The Origins of Incongruous Juxtapositions

Photography by Paparazzi Paul.

As the final rays of sunlight were sensed lingering over the horizon, The Origins Gallery in Stroudsburg, PA held an Artists' Reception on Saturday June 4^th for their Incongruous Juxtapositions Exhibition. The artist featured for the exhibit was Joy Taney whose eclectic rendering encompassed a wide variety of styles and media to express her extraordinary talents. Local artists also shared their interpretations of the exhibit's theme that proved to be amazements in their own right. A great number of art lovers filled the venue who were not only treated to the wonderful images upon the walls but to the music of guitarist Jeff Gibbons whose gentle renderings enhanced the mood and conversations of the gathering.

The evening also presented a display titled, “Save A Seat for the Arts” that consisted of a number of chairs that were painted by an assortment of artists whose talents enhanced their functionary essence. Each chair was sponsored by a local business or individual with the proceeds divided between the artist who painted the chair and The Theater Studio: A Confidence Theater. www.TheaterStudioSTBG.webs.com The artists included Mary Elizabeth Ranieri Fontones, Irene Bongiovanni, Marty Carr, Bradley Bartholomew, Fran O’Hagan, and Jody Singer while the sponsors for the display included Jimmy's Ice Cream, Momento's Pizza, The Farmers Basket, The Altar Tattooing and Body Piercing, Burnt Toad Studios, and The Framer with Sean Turrell Art Studios located in Stroudsburg, PA along with The Original Pocono Pub in Bartonsville, PA and Janet and Norman Gidley in Sciota, PA. Votes were cast throughout the evening as those who admired the aesthetics of the furniture utilized the ballots to select their favorite one.

It was after some time spent in exploring the work on display along with embracing the feelings evoked by the music performed by Jeff Gibbons did the gallery's famous art raffle begin. Those who bought their tickets earlier transfixed their gaze upon the digits as they waited in anticipation for the numbers to be called. The Gallery's Director, Jody Singer, announced the numerals while Ms. Mary Carr enchanted each item she displayed to the gathering. Eventually all of the items were given to the winning ticket holders.

This led to the announcement of whose chairs in the Save A Seat for the Arts Display had received the most votes. The second place prize went to Irene Bongiovanni while the first place prize went to Mary Elizabeth Ranieri Fontones. The winners received a great deal of congratulatory accolades from the gathering who soon moved to depart from the venue to dream about their experience and prepare with great anticipation to attend the next event. You can view photographs taken during the Artists' Reception of the exhibit in The Origins of Incongruous Juxtapositions Gallery at www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10154936711093761.1073741976.91146283760&type=3.

The “Incongruous Juxtapositions” Exhibition will be on display at The Origins Gallery in Stroudsburg, PA until June 15^th. Their next show will be their Photography and Cover to Cover V Exhibition featuring a competition to determine what image will appear on the cover of The Forwardian Arts Society Literary and Arts Magazine 12^th Issue. The Artists' Reception is scheduled for Saturday June 18^th beginning at 6pm. All artists are invited to participate. The drop off dates are June 15^th and 16^th.

In addition to their exhibitions, The Origins Gallery holds art related classes and workshops such as those in their InspIrArt Series along with a number of special events like their Last Minute Monday Series, their Underground Series, and festivals. The Origins Gallery next special event is titled, “Art Through Speaking” featuring poetry and a tribute to local writer Margaret Buser. It's scheduled to take place on Saturday June 11^th beginning at 6:30pm and is part of their Below the Surface: An Arts Experience Series.

The Origins Gallery is located on the lower level of The Gamers Edge Comics and Games Store www.facebook.com/TheGamersEdgeStroudsburg?fref=ts which can be found at 580 Main St. in Stroudsburg, PA. The Origins Gallery is a contemporary arts gallery within the Pocono Art District having one of the highest and fastest sales records in the Stroudsburg area, provides a space to those who teach the arts to those who would like to learn from them, and continues to do everything with the local community in mind. You can learn more about The Origins Gallery and view images and videos of the event taken by members of their staff and others by exploring their Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/OriginsGalleryStroudsburg or their Website at www.originsgallery.org.