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By Justin Saldo - August 08, 2008 iBerkshires Intern
Sharon Carson's 'Fall'
NORTH ADAMS — Two newcomers to the area are exhibiting their perspectives of the local landscape as the latest featured artists at the North Adams Artists' Cooperative Gallery.
The gallery, at 107 Main St., held an opening reception Thursday showcasing these imaginative depictions of the beautiful Berkshire scenery.
The co-op gallery, which opened its doors June 26, is a part of DownStreet Art. DownStreet Art is a collaboration between the city of North Adams, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition and Scarafoni Realty and consists of 19 art locales throughout city.
The gallery features fine art and crafts from artists throughout North Adams, Adams, Williamstown and Pittsfield, as well as Vermont and New York showcasing a wide variety of mediums including: painting, printmaking, photography, drawing, ceramics, mixed media, assemblage, sculpture, handmade paper, artist books, textiles and hand blown glass.
Every three weeks the member-run co-op gallery has been featuring the work of two or three new artists in a special display with an opening reception. The showcased artists for this opening were Thor Wickstrom and Sharon Carson.
Wickstrom, 48, is a landscape artist specializing in oil painting originally from the state of Florida, but has lived the Berkshire area for five years. He now resides and works at the Beaver Mill.
Artist Thor Wickstrom with his work 'Romanesque Metro.'
"My landscapes are done on location, but like all of my work comes from my imagination," said Wickstrom. "My work is very freeing to me, like a lucid dream. I like to play with light, color and shapes in my paintings.
"I consider my works as a philosophical ideal, very aesthetic; I try to focus purely on the tradition of painting and not on a concept or idea."
Wickstrom prefers the viewer find the meaning in his work.
"I don't like the idea of explaining what my work should be and find it the most gratifying when I see someone look at my art and see from their expression that they understand it."
He also works part-time creating illustrations for children’s books and claims that both professions influence each other and is useful for making him think about his art in new ways.
"As an artist, I have to get out into the world before I can put it on a wall."
Another View
Carson, 55, is a landscape artist who has lived in the Berkshires for four years, residing at the Eclipse Mills Artist lofts with her husband and fellow artist Edward Carson. She has been painting and teaching for more than 30 years, her primary medium being oils, though she also uses watercolors and acrylics.
"I enjoy living in the area," she said. "A lot of my landscapes are Berkshire inspired."
Carson places great weight on creative expression and paints "the rhythms of nature," embellishing and experimenting with color and shapes.
"I sketch my landscapes outdoors and then from those sketches I will make a painting in my studio," she said.
"I like my works to have a less finished, less formal, more fresh-looking quality." Carson keeps her works very simple stating that it allows the viewer's "mind to fill in what it is" they are looking at.
Carson aims for strong impact through rich colors and simple design. "I try to direct eye of the viewer with how I contrast colors."
The gallery is expected to run until the end of October but may be extended into December based on its success. "We are all making this project work," said Diane Sullivan curator of the gallery. "Many artists have taken interest in the gallery and we have had to turn several down."
All works displayed in the gallery are for sale. The 16 members pay $40 a month to display their works but do not pay a commission on any works sold. Consignment artists can also display works in the gallery, but with a commission of 50 percent if they are sold.
The member artists of the gallery are Kay Canavino, Carson, Laura Christensen, Andrew Davis, Martha Flood, Jaye Fox, Karen Kane, Erin Ko, Cynthia Lewis, Susan Manley, Melanie Mowinski, Debi Pendell, Diane Sullivan, Wickstrom, Colleen Williams and Rodney Wilkinson.
Current consignment artists include Sarah Pike, Barbara May, Julie Wigg,Steve Levin,Barry Goldstein, Carmen Cuccia, Karen Combs, Lisa Nilsson, Leslie Kearsley, Jen Flores, Emily Gold, Mary Wright, Greg SchecklerandDeborah Combs.
Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call 413-664-9121 or naacogallery@gmail.com.
If you actually bothered to read the whole article you would notice that information is mentioned further down in the segment. And newcomer is a interpretation based statement someone who lived in the berkshires for 50 years could call someone who lived in the area for 20 years a newcomer.
from: Angered by YOUR Ignorance
on: 08-11-2008
Sharon Carson is not a new comer. She's been here four years and has been heavily involved in the arts scene. That's like calling Danny O, Ven Voisey and Sean Riley new to the area.
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