Sunday, July 01, 2007

In the Gallery this month!

Creative Restoration Expressed in Acrylic, Mixed Media and Wood

The impassioned RESTORATION creativity of two unique and unusual Crawfordsville artists will be exhibited in the cool comfort of the Library's Mary Bishop Memorial Art Gallery during the hot and humid days of July. These imaginative expressions of Nina Smith, acrylic and mixed media artist, and Mike Abney, wood working artist, quietly await visitors who will have the opportunity to merge with energetic works and enjoy the artist's vision.

RESTORATION: Acrylic/Mixed Media works by Nina J. Smith depicting a Recovered Past, Answered Prayers and Hope

July gallery at CDPL In 1965, Nina (pronounced 9-ah) Smith was born in a rural area surrounded by dairy cows, rolling hills and rivers in Rome, New York.

The flat countryside and fields of corn and soybeans in Indiana, was a real surprise for Nina when she moved here from New York in 1997. As quoted by Georgia O'Keeffe, "Where I was born and where and how I have lived is unimportant. It is what I have done with where I have been that should be of interest",

In her early years, she often doodled in a notebook or on poster board with a ball point pen. Her maternal grandfather encouraged her to develop these talents and suggested college. Nina paid attention, began her education in advertising and design at a Community College and then transferred to Buffalo, New York where she majored in Graphic Arts. In 1989, she received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Design and was ready to support herself with her skills.

Nina's design style developed while working as a graphic designer, currently working for a local screen printing company. Yearning for more on a personal level, Nina was drawn to fine art. She picked up a brush and began painting in acrylic. In this medium she could express personal feelings and emotions, not just paint a piece for sale. Her painting became therapy and a path to her own free expression.

In the realm of acrylics and the technical side of the fine arts, Nina is self-taught, but found herself greatly influenced by pop artist James Rosenquist and surreal artists Rene Magritte and Frida Kahlo while wandering the galleries of the Albright-Knox Contemporary Museum in Buffalo, New York.

Some of her paintings have a surreal quality, but she tries not to limit herself to one type or style. She prefers experimenting with texture, color, found objects and several different mediums to convey a personal story. With only a title as explanation, Nina asks the viewer to interpret the piece for themselves, and then join her on her journey.

Nina's drive and over-ambition to achieve a sense of self-worth through art, has often contributed to her downfall as an artist. To avoid this pitfall, Nina began embracing the Gift Giver (God) and now finds her art inspired with honesty.

"Art and life are often distorted by logic", Nina says, "just as faith and emotion are warped by over-analyzation and a human filter wanting to explain everything by science, politics, or law, rather than a simple trust in our own inherent beliefs".

The paintings and mixed media pieces in this exhibit are a representation of Nina's restoration. Some pieces represent a past no longer dwelt upon, others a present filled with determination and a will to change and be changed. Still others look toward a future filled with hope on a journey toward wholeness in testimony to the ultimate artist, God.

SHEKINAH WOOD TURNING: by Mike Abney

July gallery at CDPL And a light broke through . . .

Mike Abney was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana. As a boy, he played along the banks of Sugar Creek and spent many nights in the woods, hunting 'coon. He knows "the hills and the hollers" like the back of his hand and can share exciting stories as he walks through the countryside.

Because of Mike's dyslexia, school was very difficult for him. He was unable to complete 7th grade, and to this day, struggles in a world of signs, numbers and letters. Soon after Mike accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior, new opportunities began to emerge. He met and was discipled by Pastor George Markey. Through the fellowship of the church, he became friends with Rick Payne. It was Rick who taught him the basics of reading. Later Mike worked with Bill Prescott of the CARA reading program to learn more.

Mike still rejoices when he remembers the first Bible verse he was able to read:
Preserve me, O God; for in You, I put my trust. (Psalm 16:1)

The Abney's home-gallery contains lovely wood pieces made from apricot, eucalyptus, oak, walnut, curly maple, cherry, sycamore, beech and other hard woods. As an amateur lathe turner, Mike likes to season his own wood and make many of his own tools. He often uses knots, burls, spalted woods and crotch pieces to create unique forms of art.

Mike has displayed his wooden bowls, vases and art pieces during several of Indiana's festivals and art shows. His work is also available in the Susie Gibbs Art Gallery in Lafayette and at the Lew Wallace Study in Crawfordsville. Most recently he was invited to display his work at the Frankfort Library. His "Termite Vase" was selected as part of the permanent art collection at Ivy Technical College in Lafayette. He is the 2004 Crawfordsville Art League, Downtown Art Fair Merit Award Winner.

His lathe-turned pieces can be found in homes and businesses throughout the United States and in private collections in Tibet, England and the Ukraine. He has enjoyed the times when an interpreter has called asking to bring a foreign visitor to Mike's shop. He demonstrates for school shop-classes and is available for private tutoring. Upon request, Mike makes special personalized pieces such as trophies and gifts for weddings, births, retirements and other special occasions.

For all of these accomplishments and more, Mike gives glory to the Lord.

Come often and stay long enjoying the work in this reflective, refreshing exhibit. You will be so happy you did.

No comments: