Shrub Oak Custom Framing is delighted to announce “Travels”… an exhibition of photography
by Pat Spina in the DeWindt Gallery at Shrub Oak Custom Framing January 22, 2012
through March 2, 2012

Pat’s abiding love for photography and the methods used to produce and print photos began in the 1980’s. He studied hard and practiced diligently to develop the requisite skills.
Pleased with the results of his efforts and encouraged by the interest shown in his work, Pat presented his artwork and was accepted for exhibition in a number of galleries. Pat’s photographs have been used in sports and auto racing publications and are in private collections locally and throughout the U.S.

Through the 1990’s and until recently Pat traveled the United States with his wife Joanne. Travel was mostly by motorcycle which is another one of his passions. They visited most of the Western States and our great National Parks with a focus on small town and rural America. Although Pat was not chronicling their experiences with photographs, he found himself viewing all destinations with a photographer’s eye.

Now Pat rides his motorcycle locally, digital camera (Nikon D-7000) at the ready. Dutchess County, NY is filled with beautiful sights, interesting nooks, stunning vistas and marvelous people. It has become Pat’s favorite county to photograph as it reminds him of the wondrous places he and Joanne sought out and visited during their travels.

Artist Statement

We believe Pat’s photographic artistry will captivate you as it has us…

patspinaphotography.zenfolio.com

Filed Under: Gallery Exhibits

Shrub Oak Custom Framing is pleased to announce “Captivated”…
an exhibition of original artwork by Rose Stock in the DeWindt Gallery at Shrub Oak Custom Framing December 4, 2011 through January 13, 2012

Rose grew up amid the sights, sounds and excitement of New York City, but found herself drawn to the serenity and peace of the Hudson Valley. The natural beauty and wondrous light pervading the Hudson River amidst grand Hudson Valley views illuminate Rose’s artwork.

Diligent study, hard work and introspection have allowed Rose to bring to fruition the artistic passion she has known since childhood. Her initial training and production was in charcoal portraiture. Transitioning to oil painting, Rose treasures the freedom of expression she feels in generating landscapes.

Rose is a member of the Putnam Arts Council and has been selected for exhibition in a number of juried showings.

We hope you savor this exhibition and find yourself delighted by our presentation of Rose’s paintings.

Artist Statement

“I enjoy a sense of creative freedom when I paint. I am intrigued and enchanted by the moods,
play of light and beauty of the scenes which captivate me and inspire my paintings.
I feel thankful pleasure that my art is viewed and appreciated by others.”

Filed Under: Gallery Exhibits

Shrub Oak Custom Framing is honored to announce “Integrating the Dark and the Light”…
an exhibition of original artwork by John Bartolotta and Bruce Wichtendahl in the
DeWindt Gallery at Shrub Oak Custom Framing October 23, 2011 through November 27, 2011…
with a Veterans Weekend meet the artist reception, Sunday November 13, 2011 between 1 and 5pm.

John and Bruce are Vietnam War Veterans who served our country honorably and with distinction.
John served as a U.S. Marine and Bruce as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army 1st Calvary Division.

Words are inherently limited, although the following may express the integration of experience in the lives of John and Bruce subsequent to Vietnam:

“Society teaches us that suffering is an enemy. We are constantly encouraged to reject what is unpleasant, disappointing or difficult. “What’s all this suffering? Let’s be happy! Have fun!” But our suffering is not our enemy. It is only through a relationship with our pain, our sadness, that we reach the other side, that we truly can know and touch the opposite, which is our pleasure, our joy and our happiness.

“I often relate to my emotional suffering as though it were a physical pain. When I feel physical pain, society pushes me… to relieve it, not to touch it, not to explore it or seek to understand it. I am conditioned to make every effort to avoid discomfort. I went through a long period of my life living from this conditioning… I couldn’t feel my physical pain or my emotional or spiritual pain - at the same time, it was also impossible for me to touch genuine joy, or healing, or anything at all. It was just impossible.
“My body is covered with scars from my wars. Every time I look at my body, touch one of these scars, I touch against the reality of war, and when I touch the reality of war, I touch all the suffering that is intrinsic to war. In the past, when I felt pain from a scar, I tried to repress it, to hide it from myself. But the physical wounds are not the most significant wounds of war. The wounds of the soul, the spiritual wounds, the emotional wounds – they are far deeper, though less obvious. And they are much more unpleasant to look at.
“Can I imagine a time in the future when these scars and these experiences will dissolve, drop away, so that I will finally be free?
This is not actually a condition of freedom. I’m free right now. Because I can acknowledge that the scars are there… I no longer wish for them to be any different from what they are. Don’t get me wrong. I spent a long time wishing that the scars of my life would just go away. But the more I wished for this, the crazier I felt. Because the reality is that my scars are part of me, like my own hand. I needed to learn to acknowledge them and to live with them in peace and harmony.” At Hell’s Gate: A Soldier’s Journey from War to Peace, by Claude Anshin Thomas.

Bruce and John are involved in the Veterans Administration Montrose New York Art Program and they gratefully acknowledge the exceptional guidance of Art Therapist Rosemarie Rogers. “She encourages us to continue our artistic endeavors by inspirational and enthusiastic example. We grow in appreciation… the joy of art, the joy of life.”

Artist Statements

“My paintings reflect feelings about life and the endless search for inner peace. The artwork series “Chasing the Sunset” is action to escape hidden demons so that I may live a life of love and happiness with my family.” … John Bartolotta
jsbartolotta.tumblr.com

“My artwork in various mediums including pen and ink, acrylic, and graphite is intrinsically surrealistic
with a touch of whimsy and playful cynicism.” … Bruce Wichtendahl

Filed Under: Gallery Exhibits

Shrub Oak Custom Framing offers “Legacy” a showing of artwork celebrating the life and art of Raymond Howell (1927-2002) in the DeWindt Gallery at Shrub Oak Custom Framing
from September 4, 2011 through October 14, 2011.

Raymond Howell’s paintings based in realism are infused with surrealistic impressionism. He used collage, mural painting and the perfection of a new serigraph printmaking process to expand his artistry.

African American subjects were his focus as he created a wide range of images including a series of works on innovative jazz musicians. He began painting when there was little public interest in African American art, and tried during his lifetime to serve as a role model for artists in bringing images of African American culture to a larger public. He was especially committed to promoting arts education opportunities for minority children.

Mr. Howell an Oakland California native was a fixture in the San Francisco Bay Area art scene.
In mid 1960’s Haight- Ashbury he opened and for a decade operated Art Associates West, a gallery and art school. His 1965 painting “The Brown Family” which exhibited at the opening of the Oakland Museum, was later purchased by the museum for its’ permanent collection. Widely exhibited throughout his career Mr. Howell was honored in 1999 when Stanford University presented a 40 year retrospective of his artwork.

Artist Statement
“My career began at age eight, when I was required to do life-size images of my second grade classmates on the blackboard… punishment for sketching in class. Due to a variety of stresses, formal schooling ended by the fifth grade. After “graduating” from reform school and foster homes, I dedicated myself to art. I am both artistically and academically self-educated. This may in part explain my broad and flexible expression… not being molded by classrooms, instructors or individual schools of thought.”

Filed Under: Gallery Exhibits

Shrub Oak Custom Framing is pleased to announce a return exhibition of limited edition photographic images and giclees by John O’Dair in the DeWindt Gallery at Shrub Oak Custom Framing from November 21, 2010 through January 7, 2011

John O’Dair a longtime resident of Yorktown Heights, explains that as a youngster in the Bronx he was fascinated by the revelatory photographic art of publications such as the National Geographic. His love of images coupled with a Christmas gift of a 35mm camera allowed a young John O’Dair photographic capture of adventurous visits to places of interest throughout New York City. A makeshift darkroom served as John’s laboratory as he experimented with and mastered film development and printing techniques.

The responsibilities of marriage, family and career did not diminish Mr. O’Dairs interest in photography.
All aspects of John’s mature life were opportunities for photographic expression as he recorded family events, vacations, travels, and natures’ marvels.

John O’Dair is an avid boater with extensive experience on the waters of Long Island Sound and points offshore, including Block Island. Seascapes, coastal locations, lighthouses and operating steam locomotives comprise the body of Mr. O’Dairs’ collection.

Mr. O’Dair’s exhibition combines film photography and digital imaging. He uses Nikon cameras and lenses including the Nikon D200 (DSLR). John masters his images with digital equipment and the latest software techniques bringing to fruition his artistic interpretations and darkroom skills. The mastered images are then professionally printed.

We hope you agree, as we believe, that John O’Dair manifests the spirit of each captured moment

Artists’ Statement

“Photographic images are presented by an artist to reveal the sense and feeling or perhaps the mood experienced when taking a picture. We attempt to bring to those who look, the compelling inspiration which caused us to stop and raise camera to eye. In this, we are kindred with the artist who paints to canvas.”

visit John at: jodair.zenfolio.com

Filed Under: Gallery Exhibits