Small Town Big Art

On a Summer day reminiscent of what Summer days are like, the little town of Milford, PA held it’s monthly Art After Dark event on Saturday August 11th. The event began almost a decade ago so the several art galleries can open their doors to offer those who enter an opportunity to experience some incredible art work, partake of some tasty morsels and wine, and enjoy some wonderful conversation with their fellow art lovers. I, personally, have been unable to attend a majority of these events in previous months and years, but I hope to partake of more when the next season arrives as I was reminded the entire experience is one worthwhile making an effort to experience.

The sheer joy of watching citizens and visitors to the town excitedly crossing the streets and walking down the sidewalks from one gallery to another while laughing during their conversations is contagious. A smile fills the hearts as the anticipation to share the experiences from which this source of gaiety emanates. It wasn’t long after I stepped into the first gallery of my evening’s adventure did I become immersed by the sights and sounds I would come to repeatedly embrace.

The Highland Photography Gallery held an Artists’ Reception for their exhibition titled, “Texture: Touch Through Sight” featuring the work of Linda Bock-Hinger. However, in order for one to reach the room in which the work was hung, one needed to go through the entire gallery in order to cross its thresholds. This was by no means an unpleasant task as the work from a variety of photographic artists adorned the walls entreating each visitor to expand their desire to explore their world through the images surrounding them. They included the works of Peter and Norma Bernstock, Frank and Julia Zimmermann, Thom O'Connor, Hal Rosenblum, Allen Levine, Bruce Frazier, George Haas, Sam Foster, and Mike Culver. The work of these skilled photographers not only whetted the creative appetite of art lovers who came to see the publicized exhibit, they proved to be as satisfying as a well prepared meal culinarily enticing one to partake of an even grander dessert.

The work of Linda Bock-Hinger filled the senses of sight and touch as the stunning detail of her photographs captured the essence of her subjects. The exhibition’s title, “Texture: Touch Through Sight” was aptly chosen as it was just that. One can almost feel buildings, rock formations, shelled creatures, and all textured objects through the visionary facilities of our imagination. They were quite well done and proved to be the Pièce de résistance of the gallery’s entire photographic cuisine.

The images Ms. Bock-Hinger presented in this exhibition were from those she had captured during her travels throughout the world. Her work has been shown in numerous exhibitions and several publications in the US and abroad with her international photographs receiving many awards and prizes. In her biography, Ms. Bock-Hinger states, “It starts with opening the mind and heart along with the eye to capture a feeling, then I catch it with my camera.” The exhibition featuring Ms. Bock-Hinger’s work continues until September 2nd.

The Highlands Photographic Guild was established in July 2006 as a cooperative gallery for contemporary photographers to exhibit and sell their work. The gallery provides a gathering place for working artists and the public to share information with the photographic community in a creative environment. You can learn more about The Highlands Photographic Guild along with the work of their members including that of Ms. Bock-Hinger by Exploring their Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/HighlandsPhotoGuild.

The next gallery I visited during Milford’s Art After Dark event was The ARTery Gallery who held an Artist’s Reception featuring the works of William Davies and Mark Greenberg. Upon entering the gallery, one cannot help but to be overtaken by the illuminating brightness of the venue. It immediately created a welcoming atmosphere within one’s being long before a friendly hand of one of the artists of this cooperative gallery is offered. These artists include Linda Barboni, Al Bialos, Alex Cena, Harriet Cotterill, Jorge L Cruz, Dana Drake, Randy Fitzgerald, Karen Kruger, Debbie Gioello, Ilene Haimowitz, Rosalind Hodgkins, Tom Holmes, Marie Liu, Alvin Rosser, Madeline Tully, Borsos Anna Ruzsan, and Richard Weber. Their impressive works were displayed alongside those of the featured artists whose outstanding qualities complimented those of their fellows.

William Davies’ serene images of familiar landscapes soothes the spirit as one enjoys a gentle stroll upon the green fields of the imagination while the work of Mark Greenberg brings a photojournalistic eye to the images he captures thus making the world he encounters real for those of us who haven’t seen what he has seen. This stark contrast between the two artists seems to create a contention between their themes. However, as one delves deeper into the entirety of their respective approaches to the world, it’s discovered they have much more in common than is immediately apparent.

Both the softer, imaginative and the harder, realistic encounters we experience are essentially the same as they are not only part of life but life itself. They depend upon one another for their existence as our imagination cannot be created or explored if it weren’t for the realities we’ve become aware of throughout our lives nor can our realities exist without imagining what they would be at a previous point in time. The presentation of Mr. Davies and Mr. Greenberg allows the viewer of their works to find an alliance in their diverse approaches to the life we encounter and opens the horizon of possibilities for us. The exhibition featuring Mr. Davies and Mr. Greenberg work continues until September 3rd.

William Davies taught art at Bergen Community College, William Paterson University, and Ridge High School until he retired in 2006. His work consists of, what he refers to as “Colored Pencil Paintings” in which he uses the pencil in a manner simulating the effects of pastels giving the images a much higher degree of detail. Mark Greenberg has been a photojournalist for a number of years and has won several awards along with a Pulitzer Prize nomination for his story on the Voyager aircraft.

The ARTery Gallery first opened their doors in the summer of 1999 and is located in Milford, PA’s historic Forest Hall building. The Gallery is owned and operated by a cooperative of artists and artisans. The ARTery Gallery are always interested in meeting other creative individuals from the Tri-State area to become a part of their gallery. Please Explore The ARTery Gallery Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/groups/128865803875836 for more information about them, their artists, and how you can participate.

As much as I enjoyed my visit to The Artery, I must admit all the images and contemplation of philosophical matters left me in a state of, “Whoa.” I instinctively realized I needed some spiritual nurturing in order to recompose of myself. Lo and behold, such an avenue was afford to me as I entered The Blue Stone Studio. The pottery of David Greenbaum and the artistic renderings of his wife Joann Wells Greenbaum creates an environment encouraging a Zen like contemplation of all one encounters prior to entering the shop. You can learn more about this respite from and for any day you need one for by Exploring The Blue Stone Studio Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/BlueStoneStudio.

Replenished by my visit to The Blue Stone Studio, I set out upon my journey to learn of what more delights the town of Milford, PA held as part of their Art After Dark event. My travels took me to Jen Murphy Fitness of where I’ve heard something truly remarkable was occurring. I confess, after all I have seen during my visit to Milford, the prospect of discovering something comparable or even transcending what I’ve experienced thus far left me with a trace of doubt in my mind. However, a fervent conversion overtook me as I entered the establishment and became what the Monkees have referred to as “a believer.”

The Milford Arts Alliance is a newly formed group in Milford, PA who seeks to promote all art forms and artists in the area surrounding the town. As part of The Art After Dark event, Jen Murphy Fitness Center hosted the Alliance’s “Pop-Up” show which is an exhibition featuring artists who come to the center during the day, place their work up on easels or lean them somewhere along the wall, and take their unsold work home when that night when the reception is over. Although the number of works presented were few due to many of the Alliance’s members and friends were on vacation, there was a wide variety in styles, creative approaches, and subject matter among the work.

I was too flabbergasted by all I’ve learned about what The Milford Arts Alliance does to record the names of the artists who presented their pieces to be included in this article but I hope those among them who are reading it or their friends will make their identities known. You can learn more about the Jen Murphy Fitness Center by visiting their Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/pages/Jen-Murphy-Fitness/103001059738942 and more about The Milford Arts Alliance, all they have to offer the creative community, and how to become involved in their endeavors from their Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/MilfordArtsAlliance.

After my visit to the Jen Murphy Fitness Center and my experience of The Milford Arts Alliance, I moved toward The Golden Fish Gallery. It was befitting I ended my visit to Milford at this gallery as it was where I first learned, through conversations with the establishment’s co-owner John Longendorfer many years ago, of how the town’s art community was growing into something wonderful. Since the gallery first opened its doors in 1997, John had played a part of that growth and continues to offer his support and time to the creative community.

Although there were no artist featured for the August 11th Art After Dark event, The Golden Fish Gallery had a nice array of food and beverage available for the evening’s travelers to partake of during their journeys from one gallery to another. They were also greeted by some Irish music which was performed outside the gallery by Ed Saultz on guitar and Maryanne Ford on flute. You can learn more about Ed Saultz by exploring his FaceBook Page at www.facebook.com/pages/Ed-Saultz/159685880749610?ref=ts.

Inside The Golden Fish Gallery, the friendliness and fine (even though a bit on the unusual side) arts and crafts the venue has become well known for awaited those who entered its door and explored its maze like structure. The works presented are primarily created by John, his son Edwin (the gallery’s co-owner), and his wife Lillian consisting of everything from medieval and contemporary fantasy art to impressionistic depictions of landscapes, wildlife and people. There are also stuffed animals, furniture, and jewelry abound in this hodgepodge of rural delights. It’s just a cool place to hang out. You’ll be able to learn more about The Golden Fish Gallery and all they have to offer by exploring their Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/pages/Golden-Fish-Gallery-Pike-County-PA-Fine-Arts-and-Crafts/164248230348753.

So, thus ended my day exploring the town of Milford, PA during its Art After Dark event for Saturday August 11th. It was a great to spend the day walking the streets and moving from one gallery with all its delights to another. In addition to the galleries, there were restaurants and shops opened for business in support the event by providing those who live and visit the town an extra sign they are welcomed by the business community as well as the arts one. After witnessing the business and creative communities doing their best to practically disassociating themselves from one another in municipalities I’ve encountered, it was good to experience the whole town coming together to support one another and prosper from worthwhile endeavors.

This is not to imply Milford, PA is a financially prosperous town. Like many areas struck by the worldwide economic strife, it certainly isn’t. However, as a visitor to the town, I can feel a vibrancy of spirit and love emanating from every slab of pavement I step upon. I believe their oneness in their love for the arts and the sense of purpose they share in working together in presenting not only their Art After Dark events but their Music and Film festivals has given Milford, PA a prosperity any community can aspire to.

Milford, PA’s Art After Dark events are held the 2nd Saturday of the month from 6pm until 9pm beginning in April and ending in September. Their next Art After Dark event will be Saturday September 8th. You’ll find more photographs I’ve taken during the Saturday August 11th Art After Dark event in the Milford 2012 Gallery at www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151165819830421.500936.636000420&type=1.