Art on the Move

Ribbon of Life, part II

The "Ribbon of Life" exhibition, celebrating 175 years of the D&R Canal, is moving from Princeton to Stockton. The painting I had in this show in Princeton is now in the possession of it's new owner, so I'm moving my painting "D&R Canal Bridge" from the plein air show at Riverrun Gallery to the "Ribbon of Life" exhibit in Stockton - it just seemed a really good fit for this show. Art is on the move!

"D&R Canal Bridge at Holcombe Farm"
11x14 oil on panel

The opening in Stockton will be at, and coincide with, the Grand Opening of the Sawmill at Prallsville Mills. Renovation of the sawmill building was recently completed and this will be the first public event held here. I had a peek inside the sawmill and it's a really nice space - very open, airy and rustic, with nice views out onto the rest of the Prallsville Mills complex of historical buildings. I didn't know that the mill race still ran under the sawmill but you can hear it clearly from inside the building.

The Grand Opening will be on Sunday, Aug 30 from 1 to 4 pm at Prallsville Mills Sawmill, Stockton, NJ. For more information, visit the Delaware River Mill Society website.

The festivities also include a Family Fun Day Picnic,$5 per adult - it should be a fun day at the Mill! (Admission to the art exhibition is free).

Behind the Barns

"Behind the Barns"
11x14 oil on canvas on panel

Wow, was it hot when I painted this one! I had a nice shady spot to work from, but it was still pretty brutal. This is at the Stony Brook Millstone Watershed Association Nature Preserve off Titus Mill Road near Pennington, NJ. I've painted this group of barns many times before but I never get tired of painting here.

Keeping Things Whole

And now for something completely different...
I'm not a big poetry reader but this one really strikes me and I wanted to share it:


Keeping Things Whole
by Mark Strand

In a field
I am the absence
of field.
This is
always the case.
Wherever I am
I am what is missing.

When I walk
I part the air
and always
the air moves in
to fill the spaces
where my body's been.

We all have reasons
for moving.
I move
to keep things whole.

Kaz and Katzenbach

I'm showing my work along with Charles Katzenback all of August and September at:

Bell's Tavern
183 North Union Street
Lambertville, NJ 08530

Chuck creates multi-layered assemblages of painted glass and mirrors that are quite fascinating to see, and quite a contrast to the landscapes that I'm showing. The work went up today so stop in and have a look (and a beer or a bite to eat too).

As always, I want to put in a plug for Bell's - the food is always great, the prices low, the staff friendly, a good selection of beers on tap, it's one of my favorite places to eat. If you've never been there, you're missing one of the best neighborhood restaurants around. And if that isn't enough, they've always been big supporters of local artists. How can you top that?! I hope you get a chance to stop in.

First Annual Plein Air Invitational at Riverrun Gallery

"D&R Canal Bridge at Holcombe Farm"
11x14 oil on panel

Riverrun Gallery in Lambertville is hosting it's First Annual Plein Air Invitational, where 18 of the region's finest plein air painters were invited to show their work and I'll be one of the exhibiting artists.

The above painting is one that I'll have in the show. It was done earlier this summer at the Holcombe-Jimison Farm near Lambertville, NJ.

Truth be told, I had a small part in planning this show with gallery owner Ty Hodanish. Ty is a strong advocate of plein air painting and he thought it would be great to have a show where all of the work exhibited was painted on location. Plein Air simply means that the work was painted outdoors, on location, as opposed to being painted in the studio from photographs. At it's best, plein air paintings have a freshness and spontaneity that's hard to achieve in studio paintings.

Opening Reception is Saturday, Aug 8 from 7pm to 9pm.
The show runs August 8 through August 30 at:

Riverrun Gallery at Laceworks
287 South Main Street (Rt 29)
Lambertville, NJ 08530
609-397-3349
[map & directions]
Gallery hours: noon - 5pm daily, closed Tuesdays

Each artist will have 5 or so pieces in the show and with 18 artists, there should be a good variety of work to be seen: oil paintings, watercolors, pastels, with scenery ranging from Bucks County to New Mexico to NYC. It should be a good show, I hope you can make it!