Romany Kramoris Gallery is pleased to present a group art show featuring the works of Lianne Alcon, Jorge Silveira, Eleanora Kupencow, Stephen Palmer, William Skrips, and George Wazenegger. The exhibit will be on display from June 15 through July 6, with a reception on Saturday, June 17, from 5-6:30 PM.
Lianne Alcon is an expressionistic painter who paints images viewed by an experienced, discerning eye for the essential. Yet her painting style is loose—in contrast to her disciplined approach—and it frequently incorporates swirling strokes and liberal use of her brushes. Alcon uses that contrasting perception and expression—whether painting flamenco dancers or sceneries from Spain, both favorite subjects—to uniquely capture their spirit. A native of Spain, Alcon lives in Sag Harbor, NY.
Jorge Silveira likes old objects, especially old wooden objects which he’s inspired to mix with acrylic paint and pieces of found rusty metal into figures and faces. He’s also been using other found materials like burlap. “I really like expressing my creativity by finding discarded objects from the forest and the ocean, and turning them into raw and abstract characters or scenes,” says Silveira. Coming from Uruguay, a small country in South America, where everything gets repaired and reused such as old cars from the 1940’s and refrigerators that get fixed 20 times before they’re replaced, it surprises him how much material he can pick up on the beach and in nature that has been thrown away by people. It makes him feel good that he can pick up these objects and give them another life.
William Skrips, of New Mexico, says of his process, “To this day, I don’t see what others would call a mess—my studio is just an inspiring tumble of raw materials. The studio is a piece of my head—literally, my creative space. Re-using discards and found objects has always had an appeal for me. Not only do I have a penchant for collecting things, but the gratification that comes from giving reclaimed material new life is unique: I equate it with matchmaking—finding the perfect mate for this or that particular object. Sometimes in the process, things just pull together as if they were magnetic… and sometimes it’s a slog through seemingly endless bad marriages: nothing seems to go together. But I keep trying.”
Kramoris Gallery is pleased to welcome back Stephen Palmer, of Traverse City, Michigan, and his award winning multi-media found object fish sculptures. Palmer uses vintage items and memorabilia. He forages for old wooden crutches, which serve as armatures and which outline each fish. Fillers and layers are ping-pong paddles, old pencils, crayons, nails, and nostalgic empty small toy boxes. Dorsal and posterior fins are spatulas, pancake flippers, BBQ forks, screwdrivers and tools, cut and grated expandable rulers, not to mention drill bits. He says that his fish represent what humans are doing to the oceans, and what the objects ingested by fish and other ocean creatures are doing to pollute the waters of planet Earth. His sculptures should provoke thought, discussion, and change human behavior.
George Wazenegger creates one of a kind originals of fictitious architectural structures. They are recycled wood construction with acrylic paint and other selected materials. His nostalgic architecture is reminiscent of earlier times spent on the seashores by families living a simpler way of life. Skies and dunes are painted by hand, as well as detailed, charming little rock gardens and clumps of flowers. No big landscapers here. He depicts images that are slowly disappearing, architecture constructed of clapboard, wood stairs with railings, small decks, 2 over 2 windows, and picket fences. The viewer is happy and content with sunshine and clams for dinner. This simple architecture is all one feels one needs and longs for in viewing his work.
Eleanora Kupencow - It all began with my “drawing in the air”, my mother called it, when I was in my stroller or in my high chair. Then there were crayons and coloring books. There was art in school—the good teachers who provided tempera paint and raffia and colored wool and French pastels. There was paper at home, reams of paper since my father was a printer. There were four of us children. The world was ours to put our stamp upon. I credit my family’s example for allowing me to give myself permission to become an artist. Permission is the first step in risk taking, which is necessary for any creative act, be it in business or in the arts.
Romany Kramoris Gallery is open 7 days a week from 11 AM to 7 PM, later on weekend nights.