By Lele Galer, Columnist, The Times
The Church Street Gallery in West Chester is exhibiting the wonderful oil paintings of local West Chester artist, Terry DeAngelo, for their July show entitled “Quiet Truths.” The central image for the show is a four foot square painting called “Shot”, with hundreds of black birds flying from the branches of a large tree against a canvas of cerulean blue.
I asked DeAngelo why he called it “Shot”, and the answer is so obvious, I felt like an idiot. He said, “Have you ever been in the woods and seen one of those trees filled with black birds? This is what happens when they hear a gunshot…” That is wonderful! He said that he looks at painting as “a kind of adventure, a journey…” which Carol Giblin, co-owner of Church Street Gallery, has interpreted as “Quiet Truths.”
The “Shot” heard round West Chester this week is by Terry DeAngelo.
I own one of DeAngelo’s paintings and I love it. He has the light sensitivity and careful touch of a realist painter, but his composition allows for large spaces of color and makes his work very contemporary. He is a delightful person; very humble about his talent, and wonderful to talk with, so I think you should come to the reception and say hello. The show opening reception is Friday, July 11, at 5pm (please note that they never seem to have their receptions on First Friday! They go for second Friday instead.)
Several terrific locals shows are closing soon. In downtown West Chester, The Art Trust Gallery at Meridian Bank’s show “Patterns” is in its last weeks. Please stop by and catch this delightful, small, eclectic collection of themed art works before it closes July 17th. Also, remember to visit the wonderful Horace Pippin show “The Way I See It” at the Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art . The last day of the landmark show is July 19! Horace Pippin lived and painted in West Chester and is famous for his direct portrayal of African American life in the 1940s and 50s, as well as his images of war. As a wounded war veteran of World War One, he learned to guide his painting arm with his left hand, painting or burning in his figures with deliberation and care. Come visit the show before it closes (and make sure to see the permanent collection too!)
In Kennett Square this week, Galer Estate Vineyard and Winery hosts its Thursday ‘Pop Up’ Art Show and will feature the photography of Sean Davis. Sean has recently begun a massive photographic documentation project that spans 30 miles along the Pennsylvania, Route 1 corridor from Avondale to the Main Line. In each township and borough along the way, he’s capturing the beauty that makes each area unique. The images of specific buildings and landscapes brings a brief, written history of the image to tie in what the viewer is looking at. I am looking forward to seeing his images of our beautiful area! Several wineries in the area feature artist shows, so if there are other artists out there that would like to show at a winery for a day or more, just call one up and see if they have a spot on the calendar.
In Phoenixville, The Art Gallery at Franklin Commons is continuing their exhibition of “Flight” through July 16th. Some of the artists participating in the “Flight” Exhibit include Katee Boyle, Daisy Cohen, John Pompeo, Lynnette Shelley, Bob Hakun, and David Rankin. The Art Gallery at Franklin Commons is starting an educational and dialogue enriching Seeing Art by Numbers. This program is to encourage the understanding of and conversation around art, which becomes easier with some vocabulary. Through this new way of seeing and understanding artwork in the gallery, conversation is encouraged, and can be helpful to any level of artist or non-artists alike. The August Exhibit is “Roots”, so if you are an artist that is inspired by the title, contact Katie Naber, curator, to see if your work may be included in the next show!
In Cochranville, art is literally rocks at The Street Road Artist’s Space, located in an industrial building on the intersection of routes 41 and 926. This summer they are exhibiting “Sailing Stones” in their brand new 4500 foot barn. Sailing Stones shows work by 350+ contributors to the Street Road Rocks project, and by artists José Avila (Delaware), Egidija Čiricaitė (UK/Lithuania), Julia Dooley (Pennsylvania), Kaori Homma (UK/Japan), and their new participation in L.A.N.D., an ongoing project by Danish collective N55.
Each stone art piece takes a single rock as a starting point to an art work, and invites a conversation about permanence and transience, nature and art as well as the inclusivity of art in terms of medium and participation. The exhibit is opem Fridays and Saturdays 10am-4pm and by appointment. Along with their “Sailing Stones,” summer exhibits include “Suburban Landscapes” by Brian Richmond, and “Crisis Farm: Seed to Table” by artists Maryann Worrell and Doug Mott. If you have a cool rock, you might consider bringing it to the show and see how yours might be included in the collection!
“Shack” by Sean Davis .
Many of you may have seen the news announcement about the sale of 4 masterpieces from The Delaware Art Museum’s permanent collection that were sold in order to pay for the museum’s renovation debt. Sales from collections are always met with negative press, but in a way, it should remind us how very precious each picture is in a museum and give us a greater appreciation of the artworks when we go to a museum. I am thrilled that the Delaware Art Museum is solvent and I am looking forward to a great year of exhibitions ahead.
Lele Galer is a local artist who has chaired numerous art shows, taught art history and studio art, public art and has chaired, written and taught the Art in Action Art Appreciation series for the UCFD schools for the past 12 years. She worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and wrote for the Associated Press in Rome. She has been dedicated to Art History and art education for most of her adult life. Lele and her husband Brad own Galer Estate Winery in Kennett Square and she is on the Board of the Chester County Art Association and The Delaware Valley Art League.
