Thoughts on Art and Healing

The Healing Arts. The Art of Healing. It’s strange how often we see these words grouped together, but seldom consider Art as healing. And yet as artists we know instinctively how therapeutic it is to create. How good it feels to take pencil to paper, or to lay one color next to another, or to carve, mold and shape. To knead the clay, to smell the paint, to feel the weight of the brush in hand. Sometimes even a new box of crayons can make us giddy with delight. So we plunge headlong into our latest artistic endeavor, considering line, shape, space, color, composition, proportion and perspective. And as we work through these issues, the bigger issues of life, love, relationships, families, religion, and death, will at various times enter into the picture. Through the act of creating art, either resolution or acceptance is achieved.

Summer Shows

This is where I will be showing my work this summer:

Baltimore Woods Nature Center Art Gallery, Marcellus ends July 1

Soule Library, Syracuse July 1 - August 1

Crouse Hospital Spiritual Wing, Syracuse June 7 - August 1

“Along the River’s Edge” Thousand Island Art Center,
Clayton July 8 - Labor Day

The Gift Shop at Thousand Island Arts Center, Clayton May - December

New show (in a very different setting)

Well, I currently have a show in a location totally different from anywhere I have shown before: Crouse Hospital, in Syracuse. I have three paintings, a couple of prints and an assortment of scarves and small velvet embossed bags in a 52" x 52" showcase in a busy corridor near the Spiritual Center at the hospital. They actually have several showcases featuring artwork by area area school children, so showing art is not a new thing for the hospital. They are in fact promoting the connection between healing and the arts; a good thing and I applaud any effort in that direction.
Here is one of the images from the show, the Veterans Day Parade.

Landscape Painting Class

I am teaching a 3 day Landscape Painting Workshop for Adults and Teens at Camp Iroquois.
Advance registration is required for this class; you can register at the East Area Family YMCA Member Services desk, Mondays - Fridays 5:30 am - 10:00 pm, Saturdays 5:30 am - 9:00 pm or Sundays 8:00 am - 7:00 pm.
All supplies are included and classes are open to YMCA Members and Non-Members. The fee is a reasonable $49 Members; $59 Non-Members. For more information read the description below from our YMCA Program Guide.

Outdoor Landscape Painting

3-Day Workshop

(Teen & Adult) 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday – Thursday July 13, 14 and 15

Learn the essentials of landscape painting at scenic Camp Iroquois in Manlius,
where woodland trails, rustic cabins and boats resting along the waterfront are all waiting to become part of your masterpiece. Each session will begin with an instructor demonstration.
After learning basic techniques beginners will be ready to paint subject matter. More experienced painters will be given time to work independently. Each participant will receive plenty of guidance from the instructor and each day will include some basic drawing instruction.
All supplies are included; participants are asked to dress for the outdoors. A shelter is provided in case of inclement weather. Meet in parking lot of Camp Iroquois.

2 more shows coming up

I have two more shows coming up, both in July. There will be a mixture of Landscapes, Urban Scenes and Still Life at the Soule Library and a mixture of smaller pieces and wearable art (scarves and bags) in a showcase at Crouse Irving Memorial Hospital. Both located in Syracuse. Pictured above are an assortment of embossed velvet scarves.

Judging student artwork today

Well it was a pleasure to be included as one of the judges for the Reeds Jewelry Student Art Show. This was Reeds first attempt at organizing an art show and I must say that it went very well. Although only two schools were represented, (Christian Brothers Academy and Fayetteville-Manlius) there was a nice variety of artwork to choose from. My two compatriots from the Y Arts Studio, Kat Kane and Dawn Hartigan were the other judges.
The opening reception was pleasantly crowded with student artists, proud parents and art teachers all munching on punch and cookies and looking at artwork. A very nice end to a busy day.

Landscapes Exhibit at Baltimore Woods Nature Center in Marcellus

I have an exhibit of landscape paintings, collages and artists books on display at the Baltimore Woods Nature Center Gallery. The exhibit will run through the months of May and June. The pieces in this show represent two different ways of viewing the land: the pastels and acrylic paintings are done in a traditional impressionist manner; the collages and books are interpreted as pieces of land, sky and water layered on top of and around each other, each piece part of an integral whole.

The Baltimore Woods Nature Center is located at 4007 Bishop Hill Rd. in Marcellus. Hours are: M - 9:00 am - 4:00 pm and Sat. 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.