Drawn to A Room with A View

The Cheeky Monkey Coffeehouse in Stroudsburg, PA held an Artist’s Reception in one of their back rooms for a Small Format Art Show featuring the work of Bethany Wert on Friday September 30th. Contrary to what one might have expected due to the modest amount of advanced publicity it received, the reception was a relatively a well attended one. There were quite a few people there and this is taking in account the size of the room which could make a very small crowd look more enormous than it is.

The exhibit was a very interesting one for me. Not only was the work incredibly well done, but the presentation of it impressed me as well. It was very small with only 7 images on display along with a video feed of additional works created by the artist, but this simplicity added much to the potency of the entire show. One was able focus on each work at a leisurely pace which allowed one to explore it’s intricacies.

There were much to explore as these pen and ink renderings contained lines resembling mazes creating images entrapping the imagination of the viewer. The more one explores each piece the ore one finds it difficult to move away to explore another. Yet, each piece has its siren like call and one does eventually move towards it’s beckoning song.

There is one piece in particular that lingers in my mind. It is an untitled piece and it is of a womanly figure walking into what appears to be a shadowy domain. She seems to ignore the bright Autumnal colors which are part of the environment she is walking through as she begins to traverse into the darkness. The imagery in the work reminded me of the myth of Persephone who leaves the world at the end of each Autumn and goes into the underworld to be with her lover Hades before returning to her mother in the Spring. I realize it may be too bold for me to suggest a title for this well crafted piece, but if I were forgiven for doing so my suggestion would be to name it “Persephone’s Journey.”

Bethany Wert is currently finishing her bachelor's degrees in the field of Art and Design as well as in the field of Psychology. It seems to this observer she fully utilizes her interests in these areas to enhance their effect upon those who peers at them. I would encourage those who venture into The Cheeky Monkey to go through their corridor to experience the show as the work is an example of what wonderful things one can discover by peeking into a back room. You can learn more about Bethany Wert and her work by exploring her website at www.bethanywert.carbonmade.com. You’ll find more Photographs I took during the reception in The Cheeky Monkey 2011 Gallery at www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150126424220421.327714.636000420&l=0ac968b925&type=1.

The Small Format Art Show is part of The Cheeky Monkey’s Espresso Yourself Art Shows Series and will continue to be exhibited until October 30th in a room located near the rear of the establishment. The Cheeky Monkey Coffeehouse is also displaying the work of Kim Pollard in a photographic exhibit titled, “Show on Shuffle.” This exhibition can be seen upon the establishments walls as one enters its front door and will continue being displayed until November 1st. The next Artists to be presented in the Espresso Yourself Art Series will be John Kolbek and Michael Parsons featuring an Artists’ Reception on Friday November 4th beginning at 6pm with the exhibition continuing its run until January 1st.

The Cheeky Monkey Coffeehouse offers a variety of coffee, drinks, and culinary treats along with events such as the one described in this article. Other events include their Tuesday evening Open Mic Nites and their “Spoken Word Symposium” on Thursday evenings. In addition to these, The Forwardian Arts Society  will hold its final Film Lovers Gathering for the season on Friday October 14th beginning at 7pm until we resume in April with our Forwardian Film Festival kicking off another season of gatherings. The gathering will feature a free screening of the film, “Student Bodies” which is a 1981 parody of the horror genre. Please Explore The Cheeky Monkey Coffeehouse Website at www.cheekymonkeycoffee.com or call 570-236-5574 for more information.