Works big and small at WRS

Posted 12/18/19

This December, The Wallkill River School will be presenting two stunning group exhibits. A group exhibit of printmaking works juried by the Orange County Arts Council titled “Unique …

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Works big and small at WRS

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This December, The Wallkill River School will be presenting two stunning group exhibits. A group exhibit of printmaking works juried by the Orange County Arts Council titled “Unique Multiples” will be on display, highlighting a wide range of various printmaking techniques. Additionally there will be a new juried exhibit titled “Big and Small” which is a collection of artworks produced in dramatically different sizes. Lastly, Wallkill River School will be holding their annual benefit exhibit of miniature masterpieces, just in time for holiday shopping.

All artworks will be donated by local artists and the proceeds will help support the organization’s free art programs and scholarships.

Printmaking has been an incredibly vital tool in spreading many art forms to the masses. Prior to the dawn of relief printing, art and literature where solely meant for the wealthier populace. The arrival of woodblock printing in China around 100 AD revolutionized the distribution of art among classes. By the time printmaking made its way to Europe in the 15th century, enjoying art was no longer an exotic privilege for the wealthy. Since then, countless printmaking techniques have been created and used to quickly reproduce beautiful works of art. This mass production was further innovated by Andy Warhol and his “factory” approach to making art.

This exhibit is intended to highlight the many innovative and complex techniques used in printmaking, whether it be screenprinting, etching into metal plates, or carving wood and linoleum, the various techniques are vastly unique in their own way, and provide a beautiful range of effects. Participating artists such as Mary Sealfon, Pat MacDonald, Michael Piotrowski, Debby Davis, and Gary Blake will showcase their individual approaches to this wonderful art form.

The second December group exhibit at Wallkill River School will be titled “Big and Small” and it will feature a collection of artworks that contrast in size. The intention of this exhibit is to highlight the impact of scale, and how it can affect our visual perception of an artwork. An intricately complex drawing of a scaled fish is very impressive when drawn on a small scale, perhaps an 8 inch piece of paper, but that complex detail becomes less stunning if its drawn at a size of six feet!

Alternatively, a simple subject may appear mundane in a small artwork, but that same simplistic subject can have a profound visual impact at a large scale. This exhibit was juried by the arts outreach committee of the Orange County Arts Council, which is a private 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to meeting the growing need for local arts advocacy and serving as a county-wide arts resource. It has a diverse Board of Directors made up of community leaders, business leaders, arts enthusiasts, and professional artists. The Council’s many committees are vital to the community, and are dedicated to serving different types of artists with a wide range of assistance and opportunities.

Wallkill River School is located at 232 Ward St. Montgomery and is open 12-5 Mon-Sat. Visit Wallkillriverschool.com to learn more.