2024 Annual Affiliates Exhibition
January 31–February 24, 2024
Reception: Thursday, February 1, 6-8pm
FIRST STREET GALLERY is pleased to present this year’s Annual Affiliates Exhibition 2024, bringing together the unique and dynamic work of the following member artists: Anita Dawson, Gilles Giuntini, Robert Loebell, Marion Miller, Kathy A. Moore, Lisa Noble, John Rohlfing, and Carolyn Sheehan.
Anita Dawson is a painter of objects; she is interested in the enduring iconography of still life. In Western art traditions certain images have common interpretations and serve as metaphors for the artist and viewer. Tin toys, colorful witty approximations of real animals are the protagonists in there scenarios…short stories rather than long narratives.
Gilles Giuntini’s current work evolved out of his lifelong interest in architectural history, antiquity and the inherent esthetics present i some common industrial works. The work shown in this exhibition represents a random conjunction of thoughts on, and explorations of: Architectural Reliquaries, Homer’s Odyssey and Corn Cribs found on Mid-Western farms.
Robert Loebell’s sculpture explores the space between 2 and 3 dimensions. His relief carvings work within the limitations inherent in the material that he uses, wood, and the many possible approaches to that material. They are carved, constructed, burned, bent, and colored with paint and encaustic. The images are curated from photographs he’s taken in traveling archival pictures or from family photos.
Marion Miller’s work is sourced from observation and searches for balances of light, color and intimacy.
Kathy A. Moore describes her greyscale paintings as Snow Light/Day and Night that emphasize the power of the illusion of “light” reflecting off the snow-covered scenes. She found herself drawn into the time period of the 1920-1950’s. Her paintings depict suburban or rural settings that often show only signs of people; roads with tire tracks, shoveled sidewalks, or smoke coming from chimneys. Moore paints a compelling world of people driven inside by the cold harsh elements of winter.
Lisa Noble’s recent work signals a turning point in her career. Her works of oil and ink on canvas have rekindled her first love for drawing by reinforcing the importance of line as the framework and foundation of her motivations behind art making. Noble continues to explore the self-portrait as a means to communicate ideas about her identity and personal history.
John Rohlfing’s ceramic vessels evoke visual references to the figure, human sexuality and landscape. This interpretation of the complex interrelationships between art and nature, surface and form and man’s relationship to his environment are significant and for Rohlfing, an attempt to draw a personal understanding of the balances in life.
Carolyn Sheehan creates art works that are best described by color and images. She combines creativity and imagination with emotions in every piece with the sole purpose of not only creating an aesthetic that impacts the feelings but causes pleasure as well. Every piece is worked like a sculpture which is three dimensional and they take shape in a style in which the icon is always the focal point.
Gallery Hours: Wednesday–Saturday, 11am to 6pm
