New Visions Studio & Gallery presents their June exhibit “As Seen on TV”, an exhibit of artwork inspired by 90′s televisions and popular culture that helped raise us. Featured artists include Melanie Boisseau, Dane Bower, Robert Brenne, Jenna Casaldi, Christopher J. Hughes, Lyndsey Hughes, Chuck Kivlen, Stephanie Lucas, Tiffany Mulhern, Jay Salerno and Gerry Stankiewicz.

Exhibit dates are June 7 – 27 with opening reception on First Friday June 7th, 6pm-10pm. The First Friday opening will include complimentary food and drink, meet and greet with the artists and live music by C.P.A (Crock Pot Abduction) performing 90′s TV theme songs and soundtracks (think Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Step by Step, etc.). As always, gallery receptions are free and open to the public.

Get to know some of the artists:

Melanie Boisseau currently resides in Scranton, PA and is the co-owner and curator at New Visions Studio & Gallery. She recently became a mother and she tries to squeeze in time to create artwork, along with running the gallery and taking care of her son. Her typical medium of artwork is analog photography, however for this exhibit she has created 3-dimensional character heads from 90’s television shows. She is originally from a small town in Massachusetts and received her BFA in Photography in 2010 from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston, MA.

Dane Bower II was born in Factoryville, PA and attended Lackawanna Trail High School and Keystone College, majoring in Communications. Typically, his contributions to the arts scene happen on our local stages, having participated in over 50 local theater productions in various capacities, such as director, set designer, set builder, but mostly as an onstage performer. His most recent role was Jean Valjean in the local premiere of “Les Miserables”. His typical medium is drawing on computer paper with a pen while bored at work.

Robert L. Brenne began repurposing unique objects into low-watt amplifiers for guitars and iPod/MP3 devices in 2011. Objects converted into fully functional novelty amplifiers have included retro video game systems, thermoses, and various other vintage collectibles. Items that have pop culture or nostalgic significance are a common theme throughout his work. His amplified art has gained press from Wired Magazine’s pop culture blog Underwire, blogs by Guitar World Magazine, and feature articles by The Scranton Times Tribune and Go Lackawanna. Brenne earned a B.S. in Business Administration from Keystone College, and displays and sells his pieces through his website artisticamplification.com

Chuck Kivlen has an obsession with 80’s horror movies and collecting classic video games, which seems to be a big influence in the type of art he creates. Sketching has always been a passion of his, starting when he was young. He followed this passion throughout life, going to college to study Graphic Design, Illustration and Photography and eventually became a full time graphic designer & photographer. But drawing and painting is what he enjoys most. He mostly creates pin-up style pieces based upon video game and movie icons. Some of his influences from a child all the way up to today include Vintage, Cheesy & 80s Horror Movies, Classic Video Games, Classic Pin-Up Art, and comic artist Todd McFarlane.

Tiffany Mulhern is a BFA illustration graduate of Marywood University. She currently works at Vision Burn Tattoo in Dunmore, PA creating permanent works of art on her clients. A minor in graphic design and art history, the impact that apprenticing at a tattoo shop has had on her work is unique. Conveying the combination of her more classical training and the influence of new-school tattoo design is the challenge she welcomes when creating her works on paper as well as skin.

Christopher J. Hughes is a journalist by trade, working locally in the field since 2005, who studied the fine arts in what now feels like a previous life. Hughes spent two years as a fine arts student at Keystone College, La Plume, Pa., before changing schools and majors to study communications at Lackawanna College. Hughes’ work is focused on the unique combination of varying pop culture icons. He finds excitement in creating a new way of looking at an old topic through the reinvention of well-known imagery. His work for this show is focused on placing characters and products from the 1990s cult television show, “The Adventures of Pete and Pete” into the world of professional sports, Sunday comics strips, and fake commercial products. His work has previously been featured at TeeFury.com and updates on his pieces are posted regularly at www.peterparkerpa.com. Hughes is married to a much better artist, and he and his wife, Lyndsey, have two wonderful children.

Gerry Stankiewicz places a strong emphasis on character and exaggeration in his art. Life drawing is very important to Gerry because, “In order to be able to exaggerate something, you must know how to draw it realistically and constantly observe from life.” Gerry studied Art academically at Marywood University and earned a BFA in Illustration Design. Comics, film, music, cartoons and animation are his main subjects in his work. Gerry’s own professional experience includes the illustration, layout, and design of a children’s book. He also had a published illustration in the Weekender magazine of “The Dead”. Gerry’s art was also seen at the STAR Gallery located in the Steamtown Mall. Gerry’s style can be characterized as “fun, energetic, humorous and full of life”. Generally he uses Markers, Colored Pencils, and the Computer to color his artwork. Some of his inspirations include the art of Mad magazines, the Record covers of Jack Davis and Jim Flora, Comic art of J. Scott Campbell, Movie Posters of Drew Struzan, and the girl drawings of Earl Oliver Hurst.

“It’s About the Music!”

Post Office Box 428

Lake Ariel, PA  18436

 Invitation to The Blues

The sights and sounds of America’s own music

Lake Ariel, PA – May 7, 2013 — On June 22 and 23, 2013, Scranton’s historic Tripp House will be the setting for a two-day event hosted by PocoNotes entitled “The Faces and Voices of The Blues…Too.”  It will showcase the photography of acclaimed documentary photographer, Jim Gavenus, and the guitar mastery of Blues legend, Roy Book Binder.

Jim Gavenus’ photographs are exhibited in galleries and museums worldwide and, most recently, his photographs were chosen by The 55^th Annual Grammy Awards to honor Doc Watson in their “In Memoriam” tribute.  Jim’s intimate and poignant images cover a wide range of subjects and have earned him the Gordon Parks Documentary Photographer of the Year Award, as well as a place in the North Carolina Bluegrass Hall of Fame.  He has photographed more than 30 Hall of Fame musicians on – and behind – some of the most famous stages in the music world, and his images appear for Sony Music, Columbia Records, Lost Highway Records, Merlefest and FarmAid.  Jim travels extensively to lecture, exhibit and expand his portfolio and shares his passion for, and knowledge of, photography with his students at Luzerne County Community College, as well as through his innovative photography workshops.

Roy Book Binder has been touring the world with countless Blues legends for 50 years and is now a legend himself.  It’s been said that, in his travels, he has seen millions of faces and has rocked them all.  “The Book” learned his craft from Reverend Gary Davis, the blind Harlem street preacher who was the musical mentor to numerous Blues musicians, and Roy has shared the stage with notables such as Bonnie Raitt, B.B. King, John Jackson, Sonny Terry, Doc Watson, Ray Charles, Brownie McGhee and Hot Tuna.  He has appeared on TNN’s “Nashville Now” over 30 times with the best that country music has to offer and has performed at hundreds of festivals over the years, including The National Storytelling Festival, The Chicago Blues Festival, The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, The King Biscuit Blues Festival, The 50^th Annual Philadelphia Folk Festival and, for nearly two decades, Merlefest as the host of the Acoustic Blues Stage.  Roy is listed in the “Book of Blues Who’s Who” and is a master storyteller with an eclectic body of work that covers not only the Blues but also country, bluegrass, ragtime, folk and popular songs that originated in Tin Pan Alley.

Separately and together, Jim and Roy are more than just “Faces” and “Voices” and this event will be more than just The Blues.  With their combined years of dedication to bringing music forward to future generations, they will use their respective talents to provide the visuals and the soundtrack for a century’s worth of music of every genre.

The photo exhibit is free and will be open to the public on Saturday from 12:00 Noon to 6:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 12:00 Noon to 4:00 p.m.  It will feature several iconic images from Jim’s extensive portfolio and will debut several acquisitions from his most recent travels.

Jim will hold a photography workshop on Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., after which he and his students will join Roy for “Porch Time” which will be an informal gathering where everyone is invited to bring an instrument and “pick and grin” with Roy and Jim…as they bring the music to life through songs and stories.

At the Saturday evening concert, Roy will captivate his audience not only with his guitar playing but also with tales of the artists who wrote the songs and the people he has met in his five decades of playing for countless audiences across the world.  Tickets for the concert are $25 in advance and $30 at the door for adults, with a two-for-one discount being offered to Seniors and Students.  This is an all-ages event with an emphasis on generations of families sharing this experience together.  Therefore, there is no charge for children, 12 years of age and under, who attend with an adult.  In a show of appreciation for their service to our country, there is also no charge for members of the military and their families.

Roy’s guitar workshop will be the final event of the weekend and will be held on Sunday from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  It will be geared toward all levels of guitar playing and the stories he shares are sure to entertain everyone.

Although there is no charge for the workshops, reservations are requested.  Tickets for the concert can be purchased in advance directly from PocoNotes at www.PocoNotes.com or (888) 800-POCO or in Downtown Scranton at either Duffy Accessories at 218 Linden Street or Nada & Co. at 137 Wyoming Avenue.  If tickets remain, they will be sold at the door.

This event is hosted by PocoNotes, who presents artists that people need to know in places that people need to see.  With a total of 16 events and 62 artists already to their credit, five of whom are Grammy-nominated musicians, “The Faces and Voices of The Blues…Too” is their latest gathering of good people and good music in an intimate setting where the artists and the audience will create something special together.  It is their fourth event at the Tripp House, which is the stunningly-restored landmark located at 1011 North Main Avenue in Scranton.  Its elegance, historic importance and architectural beauty provide the perfect backdrop for presenting music that has been influencing artists for decades.

PocoNotes is proud to note that funding for this project was provided in part by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency, which is administered by The Pocono Arts Council, as well as by a Lackawanna County Arts and Culture Grant, a program of the Lackawanna County Commissioners and the Lackawanna Council on Arts, Culture and Education.

For more information about the event, go to www.PocoNotes.com.  For more information about the artists, you can visit Jim at www.GavenusPhoto.com and Roy at www.RoyBookBinder.com.  Of course, you can always call Dolores and Pat at (888) 800-POCO.  They’d love to hear from you.

For additional information or to schedule interviews with the artists, contact:

Dolores Hippler

Patrick Harper

PocoNotes LLC

(888) 800-POCO (7626)

notes@PocoNotes.com

http://www.PocoNotes.com

Click for printable pdf.

1. AFA Gallery –  FOWL: Sculpture and painting by Richard Lichtenstein.

2. AFA Gallery (Upstairs) - The Landscape Show: Various artists including Joe Kluck, Eileen Marquez, Louis Pontone, William Tersteeg, and Michelle Thomas.

3. Amendalro - One Shot Picture Photography: Dave Guman.

4. ArtWorks Gallery & Studio –  Abstract Landscapes: Brooke Wandall.

5.  Ballroom One - Swinging Sixties: Vintage Theater Cast of Pride and Prejudice and Ballroom ONE Dancers performing an interactive showcase of the music and dance of the early 1960′s. Introductory lessons throughout the night with special performances by the Ballroom ONE Dance Teams and scenes from The Vintage Theater’s upcoming production of Pride & Prejudice (which has been transported to early 1960′s New England)

6. Bella Faccias Personalized Chocolates & Gifts, LLC - Reflections: Dmitriy Soliterman featuring Little Hand/Big Art Students’ Art Work and Hands On Painting For Children and Adults; Greater Scranton Jaycees’ Member/New Member Mixer.

7. Benjamin Adcroft Studios- Shutterbug Photography: Various artists including Brittany-Ann Hardy, Isabelle Thomas, Alex Wayman, Stefanie Wayman, Danielle Lloyd, Zackarey Lloyd, Brianna Spizzirri, and Tressa Potis.

8. Big Brothers, Big Sisters - Exposing Children to the Arts: Various children artists. Children can come and create art and also speak with local artists. Spectators can learn more about Big Brothers Big Sisters, while also viewing art work that was created the previous month.

9. The Bog - Illustrations: Lani Almodoval.

10. Camerawork Gallery - Street Work: Rolfe Ross.

11. CareNet of Scranton - Juried Art Exhibit: Homeschoolers of NEPA.

12. Center City Print - My Pencil’s Dream: Brendan Howells featuring music, art, and fun.

13. Chocolate Creations, Ferrone Winery, Realty Network Commercial Group, Café Trio - A Family Affair: Joseph and Sharon Paciotti featuring acrylic paintings, inspired by photographs of nature; Ashley Haas – No Fret Collection – Jewelry Hand Made from Recycled Guitar Strings.

14. City Café - New York City Faces and Places: Lois Dreater.

15. Connell Lofts - WSHS/ SHS Collaborative Art Exhibition: Local high school artists; music by members of SHS Orchestra and Crockpot Abduction.

16. Courthouse Square - World Laughter Day Mural: Heart to Art Community Mural by Judith Youshock and attendees of World Laughter Day Scranton 2012 event at Nay Aug Park.

17. The Crazy Pineapple - Music by guitarist, Stephen Hoover.

18. Duffy Jewelers - Human Translations: Kayla Collura.

19. Eden – a Vegan Cafe - Nature and Animal Photography: Ben Walker; music by String Quartet, benefiting Indraloka Sanctuary.

20. Exhale Hookah Lounge & Kabob Grill - Music by DJ MazeOner.

21. Grand Lobby at the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel - Illustrations: Devon O’Keefe; music by Music For Models.

22. The Keys: Beer & Spirits - May the Fourth Be With You – A Star Wars Inspired Show: Various artists; Those Clever Foxes CD Release. Event will also be held Saturday, May 4, featuring  Silhouette Lies & Friends.

23. Kildare’s - Undetermined: Jackie DeLucca.

24. The Library Express - Mosaics: Lackawanna County Juvenile Detention Center Residents; music by Pat Finnerty.

25.  Mission Yoga - Questions of Time: Madison Levinson.

26. New Visions Studio & Gallery - Unimpeded Imagination: Illustration, embroideries, fiber arts, wooden figurines, painting, and mixed media by Jordan Fees, Chantal Rich and Ashley Ruth Truitt.

27. Northern Light Espresso Bar - The Premier Collection: Photography by Michele Geiser/ Bepa Studio.

28. Pierre’s Fine Clothing and Accessories - It’s All About Statement – Jewelry: Pierre’s collection.

29. POSH at Scranton Club - Spring Has Sprung: Floral displays and events; music by DJ Walt Luke.

30. Scranton Cultural Center – Into the Forest: Maria Grzybowski; music by West Scranton High School Music Improvisation Group. Maria Grzybowski is a painter who specializes in acrylic and ink mediums. Her work focuses on nature themes, particularly a study of animals. In recent work, she combines animals with the human figure and other imagery to form new relationships. She thinks about the interdependency of all creatures, the overbearing presence of technology in our society, and the absence of nature from our daily lives. Because the creatures are absent from our lives they have created their own mysterious universe that we are unaware of. She draws inspiration from travel, art history and children’s storybook illustration. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Art Education from Penn State University, and her Master’s degree in Painting from Marywood University. She has studied abroad in Florence, Italy. For the past nine years she has taught elementary art for the Scranton School District. She lives in Dickson City with her husband and two beagles.

Also, come enjoy the smooth sounds of The West Scranton High School Music Improvisation Group. It features: Matt George on alto sax, Chris Wood on piano, Ed Roach on bass, Miguel Mateo on trombone, and Tom Frew, conductor, on drums. Enjoy their jazz standards from the big band era. The group will be performing from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on the 4th floor in Shopland Hall. You won’t want to miss it.

31. McDade Center for Literary and Performing Arts at The University of Scranton – Royal Theatre Museum - Museum: University of Scranton Players; General admission waived on First Friday, May 3.

32. The Vintage Theater - MUSATA presents: Living with HeART, comprised of undergraduate and graduate student artwork from members of the Marywood University Student Art Therapy. Living with HeART is an exhibition about mindfully taking care of ourselves through the things we enjoy. For some its taking a walk, practicing yoga, riding a bike, or reading. For the artist or imagineer some of the greatest self-care is to create! As future art therapists we see the need for self-care, the value of actively creating, the satisfaction of displaying or performing artwork, and the importance of seeking happiness and inspiration from the little things in life!

33. Wendell & Company Interior Design & Antiques – Italian Influences at the Ritz: Various artists including Marywood Senior Art Class Rome Study Tour, Heather Abshire, Katherina Allen, Katrina Alia, Candace Conville, Alysha Drum, Frank C. Florence, Noel Flynn, Lyndsie Johndrow, Suryanka Kalra, Dominique Kozuch, Ashley Kujat, Rachel Lawrick, Samantha Nardelli, Samantha Pellegrino, Francesca Russo, and Kaitlin Staples, Burt Aulisio Galactic Artwork and Harold Zabady Hyperrealism Art; Capra Collina Winery, Saved Soaps handmade in Scranton, The Sweet Lush Cupcakery, McNichols Plaza Art Class, Illumination Arts; music by the West Scranton Improvisation Group.

34. Whiskey Dick’s - Patrolling the “Electric City”: Photography by  Danielle Sheerin.

Brooke Wandall

May 3 – 35, 2013 @ Artworks Gallery & Studio

Please join us on Friday, May 3, from 6-9 PM, for the opening reception of Abstract Landscapes, recent paintings by Brooke Wandall.

When I paint, I become a completely different person. Maybe I have multiple personalities but when I paint, all the chaos in life fades away. I can focus when otherwise focusing is a chore.  Every painting is its’ own experience. I’ve been finding such unique ways to call a painting my own: scraping, digging, pushing, letting the paint drip and experimenting with different mediums (some that dry fast and some slower). Really every painting is its’ own experience held together as a series by similar paint marks and colors.

Brooke Wandall, is an abstract painter from Newton Ransom.

ARTWORKS GALLERY & STUDIO
503 Lackawanna Avenue Scranton, PA 18503

www.artworksnepa.com
570-207-1815

Maria Grzybowski is a painter hailing from West Pittston who specializes in acrylic and ink mediums. Her work focuses on nature themes, particularly a study of animals. In recent work, she combines animals with the human figure and other imagery to form new relationships.  In tracing the source of the inspiration for her work inspiration, Maria can recall her and her sisters drawing and making up games for entertainment. “We didn’t have video games, cable television, etc. I spent a lot of time playing in my parent’s garden which spanned a city block. We also traveled to my grandfather’s house frequently, where there was a lot of countryside to explore.”

Continuing this spirit of exploration Maria’s studies led her to Penn State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Art Education degree completing her student teaching outside of Philadelphia. This was followed with studies at Marywood University where she received her Master of Fine Arts in Painting, as well as studies in Florence, Italy as part of that degree. In addition to being an artist she also currently teaches art in the Scranton School District.

Concerning her work, Maria prefers to refer to the common theme found within it as “Imaginary Realism”.  It is mostly acrylic on birch, and occasionally ink on watercolor paper, along with a few experimental collages with the major theme being that of nature, and currently with an emphasis on animals. The combination of the animals in somewhat juxtaposed settings recalls in the viewer children’s literary themes akin to Hans Christian Anderson’s and the Grimm Brother’s “true” fairy tales; imaginary worlds where values are personified and allegories realized. Much like those who pen successful imaginative children’s literature Maria’s work connects with the viewer through their ability to identify with the presence of nature in the work.

Regarding the inspiration for her creations reveals a penchant for art history references, travel, children’s story book illustration and nature. “During the school year I don’t get to travel/visit museums much, so I supplement by reading art magazines such as Juxtapoz, BlueCanvas, and Creative Quarterly. I follow the art of James Jean, Shaun Tan, Erica il Cane, Julie Heffernan and Craola Simkins for inspiration. I also am drawn to Gauguin, Chagall, Joseph Cornell and Leonardo Da Vinci.”

As far as her work and finding time to create Maria states:

Teaching is actually a good career choice as far as time is considered. I have the whole summer, evenings, and weekends to make art. The difficulty can lie in having enough energy.  I feel that a good teacher expends a lot of energy. So the issue becomes increasing energy, which I do by walking, going to yoga and taking naps.

Also, I have changed the way I work. I no longer work for three days straight on a painting, stopping only to eat & sleep. Now it is done in snippets of time, like an hour here and there. I think this actually makes the work stronger because it gives me distance from it, rather than being engulfed. You are able to return to it with fresh eyes.

And when it comes to a respite from her work, on the weekends she “likes to take the dogs for a long walk, and then they fall asleep for about two hours on the little couch in my studio while I work- heaven.”