Ned Wert, Bright Introspection

I love art.  Living with art, teaching an appreciation of art to another generation, learning to understand the process of invention and inspiration behind the work, the privilege of knowing the people, the hands, faces, trials and tribulations, and enthusiastic joys that create the work - my life is richer because of the arts.  It speaks to the deeper underside of my life, and enhances my journey through this world.

Through art I find both common ground and contentious discussion, as each of us connect with our visual worlds uniquely.  I see the color play, you see the shape of a tree.  I see shadow, you see light.  I find joy, you find repression.  I feel peace, you are jarred into discovery.  Art isn't about the image alone - it's about what you bring to it, the discussion around it, the people behind it - all of which are experiential and ever-changing.

I can say the same of music and literature.  Each time I hear a Concerto or read a Psalm, I bring myself to it - where I am at the moment, who I'm with, what I'm feeling - and it's different every time.  The lovely thing is that art, music and writing each have the capacity to capture a moment in time.  You'll never see it the same way ever again, in part because you now bring experience to it.  I believe this is why people bring a tattered piece of paper with a poem written on it to be calligraphied, an old print from home with no inherent value to be framed, or go back and purchase a painting - there is a connection, and it isn't stagnant.

This afternoon, I received an Artist Statement from Ned Wert, long-standing artist and friend.  He's finishing up a new body of work for a Lynden Gallery solo exhibition in October, and wrote a bit about what drives his enthusiasm for painting and his experiementation in this new collection.  He captures not only the magic in the making, but in the viewing, and I couldn't wait to share it....

ARTIST STATEMENT 2012
The works in this exhibition represent two years of work in my studio and have been inspired by personal and shared experiences during that time.

During that time my foremost goal was to produce over 30 pieces that, while unified in an exhibition, would expand new visions of the artist’s thinking. For more than 40 years I have explored diversity in people’s cultures, as well as the natural landscape. My enthusiasm for personal interpretation, I  hope, leads people to respond with thoughts and appreciation. In two years there will be obvious changes in images. How I see and represent my ideas, and how they are placed in compositional arrangements, become the ingredients in my abstract paintings.

I sincerely love painting. My art has never been a hobby---not even when I was in my teens. Now, 50 years later, I maintain that the underlying character of my work is the joy of painting. The gestural movements I use to produce the brushstrokes as well as the constant excitement about color, what goes with what, represents my enthusiasm. I present myself with challenges and then get energized if my intent is working. When it doesn’t, I’m open to finding a new solution that works.

The final surfaces seen in these works, by no means show the initial attacks to the blank surface. Almost all of what I do is in response to what is already there after the beginning white surface is covered. I like to layer the compositional structure by adding seemingly unrelated elements that might disturb my thoughts. They often result in discovery----and that brings on more original thoughts to deal with as I continue.

I have always been an optimist and I preserve that attitude abstractly in my work. My work is never negative, morbid, nor secretive. I enjoy the “bright side of life”....as they sing in Monty Python’s “Spamalot!”
I am proud of this exhibition of new works. Painting is work and I love my job. It energizes me---what a pleasure it is each time I decide the painting is finished and I get to add my signature as the final touch.

Ned Wert

Brush Valley, PA 

Ned Wert's latest work will premier Friday, October 19 at the Lynden Gallery.  Kindly set the date aside.

The image above is "Urban Momunments" 30" x 42" acrylic on paper.  For more about the life and work of Ned Wert, and details for the upcoming exhibition, visit our website, www.lyndengallery.com.

highpoint interiors market - trends and faves

Wow.  Where to begin!  After two full, fabulous days at market, my feet are tired, my mind exhausted and I'm a bit overwhelmed.   As I want to capture the essence of my findings, I will push my weary mind to put my thoughts in writing now, and resist the urge to delay or over-edit.

The world of interiors and architecture has been teasing my mind and lapping at my heals since I was twelve.  That was the year my grandmother's friend up the street,  Mrs. Hein, started passing her copies of Architectural Digest to me after she finished reading them.  I read them cover to cover every month, stock-piled them in my room, and have ever since.  My only regret, is that with each major change or move in my life, my purging required dumping years worth of the archived magazines in the dumpster.  Alas...

Market afforded me the opportunity to see first hand the latest trends in the interiors industry, to sit on dozens and dozens of sofas, chairs and ottomans, and investigate developments in sustainable products and technologies.  I was surprised and pleased to find much of the best in textile development and  furniture manufacturing still happens here in the USA.  Many of these companies are here in North Carolina where textile mills originated, hence Highpoint is still the furniture capital of the country.

What's trending?  Here is a quick primer...

Faux furs and hides, draped over sofas and beds, as upholstering, and on the floor...

Furniture upholstered in fun ways, often piecing together numerous fabrics on one piece, and taking a classic, antique, salvaged or reproduction chairs and either descontructing them to the bare bones and muslin (restoration hardware style), or reupholstering them in unexpected ways...

The industrial look is still strong, and you see it everywhere, in tables and chairs, lighting and accessories.  I love the juxtaposition of the cold, hard edges of steel and alongside the organic warmth of wood construction and hand craftsmanship.  Our own David Zimmerman has been in demand of late, and I can't seem to keep enough of his work on the floor.

  

My personal favorites?  Phillips Collection, above, and the fabulous, brilliantly executed, playful take on classic furniture styles by Christopher Guy.  A change in perspective or proportion is balanced with the essence of restraint and a healthy dose of imagination and wit.  Love it!

I adore the depth of color in Lillian August for Hickory White.  Deep, fun color on the walls, rich, textured upholstery on equisitely comfortable furniture, and art!  Big, bold paintings, stacked collections of etchings and sculptures completed each space.

Baker was among my more memorable stops, with a new collection by Thomas Pheasant taking center stage.  This designer has the gift of grace and restraint in his reinterpretations of classical line and proportions.  

The perfect transitional collection, (sorry, no pics allowed in the showroom), you'll have to watch for it online, in your favorite high-end furniture store, or surely in upcoming issues of Architectural Digest.  

My absolute, hands-down favorite showroom was Luna Bella.  More than accessories for sure, but the jewel in their crown is the lighting.  This is the one to watch!

p e o p l e w a t c h i n g !

Almost finished with the installation of People Watching! which opens this evening at the Lynden Gallery.  These final pieces by Willi Kissmer just arrived this week - I had seen his photographs before, but not his paintings.  We're excited to add them into the mix.

The Opening Reception is this evening from 6:00 - 9:00 and features the work of Jenn Peachey, new to us from Lewisburg, she was a student of Jim Bright, one of our bronze sculptors.  Interestingly, Jim was a student of Ned Wert, one of our painters, so it feels like we're bringing in a new generation.

Jenn's work is so fresh, intuitive and appears to flow onto the canvas with ease and confidence.  The works speak volumes without narration, and beg a story to be told.  Obviously the artist is not only talented with paint and brush, but is gifted in her ability to pull out the essence of a person.



















Florence Starr Taylor (b.1904, d.1991) left many fondly attached patrons and admirers, including Ron Ettelman, who represents her estate.  Ron and I collaborated a few years back on an exhibition titled "From the Journals of Fran and Flo" featuring Florence and Fran Williams Wagner, a contemporary.  Both avidly sketched the figure throughout their lifetimes, and Fran was still with us for the 2008 exhibition - sadly her last.

Read more about Fran and Flo on our website and see photos from that exhibit.  Don't miss the wonderful documentary, "Whatever She Saw" by Mary Haverstick about Florence.

 

Roger Bacharach's work takes people watching beyond the figure themselves to the environment he finds them in.  Colorful and rich in content, each begs its own story.

Below is a shot of the installation in our newly renovated gallery space - love the way the art just hits you the moment you walk in the door!  We'll be featuring the music of Vinegar Creek Constituency tonight, collecting $5.00 at the door in support of the band.









 Looking forward to a great crowd, fabulous music and mixing with the artists.  And don't forget to "eat well and buy more art" - can't control the crazy politics, but you can always buy more art!

See Opening Night pics on Lynden Gallery's website - exhibition continues through April 10.

christmas celebration for hollinger services inc.

Hollinger Services Inc. wasn't lacking in celebratory humor and holiday cheer, and they pulled out all the stops to make it memorable. 

Ridgeway Brass Quartet offered the evenings entertainment, with a little help from Jeff Eisenbise.  They played while guests arrived, mingled, and enjoyed appetizers.

Appetizers included a sparkling cranberry punch with citrus slices, wedges of brie, Havarti and smoked cheddar, and dried kiwi and cranberries.

The second course, salad and bread, offered a baby spinach and mushroom salad with pistachios and dried cherries, Caesar salad with freshly grated Parmesan, and homemade 14 grain bread fresh from the oven.  Jeff provided three delicious jams from his summer harvest - strawberry, peach and raspberry.

Kitchen, chef and wait staff included my husband David, Jake Shirk, me, daughter Layne, and Sarah Brill.  Food prep for 30 took a solid two days with the help of my mother in law, Vada, and good friend Maggie.  Jake, Layne and Sarah logged over 5 hours that night with clean up, and David and I were finished and out of the kitchen by 11.  The biggest trick was figuring out the logistics of the whole thing ahead of time!

We rented tables, chairs and tablecloths from Harrisburg Rent-all off the Toll House Road exit on route 230.  Having used them numerous times, I'm always impressed by their selection of party furniture, flatware and glassware, serving supplies, and cheerful customer service.  

The main course, served buffet style, included mini zucchini salmon cakes, slow-roasted tandoori pork with mango chutney, roasted potatoes with caramelized onions, rice pilaf with apricots and mushrooms, and stir fried green beans and red bell peppers.  Doing these in the wok at the last minute with just olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper worked perfectly - no soggy veggies!

The dessert table featured mini non-fat cheesecake tarts with cherry pie filling, gingersnaps (by request!) and double chocolate brownies drizzled in fudge.

The evening ended with a holiday sing-a-long with the brass quartet, and a few simple, well-chosen words offered by Kathy Haldeman for my parents on behalf the the staff.  Mom, it turns out, is finally retiring - or at least will begin to try in earnest.  

Hollinger Services will continue under the capable hands of John Snowden, and for now at least, Mom and Dad still have a small office space in which to continue giving their time and talent to their favorite non-profits and causes.  Congratulations!

gallery renovations, phases I and II complete

With dinner parties scheduled starting the 17th of December, we all worked like crazy to finish painting, cleaning, and installing artwork.  Hard to believe we only got started the beginning of November!

For a tour of the space, visit our website www.lyndengallery.com - we'd love your comments!  Still to come, Phase III...

first event after renovation - booksigning for Gale Martin

Gale Martin's booksigning for "Don Juan in Hankey, PA" was our first event in Lynden Gallery's renovated space, and we all worked like crazy to meet the deadline.  Artwork on the walls, hangers in the new closet, rugs on the floor, and everything scrubbed and dusted free of dust.  

Still a bit of painting and shelving construction to do beyond the back wall, but it's coming together better than I could have imagined.  I think I'll sleep well tonight, having been painting the last window until 5 minutes before the event.  Don't look too close - it isn't quite done...

For more pics, see my facebook post.  Next up - two office parties, one on the 16th and one on the 19th.  We'll be ready!

prepping and painting

Feels like we've been prepping and painting forever, but it's really only been 2 weeks in earnest, I think.  David spent a lot of time leveling the concrete floor, filling holes, removing funky existing wires or pipes wherever he could.  

The wall where the frame corners used to be?  A nice smooth plaster base, after several days of layering and sanding, is ready to paint.

And Laura, our gallery intern with a great eye for color, did a fabulous job of matching the mottled, ragged walls of the past.  You'd be hard pressed to find where the old stopped and the new started!

At the back of the gallery you catch a glimpse of my new studio...

with eggplant walls and white trim and soffit.  David admitted to giving me a hard time about the color, but followed by saying, "I know by now I should just trust you with such things, it looks great!"  Now I'm eager to get the dust and dirt cleaned up and settle in, but there is still a wall of shelving to build.

Monday morning the Sollenberger Painting crew, led by Kurt, started priming and rolling the floor.  

Wednesday morning, I came down the the sun shining in across our newly painted floors, and the carpets were delivered last night.  We've been working ever since to clean up, finish the detailing, and started laying carpets this morning.  The day was busy with Christmas framing customers, so updated photos will have to wait.  More to come!