The Central New York Watercolor Society’s current exhibition—at Le Moyne College’s Wilson Art Gallery—is large and multi-faceted. It displays more than 50 artworks: portraits, paintings referencing nature, pieces focusing on objects, and works with an abstract flavor.
The show is filled with watercolors portraying a loved one— In “Sister,” artist Patricia Hoffman pays homage to a sibling. Susan Murphy presents a portrait of her granddaughter.
There’s also Rebecca Krutsinger’s gritty “Last Call,” with its depiction of a woman sitting alone at a bar. She holds a glass and clearly isn’t in a festive mood. With strong colors, the work seems to delve into the drama of a person’s life.
Elsewhere, several pieces reflect on nature. Christy Lemp’s depiction of a heron is nicely detailed, while Carol Koziol Clark’s “Water World Sanctuary” captures a placid scene featuring lily pads and plants floating on the water.
Mary Perrin Murphy, meanwhile, takes a different approach in her exploration of natural cycles. Her painting, “View from Our Waters: Entropy and Rebirth,” shows a long tree severed from its roots and floating on a stream. It’s joined by vegetation that appears to have been blown about.
Other paintings encompass various still-life creations. Bonita Bergan depicts antique glass on display in a thrift store. “Ladies in Red,” by Judith Haynes Levin, presents five cases of lipstick as visually intriguing items.
And Craig Anderson scores with works from his “Chess Diner Series.” In the foreground of one painting, salt and pepper shakers and a small bottle of Tabasco sauce co-exist in a dimension of shadows and darkness. Anderson has transformed everyday items into prime-time players.
Although architecture isn’t a popular subject within the exhibit, the show does display Kathy Potter’s painting of a lighthouse on Gasparilla Island and Kathleen Guthrie’s artwork depicting an old-style schoolhouse.
Amongst its other virtues, the exhibition reminds viewers that a group of local artists are still doing interesting work. Amy Cunningham-Waltz’s piece offers an imaginative view of a dandelion, integrating an intensive look at its roots through a selection of intricate patterns. The artist has indicated her ongoing use of such patterns stems from her interest in tattoo design, henna, and indigenous art.
Eric Shute’s “Coming Shore” again demonstrates his ability to create small, meaningful paintings. In this artwork, two men, seen as small figures, are in a boat, rowing intently, seemingly escaping a storm. There’s a thick blue color in the water and in one of the rower’s shirts.
The exhibit also benefits from inclusion of paintings not easily categorized. In her water-media piece “Serene Cove,” Karen Harris operates in a realm between realism and abstraction, creating a fine artwork.
“Falls in Sunlight,” by Katherine Kernan, embraces a figurative approach. There’s no flowing water or mossy ledges. Instead, we see shapes challenging a viewer’s imagination.
Beyond that, in “There’s Got To Be a Morning After” Pamela Vogan Lynch creates a grove of tall, tall trees tightly packed together. Bits of light pop up, hinting at positive changes on their way after a dismal situation.
And Kathleen Pfeifer’s “Reflective Memories” presents a series of shapes that are fleeting and ambiguous. They suggest water and several ships, but the work is very much subject to a viewer’s interpretation. On another level, the piece seems to question the memories we retain.
Lastly, Anna Chernobai’s work offers a panoramic view of Laguna Beach, incorporating cars on a near-by highway, beach umbrellas and a sunny day.
The exhibition, a juried, members-only show, is on display through August 14 at the Wilson Art Gallery. It’s located on the first floor of the Noreen Reale Falcone Library. The venue is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.
Admission is free. For more information, call 315-445-4153.
About the Author
Carl Mellor covered visual arts for the Syracuse New Times from 1994 through 2016. He writes reviews and artist profiles for CNY Arts as a community partner.
