A Room Living with Art

A new venue in the town of Stroudsburg, PA provided yet another encouraging sign of the arts becoming a revitalized as an intricate part of the Northeastern Area of Pennsylvania area known as the Poconos. In April of 2012, “The Living Room” opened on the town’s Main Street and had begun presenting a series of concerts. On Saturday May 5th, The venue launched their Art Gallery with an exhibition titled, “The Arts Are Alive in the Poconos”  featuring over 150 pieces created by local artists with a reception which also presented music performed by local singer, songwriter, and filmmaker Renard Cohen.

Upon entering the moderately sized space, the magnitudinous proprieties of the exhibition immediately captured the imagination of its visitors. The variety of creative expression among the pieces both complimented and contradicted each other inspiring interpretations and conversations not normally experienced in such local venues. The exhibition allowed a voice to be heard among those who attended that had previously only been shared in silence.

The various approaches to the visual arts ranged from the presentation of images assuring its viewers the tranquil and orderly existence they desire is fully within their grasp to images which disturb our perceptions by challenging the conventional view of life. These approaches are depictions reflecting the diametric needs of the human soul for reassur-essence and disturb-essence which many (including me) consider to be the essence of art. The Living Room Gallery should be commended for offering a place in which artists can freely present their work regardless of which part of the diametric stream of the subconscious they wish to swim in.

The artists who presented their work at The Living Room Art Gallery for their “The Arts Are Alive in the Poconos” Exhibition included Joyce Bambach, James Silverthorne, John Kolbek, Marlana Holsten, Ana Maria Hendricks, Michael Parsons, Flynn Kinney, Maia Rossiello, Myke Maldonado, Amanda Hayes, Maureen Cunningham, Abigail Braman, Sherley Escribano, Jill Nobles, Kristin Krasley, Stephen Lippay, Bill Bravo, Jeffery Smith, Krysta Schwuchow, Bethany Wert, Jason Barry, Laura Below, Tanisha Parker, Abigail Trunfio, Robert Ace, Billy Mack, Elisa Byrne, Zhanna Sanabria, Melody J. Trunfio, Andrew Ozkenel, Tom LeFevre, Keyaira Daniel, Torri Koppenaal, Mask Scholars Masquerade, Courtney Jaggers, Yder Leon Laya, Shane Izykowski, Jamie Ratchford, James Chesnick, RenDi Young, Grace Spezzanno, Clavertis Miller, Charles Tweetie, Susan Kulick, Toby Sabatine, Will Sovinski, Heather Hummel, Martelle, Andrea Robbins-Rimberg, Laurinda Faye Rubin, Leslie Nagy, Terry Flatt, Nova Chan, Narlene Jacobs, Susan Fields, Mike Strunk, Alma Barrantes, Robert Fenton, Timothy Nebel, Patty the Poet, Jacqueline Lesniak, Melody Rivera, Haley Cramer, Melissa Benzinger, Vanessa Kresge, Bob Cook, Sarina Cook, Stephanie Traoiani, and me. You’ll be able to find more photograph taken during “The Arts Are Alive in the Poconos” Artists’ Reception in The Living Room 2012 Gallery at www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150907955845421.475868.636000420&type=1

As mentioned earlier, the music provided for the reception was provided Renard Cohen. His performance enhanced the exhibit by adding an addition welcoming air to the gathering of art lovers. Renard is a singer, songwriter, and Emmy winning producer who began writing and performing in the tumultuous 60s. He still believes that music should entertain, inform, and enlighten all it encounters. He is currently producing a documentary on “Fracking” called “Groundswell: Protecting Our Children’s Water” which can be viewed at www.groundswellmovie.com. Renard is also in the band called, “Son of the Blues” which will present a Live Web Cast titled, “A Head Full of Music” on Saturday May 12th beginning at 4pm. You may learn more about Renard Cohen, his music, his endeavors, and how to view the Web Cast by exploring his website at www.renardcohen.com.

The Living Room is located on Main Street in Stroudsburg, PA next to The Sherman Theater who owns the building and the space in which it presents music and art. The Art Gallery is organized by members of the community who include Shane Izykowski, Billy Mack, Tom LeFevre, Darlene Farris-Labar, Brandon Jones, and Elisa Byrne. The current “The Arts Are Alive in the Poconos” Exhibition will continue until May 30th and will be followed by “The Art of John Kolbek and Michael Parsons” with an Artists’ Reception to be held Saturday June 1st beginning at 6pm. The next exhibition in which artists from the Pocono Area and beyond are invited to participate will be titled, “One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s Treasure” and will begin with an Artists’ Reception on Saturday July 7th. The drop off date for work will be Friday July 6th from 6-9pm. Please Explore The Living Room Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/pages/The-Living-Room/123978921059378 for more information.