Hera Gallery

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 29th, 2010 CONTACT : Ryan O’Hara, 508.735.9007,  ry_ohara@my.uri.edu Islay Taylor, 401.789.1488,  info@heragallery.org Hera Gallery, 327 Main Street, Wakefield RI 02880-0336 Fall hours: Wednesday-Fri (1-5) Sat (10-4)  www.heragallery.org Hera Gallery Is pleased to present: ECCENTRIC FUSION November 14 th  – 16 th  BY APPOINTMENT Opening Reception: Sunday, November 14th, from 6:00 – 8:00pm Hera Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition featuring regional artists  Julie Mollo ,  Jennifer Cawley ,  Katrina Eugenia , Yong Joo Kim , and  Christine Kim . This show will illustrate unconventional looks that relate to the fashion world which do not conform to commercial standers but embraces a sculptural aesthetic. The artists will be representing an array of different media covering textiles, photography, painting, and jewelry. New Yorker, Julie Mollo , creates garments inspired by shapes, the 1950’s, the city of N...

In the October 21-22, 2010 weekend edition of The Narragansett Times, an article titled "Hera Gallery opens New Works show with a group exhibit" graced the Time Out section of the newspaper. You can read the whole article here .

The Hera Gallery's Not-So-Silent Auction that took place last Saturday resulted in a great time. As I walked in the gallery was filled with tables of auctioned items such as original art, jewlery, and crafts, hosted private dinners, local gift certificates, and so much more. While being stationed at the door to welcome guests, I got to meet many of the members and visitors of Hera. It was nice being able to put faces to the names I have heard all about. Everyone was so nice, and as more people filed in, the gallery became alive with life. The live music by Saddle Up The Chicken set the relaxing, yet upbeat tone for the night. Guests mixed and mingled, enjoyed food, conversation, and bidding. It was an exciting and successful night. Unfortunately, I departed at 7 and missed the live auction that began at 7:15. I hope all who attended enjoyed themselves, and congrats to all the bidding winners!

Hera Gallery member, John Kotula , has put together a phenomenal art project that is using the philanthropy website Kickstarter to help John accrue funding for his project. Below is a description of his project, Portrait of the Artist as an Old Man, which will present 25 portraits and interviews of Artists. From John: Dear Friends and Colleagues, There is an art project I want to undertake called Portrait of the Artist as an Old Man. It is an exploration of aging and creativity, consisting of 25 portraits and written profiles of artists over 65. In order to do this project the way I’d like to, I have to generate some funding. I have a couple of grant applications out, but I am also trying to raise $5,000 through Kickstarter.com. Kickstarter allows artists to post projects and then people who want to support the project can make donations as small as one dollar. It is also a way of spreading word about the project and getting feedback. However, it is ...

If you happen to be in Bristol this fall, be sure swing into the Bristol Art Museum to see the exhibition, Travel+ , which focuses on the Printmakers Network of Southern New England . Our member, Barbara Pagh is contributing to Travel+ . “Travel +” October 30- November 20 The Printmakers Network of Southern New England PNSNE, Travel Book Project is a three-book accordion collection of original prints and poetry created by fifteen members and three award winning poets. “Travel+” began as a concept to join artists and poets to select a subject over a period of time with creative results fused into a book collection in an edition of 30. The opening reception will be Sunday, October 31 st , 2-4 pm. Other events will follow at the museum at 2 pm on Sunday, November 7, a “Poetry Reading” with three nationally published poets, Vivian Shipley, Kim Bradford and Sue Standing; Sunday, November 14, a Gallery Talk with Carol Strause FitzSimonds on “21 st Century Technology in Printmaking-Solar...

Did anybody else catch this article on TODAY this morning? The show featured an 8 year old painter, Autumn De Forest, who has sold paintings for over 200,000! Her work is amazing, and I'm glad that I won't be going to college with her... she's bound to be a powerhouse once she gets older. Although, I guess she's a powerhouse now! This uncannily talented painter is a phenom with texture and color, but refers to these characteristics in an 8-year-oldish way... while talking about 'mixing fast' and dumping watery paint on her canvases to achieve her paintings she reminded me of a little girl playing princess twirling and posing in front of the cameras. The most impressive thing that struck me was that she takes weeks to work on her paintings, this dedication to time is unusual for someone so young. Below are some images of her work, otherwise be sure to click the link above to watch her interview with Matt Lauer! Goodnight Moon Autumn Colors Barbie Marilyn

This I Believe - Rhode Island , is hosted by Frederic Reamer, and shares many stories from the people of Rhode Island.  This radio show is an opportunity for people to share their own beliefs and experiences. Over this past week the discussion of art and its strong connection in Rhode Island came into play. Ana Flores, who has passionate beliefs about how Rhode Islanders can enhance their connection with the art that surrounds them, reviews the galleries, sculptures, museums and educational venues in the Ocean State. For more, click here . 

Judy Chicago's "Dinner Party" On October 12, 2010, host Jacki Lyden interviews Judy Chicago about the release of her new book "Frida Kahlo: Face to Face," with art historian Frances Borzello. You may know Judy Chicago from her 1970's piece "Dinner Party" an important icon of feminist art. It is composed of a large triangular table with thirty-nine place settings on it. Each place setting represents an important woman from history.The plates are painted china in styles that are appropriate for each individual they represent. Another 999 women are also honored in "Dinner Party," however, their names are inscribed in gold on the white tile floor below the triangular table. All together Judy Chicago honors 1,038 women at this table. Close up of "Dinner Party The book created by Judy and her collaborator Frances Borzello is told is told in the context of how female painters have been treated, not so much focusing on the life of F...

Over the past two days the Hera Gallery has begun and completed the process of hanging the new works for the next show, featuring Hera Gallery Associate Members. At first it seemed overwhelming with the amount of work that was in the gallery. With six artists being shown, many with different mediums, it was difficult to begin visualizing what would go where. The art was moved around, tested in different spots and laid out to see how the pieces would make sense on the walls. It was fun and interesting to see how organizing the art one way or another could really create quite a different feel on the empty wall. Painting the stands! So while the walls were white, bare and ready to get done up with work - I was learning how to hang the art at eye level. Not exactly the best with math, measuring sixty inches up on the wall, while subtracting half of the total of the frame size, and taking into account the wire hanger, was just a bit of a mind boggle for a few minutes. However, once a...

Hey everybody, it's Islay... I just went online and discovered that the exhibit that I curated in Providence, Chromophilia , has been reviewed in one of our local papers, The Providence Phoenix . The article, by Greg Cook, highlights some of the work in the exhibition and touches upon the aesthetic of the show. Personally, I'm always so glad to have contemporary art jewelry written about, because it hardly ever happens and I appreciate that critics are willing to learn about this emerging field and present it to a larger audience. I've posted Greg's review below, or you can read it here . Review: '10 Most Endangered Properties,' plus 'Chromophilia' The title of the "Chromophilia" exhibit at Craftland (235 Westminster Street, Providence, through October 10) focuses our attention on the bright colors of contemporary studio jewelry, which follows the 1980s revival — a la American Apparel — throughout fashion. But the bigger trend that curator...