Image on left is a mixed media painting on wood panel called "Fading Future."I made this back in 1987. Click to enlarge.
Since my son is now in school all day I anticipate getting back into creating art. There are so many political and social issues to respond to I don't know where to start.
Allentown's mayor has said that the arts are the core of the downtown revitalization or "renaissance." There used to be a gallery on Hamilton St. called "Open Space Gallery." Back in the 70's and 80's artist Greg Weaver inspired other artists and musicians and led an "art scene" created by artists and happening in down town Allentown. Unfortunately, Greg suffered from diabetes and eventually lost his sight, but continued to paint up until his death. This was a little before my time, but I can remember in the late 80's and through the 90's attending events at Open Space. I exhibited some of my own work in a group show in 2001 right before they closed. Mr. Dottie remembers the scene from the 70's and 80's. My friend Rosemary Geseck currently teaches at the Baum School of art and is still very active as an artist. Rosemary, who graduated from Moravian College in late 70's, was my student advisor when I attended Moravian in the 80's. She has done many murals in Allentown (Phoebe Floral on Hamilton, kid's restrooms at Art Museum) and has been a prolific local artist for many years.
I think the purpose of an "art scene" is for artists, and patrons, to get together and share ideas, learn from one another. Often in society there seems to be a disconnect between the wealthier patrons of the arts and the artists themselves. Art galas, auctions and other social functions usually come with a ticket price that artists cannot afford, so therefore they get excluded from the mingling. I believe that a real art scene or art movement can evolve in a community where
artists take the initiative to respond to cultural, social, or political issues which impact us all. Art can be a powerful medium for the exchange of ideas. So can blogging!
First image on top right is by Greg Weaver. Second painting is by Rosemary Geseck.
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19 comments:
Neat post, Mrs. Dottie. I too remember the Open Space/Action Painting/Greg Weaver days. And yeah, let's Renaissance that stuff. Or at least do the 2008 version of it. An art scene is great and informative and inspiring fun for all ages. Not to mention being almost as essential to humans as air, food, and water ...
It would be great to have an art scene in A-town. I know what you mean, our museum has some great exhibits and events, but strictly for the black-tie crowd. If only there was some affordable space somewhere for art studios or something that could serve as a central location. Hell, if you want to organize some kind of group gathering at House of Chen (I liked your review!) or another spot, go for it! It would be interesting to see how many people might crawl out of the woodwork. I'm hopeful there are more than just a few.
I think Sarina has a good idea. I know I'd attend and bring a few friends, too.
dottie you should be in touch with joe skrapits. i met with him a few weeks ago and was so pleased and impressed with his dedication and vision about making allentown arts more accessible to the arts community.
the other suggestion i have for you is to approach businesses like the baum art school and ask them about holding gatherings there - they may be more open to casual or informal arts community building than you think.
finally, what about doing something in the arts park? One of my favorite events of the year is "art in the park" at west park, but what if during the warmer weather there were "making art in the park" days at the arts park - it could be something formally organized, or ti could be something as informal as just showing up on a day when no other events are scheduled and bringing your canvases and paintbrushes and paints and inviting your friends to do the same - I'm sure it would catch on quick (I know I'd drag my butt out of the house on a saturday afternoon to partake). People could work on their own pieces or work on bigger communal pieces, or people could just stop by to observe and chit chat and meet others. I know that for myself and my friends, making art in groups only adds to the experience and often results in beautiful pieces that reflect the collaboration of several people.
I agree, that's a good idea Sarina. I think even if a small group of people meet, it could be the start of something.
The LV Bloggers and Artists! Heck, BernO might even learn something about art. House of Chen has big round tables. We could meet there.
I've always wanted to organize an art show, but I don't know where we could have an event. I'll talk to some of my artist friends to see if and when they would be interested in meeting, and then I'll post about it. Pass the word around guys and gals! Ideas are welcome.
LOLV,
Thanks for the ideas. My friend Ro works at Baum and I know she is doing some kind of event and showing her work in the Arts Park this summer, I'll have to talk to her. She does murals with kids at Mayfair too.
I'd be curious to know how the arts commission (Joe Skrapits) plans on making the arts more accessible to the community. At their blog I only saw pictures of buildings. Anyway, there are people working for the city who get paid to plan city arts events, and to be on the arts commission you must be appointed. Personally, for me city bureaucracy and art don't really jive, but I would be open to hearing his ideas.
I'd like to, respectfully, resond to Sarina's comment that "our art museum has some great exhibits and events, but strictly for the black-tie crowd." This is simply not the case. Last year we initiated a very popular new series of evening events for adults called Art After Hours (http://www.allentownartmuseum.org/aah/) and we host three exhibition preview parties per year. Art After Hours events and preview parties are both open to the public, and both carry a non-member admission price of only $15 per person, which covers our regular $11 admission fee and a portion of our catering fees. Dress at all of these events ranges from evening wear to business wear to casual...but no black tie! So there are many opportunities to visit the Museum and have a social experience without breaking the bank. I appreciate you all even thinking of the Allentown Art Museum as you discuss these topics, and I hope you will consider joining us at an event (the next Art After Hours event is scheduled for May 8 and the next exhibition preview party is on June 7) or just visit the galleries soon. Remember, Museum admission is free on Sundays, though the low $5 special exhibition fee still applies. If you have any questions about Museum events or fees, please feel free to contact me.
Shana Herb Johannessen
Marketing and PR Manager
Allentown Art Museum
My contact information can be found here: http://www.allentownartmuseum.org/general/staff.html
I'll just quickly respond about the art museum: I went with a girlfriend to the art after hours event a few months ago during the Tiffany by Design exhibition and had a blast. Very casual, mixed crowd. I'll be marking my schedule to try to go to the next one.
Joe is an artist from Allentown, not a longtime member of the city bureaucracy. and I will not presume to speak on his behalf, Dottie - but I think if you met with him you would understand better the vision that he shares with the city of offering a supportive environment for the arts community to flourish. Historically, Allentown has not done much for the independent arts scene (i.e. not the museum or baum crowd), but looking at a city like bethlehem - without support coming directly from the city, organizations like arts quest would be dead in the water. Additionally the city's support of the arts unquestionably has to do with the flourishing "gallery" community also found in Bethlehem (and in Easton). I can only think of 2 galleries other than the museum or Baum School in Allentown, and one of them JUST opened in that tattoo parlor on Hamilton Boulevard.
I have so many childhood memories of Arts in and around Allentown - from taking courses at the baum school starting at age 3 to hanging around the open space gallery with my parents and then as a teenager for art shows and concerts and other exciting fun events - i think city support, whatever form it comes in, is crucial to the success of any potential long-term arts use spaces.
Thanks for all the thoughtful comments everyone.
Shana, thanks for taking the time to comment at my blog. I have attended some art museum events, for example the opening of the Linda McCartney exhibit. We had a family membership last year, and plan on re-newing soon. Actually, my son is invited to a birthday party at the museum this weekend. I do think the museum is a great asset to the community. When I was an art teacher I took my students to the museum several times, and my 6 year old son enjoys it too.
Thanks for the info on Art After Hours.
Local artist extraordinaire Ro Geseck would be interested in meeting other artists/bloggers and discussing issues art. Ro does not have e-mail and her answering machine sometimes works, so she is hard to get in touch with. She has no idea what a blog is. I had to call her at the Baum School. She's so 1950's!
We are thinking of a possible Fri night gathering at HC in April. I will post about it soon.
It would be nice if Allentown, or Bethlehem had an equivalent of what Carbon County Art League has, which is a Second Saturday. They offer a Gallery Exhibit at Marion Hose Co #1. They require 2 things of the Artist 1. Fill out a form and 2. Offer to help in setting up, breaking down, or sitting in the gallery. Here is a link for more info:
http://www.carboncountyart.org/index.html
I'm glad that artists are talking to one another, on this blog and elsewhere. My very first post at Allentown City Arts was titled "Connecting is Key." There is currently a lot of cultural ferment in A-town, which is a very good sign. The creation of an artists-led scene (movement, whatever you want to call it) will be an essential part of the city's revitalization. The city government can, and is willing, to help but the initiative, energy and vision has to come from artists themselves.
A meeting--at House of Chen--is a necessary first step. I would be delighted to attend to give you my perspective as a long-time resident and artist, and member of the arts commission. If you want a larger space, we could meet at the Musselman Arts Development Center at 6th and Hamilton (before or after dinnner).
Let me know when and where.
You can post to allentowncityarts.blogspot.com
I look forward to meeting all of you.
Joe
Joe,
Thanks for commenting. No disrespect intended, but I have always been a little wary of too much city bureacracy getting involved in the arts, but I would be interested in your perspective and hearing about what the arts commission's role could be. Since you are an artist yourself you seem to understand the importance of the artists taking the lead.
We'll see what happens, I think getting people together is a first step. Some of us are older(40's plus) and some are younger with more energy, but I think we can all learn from one another. It would be nice to have some kind of group show, and we can discuss that. I will be contacting some artists I know, and posting a date, time and place to meet.
I will put up a link to your blog.
Dottie,
Why would city support be a bad thing? I'm not challenging, just interested to hear your perspective. To me, one of the failures of Allentown vs. Bethlehem or Easton (which I have blogged about in the past) is that when artists in the community are trying to do things, the city can either make it easy or hard for them. In the recent past (Several of my my heated blogs were about the "closing" of places like the North Light Lofts and the SilkWerks, not to mention the failure of the city to see the value of Cannons not only as a bar, but as a "watering hole" location for local artists and neighborhood creative types), the city has made it very difficult for an "arts space" to succeed - the result is artists and arts organizations fleeing to more friendly locations - the boroughs and bethlehem, where the city will work WITH not against them. To me, anyone who has an "in" to the city bureaucracy and also wants to help arts projects get off the ground is a great help.
LOLV,
The main reason why I am wary of too much city involvement is because I think artists should take the lead and any kind of movement or scene that occurs should happen naturally because of the artists gathering, learning from one another and reacting to culture. The blogs are now popular because they are a reaction to the MSM and give people a voice. It's the same kind of thing.
I think Joe Skrapits sounds "artist friendly" and I am interested in meeting him. The arts can really help a city and draw a lot of people and money downtown and I think the city officials are counting on that, but it needs to be real, not contrived by city developers who have a " creative vision" of what Allentown should be.
My past experience with a city arts org. was kind of a let down for me. I volunteered my time and creative energy to plan an art auction/dinner and was not even comped a ticket($125.00 a person) to the event. My ideas about including artists were shot down by the committee because the main concern was to please the wealthy patrons with a "stylish" atmosphere. I know the patrons are important to keep these organizations going, but I think a mingling of artists and patrons is more meaningful for an arts org. Just my opinion, and I tend to have strong ones when it comes to art!!
Gotta tend to my son.
I can understand the suspicions about city bureaucracy in general and Allentown in particular. When I was appointed by the mayor to the arts commission (a volunteer position)in September, 2006, I soon realized I'd crossed an invisible line: I'd become (or was suddenly seen as)part of the establishment. Which is kind of funny because I've lived my entire life outside of mainstream society, as an artist and writer residing and working in an inner city (and various cheap bohemian backwaters).
As I said in my latest entry over at Allentown City Arts ("The Patterns of Our Future"), I reluctantly left my studio to get involved in my community--Allentown--because I believe we as a society are facing a period of profound unrest and change, and I believe artists have a vital role to play in strengthening our community as it tries to deal with these changes.
Right now, Allentown enjoys an advantage in having people at city hall--the mayor, city council people, the economic and community development directors, the manager of the 7th St. Main St. initiative--who "get it" with regard to arts development (which was not the case in most earlier administrations). That's why I think there's an opportunity here for substantial growth and improvement of the arts scene (for artists, not just institutions) in A-town.
RE Joe:"When I was appointed by the mayor to the arts commission (a volunteer position)in September,"
Why is that not a paid position? I thought members of commissions or boards received something for serving?
Thanks for sharing your observations, I think it is good that the blogs have at least gotten people talking, and hopefully that can turn into something positive!
This has turned into a great discussion! I'm going to see a group of friends tonight, some of whom are involved in the arts, and I hope they will welcome the idea of meeting as a group next month.
My husband had an interesting idea. What if you started out by doing a BYOE, or Bring Your Own Easel event? He was saying you could find a space, some warehouse or park, etc., and invite artists (first come, first serve) to set up their art, meet one another, and allow the public to view what they've done. I know the high-profile Butz building at 9th and Ham has a vacant glass storefront at the moment. The Butz family has been very supportive of revitalizing downtown. Maybe they would offer the room for one night at no charge?
As for the Art Museum, they do offer great exhibits and I'm sorry I've not been able to get to Art After Hours. The museum definitely fills a huge void, but it would be nice to see some local art. I do recall going to a juried show at the museum a couple years ago and being blown away by the quality of artists that entered from throughout the northeast. That would be nice to see again.
I happened to visit the Art N Soul gallery/tattoo parlor today. They had some interesting stuff on display. There was tattoo-styled art, oddly painted mannequin bodies mounted on the wall, and some really colorful portaits in pastels (I think) of dead rockers like Sid Vicious. It's worth checking out. I hope they do well!
Sarina,
Good ideas! I had a piece in the Art Museum's 21st annual juried show in 1988, when I was 23. I remember it was local artists who participated. I wonder if that has changed?
I am friends with Debora Roberson and Eric Butz the architects who designed the Corp. Ctr. I will ask them about availability. Lighting might need to be provided. The Butz's are very active in supporting the arts.
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