeing the joy and pride of family members who brought bouquets of flowers, and the tears of an older brother who had come to cheer on the only male model in the show who designed the jeans he wore. All food was graciously donated, including luscious gourmet chocolate truffles, Irish Soda Bread, brownies, veggie dips, fruit, soda, coffee and an assortment of exotic teas. However, the crowning reward and gratitude came a few days later when Bishop Robert Cunningham recognized Bilaya’s and Me’lisa’s efforts at a press conference marking the presentation of a gift to the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Director of Catholic Relief Services. The check totaled $650,000, collected from diocesan parishioners and including the net proceeds of $1,020 raised by the ‘little couture show that could”… and did!

        

Gloria Romeo, Public Relations Coordinator                 
Photos provided by Adrienne DeWitt

Review of Art: 2003 - 2009 by Katherine Rushworth

Delavan Art Gallery recently was reviewed by Katherine Rushworth. Please click on the link below to read it:
The Post-Standard - CNY Arts

Feel free to leave comments there or on this blog! We would love to hear your thoughts!

Don't Miss Our Seventh Annual Elementary School Benefit Exhibit

The art teachers of Blodgett and Seymour Elementary Schools re-enforce our thoughts about teachers as mentors, role models and "gardeners." These talented teachers not only help the students, who range from pre-K through grade 8, to express themselves, but are also instrumental to the installation of the show here at the gallery.

Viewing the children’s art gives clear evidence that the children’s talent is nurtured and encouraged to the child’s highest potential. Truly, the art reveals individual character and personality. For example, one young man created a self-portrait in pencil and the use of eraser. It is incredible. His art was the first to sell. As you can imagine, he was very proud, as were his parents when they joined us the afternoon of the opening.

Half of the purchase price of the art goes to the young artist and the other half goes to the art teacher toward future art supplies. Here is a prime example of the impact teachers have on our students and how our students, these budding young artists, learn that such a talent can be appreciated by many while benefiting to the source from which they were sprouted!

Out thanks go to our three art teachers involved in this exhibit, Kelly Moser-Volger of Seymour and Izzy Dugger and Stacy Griffin of Blodgett.


The show runs through Saturday, March 20, 2010. Please join us in supporting and celebrating these wonderful young artists!

Thoughts on Art: 2003-2009

During this year that I’ve worked at the gallery, I’ve grown to know a large percentage of the artists, their particular style and chosen medium. As I would name an artist, an automatic image of their artwork would come to mind. However, it’s been a refreshing shake-up with the inventory these past weeks, preparing for this show. Lately, I’m finding that it’s a certain challenge re-associating art with its respective artist. The gallery supports over 200 artists while the show currently consists of nearly 70 of those fantastic artists who have shown here from 2003 to 2009. As a whole, the artists have remained consistent with their approach to their work while others have veered off into a slightly different direction.

For example, Laura Wellner had worked in a more subdued way, using pencil/watercolor, opaque gouache and graphite. Nature inspired, her small framed pieces were presented behind glass. Wellner’s new direction has taken her art to a more geometric route. She is now exploring the use of acrylic, monotype on Hosho Sumi paper that is then applied to canvas. She then continues to develop the piece from there. Her art is still relatively small while her color palette is more intense and vibrant.

Harry R. Freeman-Jones is another artist that made me do a swirl-around. I usually associate a two dimensional, color photograph, framed behind glass when I think of Harry. For this show, he not only submitted black and white photography but also a three dimensional piece! It is also inspired by nature but carved out of Italian Alabaster. I have a new appreciation of Harry now as a sculptor!

Linda Esterley was an artist in the gallery’s Fiber Art show last year. Her unique use of Australian Merino wool, silk and yak in her over-sized, form core mounted art are the pieces I think of when I think of Linda. She has turned a corner for this show by doing assemblage, not your typical sculpture or fiber piece. Her art is more playful, with her use of jewels, antique items and some text with photos. It’s fun to discover hidden details. All of Linda’s art seems to invite the viewer to touch.

Diana Godfrey, a mixed media artist, did large framed pieces behind glass. She hasn’t deviated from her signature style for this show. Her style consists of subtle, earthy color acrylics or pastel on paper, torn in pieces and layered, giving a true sense of texture. However, she approaches her art on a smaller scale, as miniatures!

Lastly, Kyle Mort is an artist newly introduced to me that I want to add to the list of refreshing art. He is a realist painter who uses watercolor as his medium. His subjects are inanimate objects which include candies, a granny apple, pears or a popsicle. Mort’s true to life colors, shadowing, and his choice of arrangement, gives these objects a humanistic value and a definite personality.

As I smile with a new appreciation of our artists, I ask those reading this blog and those who haven’t seen the show yet, please don’t take my word. Instead, come and see for yourself. Maybe you will spot an artist’s style evolving differently from what you know of them or an artist you want to know who strikes you as a breath of fresh air, as I do!

Kathy Simpson

Gallery Assistant

New Year, New Show

Art: 2003 - 2009

In creating Delavan Art Gallery’s January featured exhibition, director Bill Delavan draws from the gallery’s continuing art exhibition concept, paying tribute to a group of artists aligned with the gallery since its inception over six years ago.

“Art: 2003 – 2009” opened Thursday, January 21, Th3, with a reception that night from 5:00 – 8:00 pm. The gallery was packed with artists, families, friends and the public who viewed and enjoyed over 200 works of art displaying a roster of techniques from painting, drawing and photography to sculputer, galss and mixed media. The show has been extended March 27, 2010.

Both director Delavan and gallery manager Caroline Szozda-McGowan—who has managed the gallery since it opened—felt that a look back serves important dual purposes: an opportunity for further public awareness of these artists, while also giving a nod of thanks to them for their continued support of the art gallery and their contribution to the visual arts in Central New York. 

Going by the numbers, the exhibition celebrates the last six and a half years at Delavan Art Gallery, comprising 52 shows with over 200 exhibited, along with six years of elementary art shows, with the seventh year in progress. Both Delavan and Szozda-McGowan agree that this show “gives us another chance to view the artists who have shown with us since we opened, and how their styles have evolved.”

“Art: 2003 – 2009” runs the gamut of artistic endeavors. Among the artists currently included in the show are: Joan Applebaum, Jamie Ashlaw, Phil Austin, Christopher Baker, Thomas Barnes, Amy E. Bartell, Marna Bell, Lydia M. Benscher, Douglas Biklen, Arthur Brangman. Frank Calidonna. Robert Carroll, Tom Champion, Jennifer Colvin, Barbara Conte-Gaugel, Evelyn Dankovich, A. Brooks Decker, Jim Dieso, John Dowling, Patrice Downes Centore, Linda Esterley, Alison Fisher, Vincent Fitches,

Roscha Folger, Michael David Fox, Harry

R. Freeman-Jones, Chris Galin, Vivian Geiger, Robert Glisson, Diana Godfrey, Andrea Hall, Judith Hand, Wendy Harris, Rudy Hellmann, C.J. Hodge, Joyce Day Homan, R Jason Howard, Tom Hussey, Richard Karuzas, Mary Kester, Crystal LaPoint, Brian Lister, John (Jaws) McGrath, Diane Menzies, Kyle Mort, Stephen Perrone, Lauren Ritchie, Stephen Ryan, Kathleen Schneider, David B. Schultz, Richard Schultz, Eric W. Shute, Tim See, James Skvarch, C. Wilkinson Thomas, Yolanda Tooley, Tom Townsley, James R. Walker, Fred Wellner, Laura  Wellner and Ruth Wynn.

Thoughts from an Intern

The gallery’s newest shows feature a variety of new artwork as the artists choose to continue in particular styles, or reinvent themselves with new techniques or subjects.

One particular collection that jumped out at me was Connie Carroll’s “Serious Art for Children.” It features the use of extremely vibrant color, playful use of the brush and deliberate, chaotic strokes and “scratches” into the paint. I loved the layering of the pastel colors, particularly in “Shadow Sailing Away.” The most memorable feature of all her pieces is that it places the viewer in a specific time, location, and memory, as seen in “Bright Kites, Night Flights.” The strokes she uses in her pieces also evoke a great deal of movement, as seen in “Round the World”. In addition, her subjects have characters and personalities that show her connection to illustration.

I was also fascinated by the glass sculptures scattered across the gallery. They are a particularly eye-catching addition to the landscape, portrait, or abstract pieces which adorn the walls. Phil Austin’s glass vases feature multiple layers of detail that recall elements of nature. The circular, repeating motifs, found in his “Yellow/Green Nouveau Vase” for example, are reminiscent of pussy willows by the lake, or an owl’s beady eyes.

R Jason Howard’s series of glass sculptures are a different approach to creating innovative, unique, and beautifully delicate glasswork. The imagery he creates is reminiscent of lace, or dew drops on a spider web.

The assemblage pieces by Linda Esterley were another favorite of mine. The combination or assembly of old antique items, are a very different and sometimes unexpected artistic direction. But the viewer can see how meticulous the artist is in her placement of the objects. The story behind the pieces is a subject of curiosity—haunting, but beautiful—especially when the artist’s original intention is not directly stated.

Jojo Siu

Gallery Intern

February 2010

Serious Art for Children

A new collection of works by noted illustrator and painter Connie Carroll is featured in Delavan Art Gallery’s Wild Card show, on view January 21 through February 27, 2010. “Serious Art for Children” opened with a reception on Thursday, January 21 (Th3) from 5:00–8:00pm.

Carroll has created this new series for children of any age, and it is meant to encourage an appreciation for the arts even in young children. According to Carroll, “Art given to a child should not be irrelevant outside the nursery. The work should be enduring and feel appropriate displayed in their future home or office, whatever age they are.” She suggests that exposing children to art at a young age can teach them that art has value, and can serve as an introduction into the world of collecting fine art. Carroll explains that “Children have a right to good art, are entitled to be introduced to it and educated about it.”

This latest group of paintings bears the same lighthearted and whimsical approach as her previous work. The work in this series adds colorful dimension to common enjoyable experiences or fantasies for children, such as space travel or other adventures. In her artist statement, Carroll thanks “children of all ages, from one to one hundred” for joining her in exploring the fantasies depicted in these paintings.

Though Carroll’s educational background is in illustration, she views her paintings from a fine art standpoint. She says, “To me, art is art if the formal elements of art are being employed. My version of Rene Descartes’ quote is: I create, therefore I am. I love to make pictures.”

In her own words, Carroll describes the subject matter she chooses as “somewhat irrelevant, but is simply used to tell a story of color and composition.” She typically uses bold, primary, vibrant color combined with some drawing that is achieved by scratching through layers of paint, creating a more dimensional picture.

 Carroll has exhibited at the International Licensing Show at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City and at the Wendy Rosen Show in Philadelphia, PA. Her illustrative design works have been commissioned by such companies as American Art Stamp in Torrance, CA; Earlville Opera House, Earlville, NY; and Girls, Inc. Magazine. She has designed billboards for Delavan Art Gallery, where also her “Cards by Connie” have sold very well and she has exhibited previously in the Wild Card space. Delavan is just one of many galleries across the country where Carroll has sold her illustrative design works.

 The next Wild Card, “Blodgett and Seymour Benefit Art Show” opens March 4 with a reception on Thursday, March, from 3 to 6 PM and continues through March 13. This exhibit features work by the elementary students at Blodgett and Seymour Magnet Elementary Schools. The show is a chance for the students to not only display and sell their work but to also help raise funds for their art programs.