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Posts Tagged ‘Corning NY’

Law of Nature

Posted in Opinion, Quote, Recent Paintings, tagged , , , on January 24, 2010| Leave a Comment »

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There is a wonderful law of nature that the three things we crave most in life– happiness, freedom and peace of mind– are always obtained by giving them to someone else.

—— General Peyton March

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This seems like the right thought at this time.  All too many people all over the world  lacking in happiness, freedom and peace and too many people trying to satisfy these desires of their own in a greedy, selfish way, believing they are not connected to the suffering of others.  That they cannot have an effect.

But ultimately we are all connected.  And perhaps it will only take a few small acts of kindness in our everyday lives that will snowball, inspiring others to action and changing the way that our collective mind looks at the suffering of others,  allowing us to believe that we can do great things.  And with that belief, we could do great things.

And wouldn’t that be a big step forward to achieving happiness, freedom and peace of mind for ourselves?

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The piece at the top of this post is titled Lines of Connection and is a wee 2″ by 4″ painting and is available as part of the Little Gems show at the West End Gallery in Corning.

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Little Gems

Posted in Biographical, Favorite Things, Recent Paintings, tagged , on January 21, 2010| Leave a Comment »

I’m trying to refocus my attention back to my work after the last few days of the auction.  Currently, I am working on a group of very small paintings for an annual show called Little Gems at the West End Gallery in Corning.

This show has always had special significance for me in that it was the first show that I ever publicly displayed my work, back in 1995.  I wasn’t sure where the road would lead at that point and surprisingly, it has surpassed my hopes of that time.  Without that first step, at that first show fifteen years ago, I might very well have a very, very different life now.  So you see how I put some weight towards this exhibit of small paintings.

I also like this show for the format which forces me to work small.  It’s a great opportunity to work out new things on a small basis,such as amping up different colors and blocking in new compositions.  Or in the case of this small piece shown above, revisit a composition with a different feel and color.  Small pieces enable me to work on dynamism on a small scale, finding what elements work and might translate to larger work in the future.

Important rehearsal time.

From a collecting standpoint, small works have always been important to me.  Many of my longtime collectors obtained a small painting of mine as their first piece of art.  I try to make the small pieces every bit the same as the larger, more expensive paintings in all aspects except for the price.  I like the idea of making original work available in price to most people, opening the sometimes overbearing world of art to a wider range of the public.  There is something exciting about having new eyes and new energy in the galleries and both often come from people who may have been intimidated by the idea of even being in an art gallery in the past.

And like my first foray into the world of art fifteen years back, that can be an important first step.

Little Gems opens  February 5, with a reception from 5-7:30 PM,  and runs through March 12 at the West End Gallery in Corning, NY.

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At the Gallery

Posted in Recent Paintings, tagged , on December 28, 2009| 2 Comments »

Well, I’m through the first two days of a 5 day stint at the West End Gallery in Corning.  Thus far it has been pretty uneventful with pretty light traffic, less than we had hoped for the days following Christmas.

I was able to meet, for the first time, several collectors who came in.  One was a lady from California who had acquired several pieces of mine over the years.  As she came through the gallery with her daughter, who she was visiting in Corning, I asked if I could be of assistance.  She said no, saying see just wanted to see some of the work of Gary Snyder, the artist who had done several paintings she had purchased there.  As she went up the stairs to the upper gallery, I ran through the artists who have shown there and couldn’t for the life of me, remember a Gary Snyder.

A while later, she came down the stairs and I asked if she saw anything of interest.  She said she loved Snyder’s work that was there.

Perplexed I asked if she had actually found some.

She said yes and explained how she ‘d followed his work since the smaller blocks of color and the first red trees.  It suddenly dawned on me that she was confusing my name.

“Do you mean Gary Myers– GC Myers?”

In that moment it dawned on her as well that she had the name confused. “Oh my, yes!” she exclaimed then told me she was thinking of a California poet named Gary Snyder.  I told her that I was the painter and she was very surprised and pleased to finally meet me.  We talked for quite a while, having a pleasant conversation, and she left with one of my books.

There were several other encounters of that sort, enough to make the days go by quickly. The piece at the top, Away From the Chaos, a 20″ by 24″ canvas has been garnering a lot of attention.  It has an interesting rhythm in the sky that has been making people stop and take notice.  One of the benefits of being in the gallery is watching how people react to different pieces from different artists, seeing how different colors and elements attract the viewer.  It’s a constant reminder of the elements that make a painting work and how important it is to keep those elements central to the piece.

So, even when it’s been slow in the gallery there are lesson to be learned.  Got to run and get ready for class…

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At the West End

Posted in Favorite Things, tagged , on December 23, 2009| Leave a Comment »

It’s two days before Christmas and rushing towards the end of this year and into the next.  2010.

As I’ve noted in recent posts, for me this the time of year when I am regrouping and trying to gain focus on the direction of my work for the upcoming year.  I am working out new ideas and planning how I want to put my solo shows together, thematically.

For the short term, starting the day after Christmas and going until the day before New Year’s Eve, I will be at the West End Gallery in Corning, NY.  If you’re in the area, please feel free to stop in and take a leisurely browse through this great gallery.  I’ll be there to answer questions about my work so if you’re interested, come on in.

During that time at the West End, I will be bringing in a few pieces from my archives that haven’t been shown in a while.  Some will be available  for this time only.  There will also be a few surprises, so stop in and spend a few minutes.  I’ll be looking for you!

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Upcoming

Posted in Current Events, tagged , on December 12, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Well, I’ve firmed up a couple of things that I will be doing in the next few weeks.  First, tomorrow I will be giving a talk about my work  for a group at, of all things, a Christmas party.  It’s an annual event given by a longtime collector of my paintings who first became acquainted with me while I was still waiting tables back in the 90’s.

Then I will be guest-sitting at the West End Gallery in Corning from the day after Christmas until  December 30.  I haven’t done something like this for some time and am looking forward to it.  I’ve been looking for something to shake up my perspective and the opportunity to be surrounded by art and talk about it seemed like a perfect fit.  I did this once before, about 11 or 12 years ago, and it was really enlightening to get a different view on how people look at art and what matters to them, something that gets lost in the isolation of the studio.  It also creates an energy that will carry over into the studio in January, when I start really focusing on the shows for that year.

I’ll be talking a little more about this in the next week or so.  It’s a great chance, if you have questions about the work, to ask them outside the night of an opening when time is very limited.  I’m planning a few other special things so if you’re in the area, please stop in to shoot the breeze and take a look at the work in this wonderful gallery.

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Talk Aftermath

Posted in Painting, Technique/History, tagged , on August 7, 2009| 1 Comment »

Quietheart I had my Gallery Talk yesterday at the West End Gallery in Corning and it went pretty well.  Really good group of people who asked insightful questions and seemed very open to the things about which I was talking.  I went quite a bit over the hour that was planned but I don’t think it dragged on.  Hopefully, they enjoyed it as much as I did.  They made it very easy for me.

One of the questions that came up was about whether I worked on more than one painting at a time or if I had paintings in varying degrees of completion.  I immediately spoke about this piece, Quietheart, which was the centerpiece of my 2007 show at the West End.

At the end of 2006 I prepped a large panel, 34″ by 60″, layering in multiple layers of gesso to create a visually interesting base to hold up the paint above.  I started the piece by painting a large block of color, consisting of varying reds and yellows that had quite a bit of intensity.  The orangish color of the sky is this color.  So I had this large block of color that I very much liked.  It had the intensity I mentioned and the surface had a great texture that seemed to be visually stimulating throughout.  It was right on the mark as far as I was concerned.

The problem was that I was now afraid to go any further with piece.

I so liked this first block of color, this base, that I felt I could only do harm to it by making another mark on it at this point.  I felt I couldn’t add to, could only diminish from it’s impact.  I gloried in the color and form but couldn’t see a next step at that point.

So I set it aside.  It sat, prominently displayed in my studio, for six months and I would look at it each day and think that someday that would truly be something I would be proud of if I could ever dare to step into it once more.  Finally, one day I pulled it down and said this is the day and with great trepidation, put a new brush of paint to it.

I was immediately engaged and the image as you see it above fell in place quickly.  I breathed easier.  I hadn’t diminished the original block, hadn’t made it secondary to the scene above it.  I felt that its strength bonded with what I had added.  I was pleased.

And that is the main criteria I have to meet.

So, yes I do have pieces at different points and most are just waiting for the right moment.  

Again, many thanks to those who came out yesterday.  It was most appreciated.

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Gallery Talk

Posted in Current Events, Painting, tagged , , on August 6, 2009| 6 Comments »

Gallery TalkWell, today’s my annual Gallery Talk at the West End Gallery in Corning in conjunction with my show, Dispatches, which is hanging there until the end of August.  I’ve done quite a few of these talks over the years, probably 11 or 12, so I know what to expect.  But there’s always a little anxiety anytime you have to speak in front of any group of people.

My gallery talks are always pretty much off the top of my head which, when it works and the audience is receptive and interacting, is good.  When it doesn’t work, it’s pretty ugly.  A lot of blank stares and awkward silences.  Luckily, that’s only happened once or twice.

The first talk I did at the West End was back in 1997 and I had put everything I wanted to get across into a short speech that I wrote out and memorized.  Well, the talk began and I reeled off my little speech.  It was pretty good until I came to the end of it and glimpsed the clock.  It had lasted about 4 minutes and my mind was a totally blank slate.  

Tom Gardner, then co-owner of the gallery and a well known painter, had told me a little trick before the talk.  He told me to always have a glass of water and when I came to a spot where I was stuck with nothing to say to simply walk back and forth in front of the audience and take a very slow sip of the water.  Look thoughtful.  I thought it was pretty good advice until I realized I would be pacing back and forth, sipping water, for 56 minutes.

Luckily, Tom rescued me with a question and from there it snowballed with the rest of the crowd asking questions, one subject leading to another. Phew!  Over the years I’ve gotten more comfortable with the whole thing and have an assortment of anecdotes to fall back on when things start to falter.

Another reason I don’t go in with a prepared speech is that each group of people is different.  Some groups are more interested in talking technique, wanting to know how each piece is painted.  What type of paint I use and how I achieve certain aspects in the paintings.  That kind of thing.  But others are not so interested in the how but in the why.  They prefer to hear what the stories are behind the paintings.  So, there’s a moment at the beginning of each talk  when I have to gauge what approach suits this particular group best.  I really try to stay away from the technical side for the most part because sometimes, when I’m droning on about such things, I can see the non-painters’ eyes glazing over.  I try to get off the subject as soon as possible when I spot this and try to engage their interest.

It usually goes pretty well and we all have a few laughs.  I’m hoping today is no different.  If you’re in the area today, the talk takes place at noon at the West End Gallery in Corning, NY.

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On the Horizon

Posted in Recent Paintings, tagged , , , on July 29, 2009| 1 Comment »

Going Up CountryWell, the show is up and hanging, with paintings like the one shown here, Going Up Country,  at the West End Gallery and will do so through the end of August.  The next items on my agenda are a few small events but things that matter to me.

For instance, tomorrow I head out to Erie, PA, to see my friends, Kathy and Joe DeAngelo, at the Kada Gallery to drop off a few new pieces and to just touch base, to talk about where the work is headed and to see how their clients are viewing the work lately.  It’s always helpful to get this type of feedback because every gallery is a little different in its preferences for the work it sells.  It’s important to make sure that the work you give them is the sort of work to which they are most attracted and feel best about when talking about the work.  The enthusiasm the gallery staff has for your work comes across when they are dealing with their clients and that’s vital because so many people need support and validation for their choices, especially with art which is so subjective.

Kathy DeAngelo is definitely enthusiastic.  She has carried my work from the very earliest days, building a very nice following for my work in a relatively small market,  and has always offered tremendous encouragement.  She wants to know as much as possible about the work I bring to her- the motivation behind it, what I see in it and so on.  It helps her in passing along info along to her clients and gives the work a better sense of fullness.  I know that she will always represent my paintings in the best possible manner.  

During my drive out to Erie I will spend my time starting to think about my upcoming Gallery Talk at the West End next Thursday, August 6.  This is an annual event there and one that is often a lot of fun.  For the new attendees, I always offer a quick overview of how I came to be a painter and how the work has evolved over the years and for those who have been there in the past I try to share something new.  For instance, the story behind a painting that may not be obvious when looking at it.

 So, during the quiet ride out to Erie (and, believe me,  going through western NY on Rte. 86 is a quiet ride with very little traffic) I will let my mind drift over different subjects that I might want to speak about.  Hopefully, it will be something that has at least a little interest to my friends at the talk next Thursday.

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Show Afterthought

Posted in Recent Paintings, tagged , on July 25, 2009| 7 Comments »

Higher Thought Well, we had the opening for my solo show last night at the West End Gallery and I’m pretty happy with the results so far.  The turnout was very good which, for a summer opening, is somewhat surprising given the multitude of things going on  and the  number of people heading out to the lakes or out of town.  The response from those in attendance was great and I was able to get a lot of feedback.  Most, including gallery owner Linda Gardner, thought it was the best show I’d had at the West End ( this is my ninth there) and they may be right.  

I am very pleased with the show.  It fills the space nicely and Lin hung the work to its best advantage. The gallery’s lighting made the surfaces glow, giving the pieces real depth.  I think the work itself was very consistent in strength and had many paintings that reached out equally to viewers, pieces that might be the stars of other shows.  Just a very good group.

My favorite comment of the night came from an older couple from out of the area who said, ” You go to so many galleries and just when you think you couldn’t see something new and fresh, we come across this.”   Always good to hear.

So, it went well.  The show continues to hang at the gallery until the end of August so if you’re in the Corning area this summer stop in and check out pieces like the one show above, Higher Thought.

Now I’m left to find my next goal, my new point on the horizon that I can work for.  This will occupy my thoughts for the next few weeks as I putter around doing things around my studio and my home.  It’s an odd time.  There’s this emotional letdown after a show opens and if the show doesn’t meet one’s expectations it can last for quite a while.  But if the show goes well and rises up to your hopes, there’s a momentum of sorts that propels you past the post-show funk and onto the new road going forward, which is exciting and energizing.

So far, I think I will be going forward.  And that’s a good thing…

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Show Day/ Song of Self

Posted in Recent Paintings, tagged , on July 24, 2009| 3 Comments »

Song of Self    Well, another show day has come around.  Tonight’s opening is at the West End Gallery in Corning,  kind of my home gallery.  It’s in my home area and was the first gallery to show my work so there’s a certain sentimental attachment.  You always want to do well on your home field.  

Normally, this creates a certain tension, some nervousness.  But as I wrote about my earlier show this year, I’ve tried to shake off these jitters.  If I’ve done the work and feel I’ve done my utmost then there’s nothing to be worried about.  How folks react is beyond my control and to feel stress over it is a waste of energy.  Besides, I do feel that this is a very strong group of work.  

That being said, there’s still a little anxiety, mainly over just having to talk about my work.  I try to remind myself to not overtalk, something I tend to do when I’m nervous.  I babble on a little more than I should, sometimes speaking but saying little just to fill the pauses in the conversation.  I try to remind myself to listen more.  Like any situation, my openings always go best when I let the natural pauses occur and just listen to what the people are saying to me.  It’s a lesson I learned in sales many years ago.  If you just listen, the person you’re dealing with will tell you what is important to them.  And knowing this makes your conversation all that much better.  For instance, if a person reveals that their attraction to your work is because of the emotional impact, they may not want to hear the technical details of how a piece was painted.  They probably want to know more of the intent behind the painting and how I view the piece.  

Knowing how to speak to people’s differing needs is an important part of  the opening and sometimes I do it well and sometimes I miss my mark.  So, today I keep reminding myself to listen and give each person who wants to talk my full attention.  If they make the effort to come out to my show, then that is the least they deserve.

The piece above is Song of Self and is part of tonight’s show.  It’s a very simple composition, one that I’ve done in a few versions over the years.  It’s meant to be a piece where the the quiet of the scene is highlighted by its contrast to the texture and color in the painting itself.  The sky in this piece has great texture and brings a deeper visual interest to areas of the painting that may not immediately register when the piece is first seen.  I like this piece a lot.

You can see this painting tonight at the West End Gallery in Corning, NY.  The opening for this show, Dispatches, starts at 5 PM and runs to 7:30.  If you want to talk stop in and I will listen…

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