On
Friday February 13th,
a day that has brought a feeling of foreboding upon the superstitious
since a financially irresponsible King
Philip IV
arrested,
tortured,
and killed The Knights Templar on Friday October
13th,
1307 because he owed them money along with the dreadful fear that
another film featuring machetes and hockey masks will be made, The
SOHO in the BURG in Stroudsburg, PA held an Artists’ Reception for
their “Melange a Trios” (A Medley of Three) exhibition. The
exhibition features the work of Jill
Swersie, Andrei Protsouk, and Penny Ross who have each gained a
humongous degree of respect throughout the local artistic community
for their extraordinary talents. However, placing the work of these
three artists side by side in the one local gallery that can do so in
a complimentary fashion, magnifies the meaningful beauty of the each
artist's work as their aesthetic essences combine to create a
transcendence not only among the pieces presented but within those
who were among the large gathering of art lovers who attended the
reception fortunate enough to experience.
As
one entered the grand hall of the gallery, the soul catching hues of
Jill Swersie's images fills one's heart with recollections and
recognitions that goes beyond the normal sense of memory. The images
ranged from those depicting people in in various positions and
stances to those capturing the inner beauty of the still life
representations she captured on her canvas. Many of the depictions of
people showed them engaging in ordinary enough activities and
circumstances but the artist's eye and skill in discovering a mood to
exemplify the subject she paints brings a deeper aspect to the lives
seen by the viewer. In her still life work, Ms. Swersie's skill in
revealing the soul of her subjects is even more apparent. When
viewing these objects, an apple becomes more than an apple and a tree
becomes more than a tree because we become more than what we are.
Jill
Swersie has painted professionally for over three decades and has
shown her work in galleries throughout New York City, New Jersey, and
Northeast PA as well as sharing her love for painting with students
she has instructed throughout the years. She was recently honored by
the Borough Council and the Mayor of Stroudsburg, PA for her
participation as a muralist in Project Street Art which involved
placing murals at various locations throughout Stroudsburg and East
Stroudsburg, PA to beautify the region. You can learn more about Jill
Swersie by exploring her website at www.jillswersie.com.
As
one roams around the gallery sharing gentle and substantive
conversation with fellow art lovers, one comes across the work of
Andrei
Protsouk whose powerful images are defined by the striking lines
found throughout his uniquely stylized depictions of the subjects he
captures on his canvas. The dark shadowy hues that dominates much of
his work contrasts with a master's deftness with the tints of gold
and other colors that populate the painting. Their combination brings
forth an overwhelming strength to each piece which often permeates
the viewer filling him or her with a sense of invigoration enabling
one to embark upon great adventures. However, it was Mr. Protsouk's
sketched images on display that caught a great deal of attention
among the gathering of art lovers who attended the reception. Even
though the style he employed in these pieces were a departure from
those many have become familiar with, the strength and power of the
images were communicated on the same extraordinary level. Yet, the
simplicity of dark lines drawn upon a white background added a
dimension to the image that brought a deeper and more profound sense
of reality to them. This proved to be a welcomed extension of Mr.
Protsouk's considerable talents.
Andrei
Protsouk was born in Donet’sk, Ukraine and has shown his skills as
an artist at an early age. After finishing high school Mr. Protsouk
was accepted into the Lugansk State School of Fine Art and then later
into The Ilya Repin Leningrad Institute for Painting, Sculpture and
Architecture in St. Petersburg, Russia which later became known as
The Russian Academy of Arts to gain his Master's Degree. As the
borders of the Soviet Union became more open during the 1990s, Mr.
Protsouk immigrated to the U. S. and established himself in the
Bixler Gallery in Stroudsburg, PA. He currently lives in Stroudsburg
PA where he has his own studio and gallery. He has shown his work
throughout the world in galleries located in Spain, Germany, England,
Holland, Russia, New Zealand, Ukraine, and France as well as in the
united States. You can learn more about Andrei Protsouk by exploring
his Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/AndreiProtsoukArt.
As
one further explored the gallery, one came across the work of Penny
Ross whose impressionistic watercolors flowed like a Spring breeze
throughout the venue creating a warming oasis in the cold
meteorological climate that has become all too common recently to
many who live in the Northeastern United States. The gentle hues
depicted in scenes and floral landscapes led the viewer into their
peaceful worlds where one can simply and idly relax from the ordinary
cares found in the attention demanding modalities too prevalently
found in a modern life. Ms. Ross' soothing brush strokes touches not
only the canvas with their calmness but the heart as well.
Penny
Ross began making pictures
as a child. Ms. Ross received a scholarship to attend the Cincinnati
Summer Art Academy’s Adult classes in watercolor and oil painting
at the age of 14 where she discovered the joy of painting outdoors.
She later enrolled into The University of Cincinnati where she
received Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Science in Education
degrees in the four years she attended. Her work has since appeared
in a number of Juried Exhibition from which she had been honored with
numerous awards. You can learn more about Penny Ross by exploring her
Website at www.pennyrosspainter.com.
In
addition to the work created by the featured artists, the creative
endeavors of local artists were on display throughout the gallery in
a group exhibit titled, “Degrees of Abstraction.” The images
varied in style and artistic approaches but their uniqueness wove a
tapestry of wonder throughout the venue whose thread were later sown
into the imagination of each person who explored their intricacies.
The over all quality of the work is outstanding and entreats those
who view them to delve deeper into their attributes to discover the
unseen patterns they contain.
Along with the inspiring art The SOHO in the BURG is known for, the gallery is also famous for the culinary delights it presents during its Artists’ Receptions which are created by Chef G (aka Guarino Cortese). A delicious array of dishes were prepared and served by the chef and his staff bringing pleasure to every palate which enhanced the viewing of the art as well as the conversation it inspired. You can learn more about Chef G and his catering services by contacting him at chefIIgo@yahoo.com.
The
overall show proved to be as pleasing to the senses as it was
meaningful to the soul that connected to the work. This was not a
difficult connection to make as the skill of the artists and the
beauty found within each frame easily moved among the gathering
bringing the profound gifts they contained to the hearts who eagerly
opened them. The reception and the gallery that presented it was a
wonderfully loving gift on an exceptionally Lucky Day. You'll
find photographs taken during the
Artists' Reception held at The SOHO in the BURG Gallery in
Stroudsburg, PA on Friday February 13th
in
The February 13th
2015 Reception in The SOHO in the BURG Gallery Album at
www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153598971958761.1073741831.91146283760&type=1.
You'll also find photographs taken in various locations throughout
The Stroudsburg Art District in Stroudsburg
Art District 2015 Archive at
www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153087858925421.1073741965.636000420&type=3
and those in a wider variety of venues in The Creative
Arts 2015 Archive at
www.facebook.com/pages/The-Forwardian-Creative-Arts-Society/250942068310585
The SOHO in the BURG Gallery is located on the corner of 6th and Main Street in Stroudsburg, PA which was the location of the J. J. Newberry’s store. The gallery opened its doors to the public in April of 2012 and is owned by Andrea Robbins Rimberg who has become well known for her exuberant energies and creativity as many of her pieces are on display in prestigious galleries throughout the United States. The “Melange a Trios” exhibit will continue to be on display until March 30th. The next exhibition titled, “Springing in The Rain” will feature the work of Joe Mooney and Emilio Arostegui along with local artists in a cinema themed group exhibit. The Artists Reception is scheduled for Saturday April 4th and will be on display until the end of May.
In
addition to the art exhibitions held at The SOHO in the BURG Gallery,
the venue will host The Pocono Mountains Restaurant Week's final
event on Monday March 23rd
titled, “The Wine Down” beginning at 6pm. The gallery will also
host The Forwardian Film Festival on May 2nd
and 3rd
featuring the cinematic endeavors of local filmmakers and actors. The
Deadline for submissions of films to be considered for inclusion in
the event is April 10th.
Please contact The Forwardian Arts Society at forwardian@hotmail.com
for more information. In the meantime. you
can learn more about The SOHO in the BURG Gallery, their future
exhibits, and all the gallery has to offer the creative community by
exploring their Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/sohointheburg.
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