August 12th, 2010
Check out the article in the Democrat and Chronicle today! It features the Greece Mural, which will be installed as of the beginning of September. I love how they tied in Mural Mania and existing works along the canal. It gives readers a view of the vast picture of community art that this mural fits into.
Sally and Henry, from the completed second painting.
She’s a good ol’ worker an’ a good ol’ pal…..
This week I’m finishing up the last panel of the Henpeck Park public mural. Below is a reference photo of Junction Lock I’m using for part of the painting. Grainy old photos always make the details challenging to render!

Painting is going well and I’m definitely amped up about the installation! Transporting the nine finished sections of three 8′ x 12′ murals – to install on a barge over the canal! – will be the most exciting and nerve-wracking of my career to date. (I get giddy and paranoid just moving them into storage!) I will be so happy to see them permanently hanging in their new home under the Elmgrove Road bridge. I cannot way to see the final effect with all three sections working together.
I wonder what my next public art project will be? There are so many small towns along the canal with empty walls and piles of history. I would love to create another Treasures project like the one we just finished in Holley – art that illustrates a town by exhibiting historical and current points of interest, then provides them with an easy way to find all of that interesting stuff! All art has a function, but when you can really make it work for you – that’s even better.

19th century scene from the completed second painting.
Looking for something to do this weekend? The Rose Lummis is taking passengers on a scenic tour of the canal. I went last summer and it was a beautiful trip. I learned a lot about the canal, including what sort of creatures are swimming around in there. Tickets must be purchased in advance. I hope they have some left!
Painting is going well this week and I’m definitely amped up about the installation!

Tags: Barge, Canal History, Canal Mules, Erie Canal, Greece Mural, Henpeck Park, Public Art
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February 28th, 2010
The seventh panel for Treasures of Holley is completed, but here’s a look at what’s under the finished painting.

My intention in this panel is to create a sense of the individuals that built the town of Holley, NY and made it what it is. The same kind of people that live here today: hardworking, enjoying life, lighthearted, solemn, and giving to the community in more ways then one. It was quite a task to select the right photos from the many thousands that historian Marsha Defillips has in her collection.
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January 24th, 2010
It’s difficult to know where to start, when so much time has passed! I have plenty of paintings to share, but I don’t have time to write ten or twelve posts at the moment, so I’ll just skip right to the big news and fill in the gaps later.
Over the next six months or so, I will be working on a public mural for Henpeck Park, in Greece NY. After a period of negotiations, the contract has been signed, the panels are ordered – it’s offical!

Panel 1 : Construction of the Erie Canal in Greece, NY
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November 13th, 2009
Ok, you have to promise not to tell anyone… I’m not supposed to show you yet… but I just finished my part of the collaborative painting this morning and I can’t keep it to myself. It’s just a little sneak peak!

This is a tiny part of a big painting that has gone the rounds among The Artist’s Group. By the time it’s finished, the work of about ten artist’s will be represented in one painting. I’ve never done a collaborative painting like this before, and I’ve enjoyed seeing how such distinctive styles can merge, creating one successful piece. Earlier today one of the painters commented on how this painting is very symbolic of our group; a range of unique individuals contributing their talent and skill to create one fantastic whole, The Artist’s Group!
This special work of art will be raffled off as a fund raiser for OCALS (Orleans County Adult Learning Services) an organization I’ve mentioned here before. Discussions between Patty Hawley, (a member of OCALS and a very inspired woman) and members of our group led to the formation of a very beneficial partnership. Our two young organizations came together and planned a show of artwork created along the theme of literacy, with this collaborative painting as the centerpiece.
The show runs November 21st until January 8th 2010. Raffle tickets will be sold as the painting travels to different locations around Orleans County, while the show hangs in Elsewhere Coffeehouse in Albion. The raffle will take place at Elsewhere during the closing reception on December 18th. I’ll post more details as the date draws near!
Show Opening: Saturday, November 21, 6pm – 8pm
Unveiling of the Painting: 7:30
At Elsewhere Coffee House
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November 4th, 2009

November! Bringing us a brilliant show of color before winter paints the world white.
It’s time for another First Friday gallery event at Marti’s on Main! There are so many things going on in our scenic little town of Albion, (three art exhibits and two live music performances) it looks like it will be quite a night!
- Apple-icious First Friday Live music at Spotlight Studio, a variety of shops open late along Main St for a little early holiday shopping, Apple Wine and Hard Cider tastings for $7 at Elsewhere Coffee House, with more live music upstairs.
- Closing Reception of Voices of the Earth at the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce 7pm-9pm. “The exhibit features more than a dozen pieces of pottery hand-crafted by Hispanic farm worker women who participated in a creative arts and English language program provided by the World Life Institute in Waterport. The program is supported by Orleans-Niagara BOCES and with a Reach Grant administered by GO ART!, funded by the state Council on the Arts.”
- Art Opening at Salih Studio. Salih Studio is a beautiful space. I’m not sure what will be hanging this Friday, but judging by the shows I’ve seen there in the past it will be full of great artwork.
- And of course the Exhibit at Marti’s. 5:30 – 9pm. There are only two more First Friday events this year before Marti’s closes for the winter to begin renovations. When they reopen in the Spring, the gallery will have twice as much space to exhibit.
I hope you all have an opportunity to stop by and join in the fun – be sure to say hello if you see me there! It’s not just the events and activities that make First Friday great – it’s the friendly people and small town atmosphere. I love it.
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