It's a Family Dutot. It's a Family ….

Besides providing topics of conversations between individuals and their therapists, being a part of a family often creates shared experiences in which its members can look back upon and discover the source of their behaviors and outlook on living. Yet, while this influence becomes deeply rooted in the psyche, individual family members often seek to express themselves in ways beyond the norms of the group. The influence of family life and the desire to express individualism was wonderfully illustrated at The Antoine Dutot Museum and Gallery in Delaware Water Gap, PA who held an Artist's Reception on Friday August 14^th for their One Family - Three Visions exhibition which featured the work of Rita Baragona (mother), St. Clair Sullivan (father), and Tim Fite (son).

Although members of the same family, each artistic approach of its members could not be more distinctive from one another. Ms. Baragona's renderings captures the tranquility of a Summer's day through the soft effervescence found in her impressionistic watery hues. St. Clair Sullivan captures the essence of his subjects through the uncanny near photographic details deftly applied by his set of oil paints. The deceptively simple images of Tim Fite entreats the eye to explore each piece's singular lines until a deeper pattern emerges connecting them to our dreams.

Visiting the One Family - Three Visions exhibit at The Antoine Dutot Museum and Gallery gives the initial impression that one is experiencing three separate exhibitions. Yet, as one takes a step back and allow its more subtle effects to permeate the mind, a unifying substance begins its journey toward being discovered. The sensation this process of discovery gives is an inaudible one and can only be referred to as “Family.” It is family in the deepest sense of the concept which goes far beyond the relationships we have with those we are related to.

This deeper sense of family inspired a great deal of conversation among the numerous art lovers who attended the reception. It was during these chats did the participants explore the commonality the exhibit produced in them while celebrating their own individual interpretations of the works. Many shared a desire to revisit the gallery in order to delve further into the work and it's many thoughtful and technical properties. I, personally, hope to do so as well and I recommend visiting the gallery before the exhibit ends. In the meantime, you'll find more photographs taken during the Artists' Reception in the It's a Family Dutot. It's a Family …. Gallery at www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10154128501653761.1073741890.91146283760&type=3.

Rita Baragona was born in New York, NY in 1945. She received a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University in 1967 and attended the New York Studio School from 1968 to 1970. Since that time, she has shown her work in various galleries throughout the United States. In addition to showing her work, Ms. Baragona has taught painting and drawing at Blair Academy in Blairstown, NJ for 24 years and has served as its department chair. She also served as an adjunct professor at Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ. She now enjoys teaching private classes. You can learn more about Rita Baragona by exploring her Website at www.ritabaragona.com.

St. Clair Sullivan was born in Baltimore, MD in 1938. He received an A.B. degree in English from Princeton in 1960 and attended the New York Studio School of Drawing, Painting, and Sculpture from 1967 to 1970. Since that time, he has shown his work in various galleries throughout the United States and has received The New Jersey State Council on the Arts Fellowship Grants in 1980 and 2002. Mr. Sullivan presently lives and works in Columbia, NJ with his wife Rita Baragona. You can learn more about St. Clair Sullivan by exploring his Website at www.stclairsullivan.com.

Tim Fite (born Tim Sullivan) has been called a “cultural gadfly” by the New York Times and “ferally original” by the New Yorker for producing a number of genre-bending pieces of art and music. His work has been on display in exhibitions held at Gallery Tom Blaess and The Beam Center of Brooklyn, NY. Mr. Fite has also toured the country and the world. You can learn more about Tim Fite by exploring his Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/timfitemusic?_rdr=p or his Website at www.timfite.com.

The Antoine Dutot Museum and Gallery originated as a brick school house built c. 1850 by Antoine Dutot who founded the town of Dutotsville before it was renamed to Delaware Water Gap, PA. In addition to the exhibitions presented at the gallery, the museum offers tours and educational opportunities for those who would like to learn more about the area. The One Family - Three Visions exhibit featuring the work of Rita Baragona, St. Clair Sullivan, and Tim Fite will continue to be on display until August 30^th. The Dutot's next exhibition will be their Music Motif Show featuring the work of a variety of local artists as part of The Celebration of the Arts (COTA) 38^th Annual Jazz and Arts Festival. An Artists’ Reception is scheduled to be held on Friday September 11^th beginning at 6pm and the exhibit will continue to be displayed until September 20^th. Please Explore The Antoine Dutot Museum and Gallery Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/DutotMuseumAndGallery?fref=ts or their Website at www.dutotmuseum.com for more information.

Photography by Paparazzi Paul.