Month: April 2016

Call for Artists: “Art of the Portrait” at the Berkeley Art Works

Rsmith Artist Opportunities, Arts Events, Berkeley Art Works, Berkeley Arts Council News

*** No Entry Fee ***

The Berkeley Arts Council announces “The Art of the Portrait”, a juried exhibit to showcase the art of the portrait. All 2-dimensional artwork framed up to 36 inches in the long dimension, including but not limited to painting, photography, and mixed media is eligible. 3-dimensional works and self portraits are acceptable. The exhibit will be displayed from July 13 – August 6, 2016 in the Berkeley Art Works, 116 North Queen Street in Martinsburg, WV.

Deadline for entries June 23. There is no entry fee. Accepted artists will be asked to make a donation to support the gallery at the time work is delivered. Jurying of the digital submissions will be done by a committee of Berkeley Art Works artists by June 30 and work is to be delivered to the gallery between July 6 and July 10. For more information email berkeleyartswv@gmail.com or call 304-620-7277.

Please read these instructions carefully so your entry will be received properly: Send an email with “Art of the Portrait“ in the subject line to: berkeleyartswv@gmail.com with your name, contact information and attached digital images of up to three works for consideration. Also list the Title, medium, price, and dimensions of the piece (framed).

Images should sent as attachments to the email, not embedded in the body of the message. The image file format should normal (“baseline”) JPEG. Do not save as “progressive” JPEG. The images should be 1200 pixels on the long dimension with the other dimension proportional. Save at 72 PPI at high quality setting (8 out of 10 or 80% is good.) Set your filename to lastname_title_WxHxD_entrynumber.jpg (example: jones_pretty-girl_11x14x1_no1.jpg).

Accepted work must be appropriately framed (2-D should be wired for hanging) and otherwise ready for display.

The Berkeley Art Works, a project of the Berkeley Arts Council, is the realization of the long-held dream of the arts community in Martinsburg and Berkeley County West Virginia: to have a community-based arts facility that supports local and regional artists, brings quality arts experiences for the members of the public, and provides a wide range of arts learning experiences for local residents, artists, and artisans. The Berkeley Arts Council is on the Web at http://www.berkeleyartswv.org.

Berkeley Arts Council Announces May Classes

Rsmith Berkeley Arts Council News, Classes, Workshops

The Berkeley Arts Council announced two new classes for May to be held at the Berkeley Art Works, 116 North Queen Street in Martinsburg.

Jean Kellogg Teaching at the Berkeley Art Works
Jean Kellogg Teaching

Jean Kellogg will be teaching “Acrylic Textures & Technical Know-How!” on Wednesdays from 1-4pm starting May 4. There are certain textures that can make, or break a painting…a few of these can be found in Flowers, Feathers, Foliage, Fur, Fins and Hair! Of course, there are many more, but having an idea of how to execute them successfully can make a great difference in expressing your subject matter. The class runs for six weeks through June 8.

Judith Becker Teaching at the Berkeley Art Works
Judith Becker Teaching

Judith Becker offers “Creative Approaches to Painting Landscapes” on Thursdays from 1-4pm starting May 19. Learn to paint landscapes with that WOW! factor.  Working from the same landscape reference photo of your choice each week, instructor will present different approaches to paint the same landscape scene but with vastly different results.  This is a unique way to push your own art into new dimensions, all the while learning composition and color  theory beyond the usual.  You will surprise yourself with your ability to advance your own art expertise. The class runs for four weeks through June 9.

For details and online registration Visit http://www.berkeleyartswv.org/artworks/instruction/. Pre-registration is required.

Deadline Extended: “Photo16” Juried Photography Exhibit

Rsmith Artist Opportunities, Arts Events, Berkeley Art Works, Berkeley Arts Council News

Now you have time to do your taxes AND
enter our third juried photography exhibit!

Extended Deadline April 22, 2016

Prospectus:
artworks.berkeleyartswv.org/photo16/

"Stairs to Nowhere" by Mike Pulsifer
2015 Best in Show:”Stairs to Nowhere” by Mike Pulsifer of Martinsburg

You still have time to enter Berkeley Arts Council’s “Photo16” juried photography exhibit, which will be on display June 8-July 9, 2016 in the Berkeley Art Works gallery, 116 North Queen Street in Martinsburg, WV.

The exhibit is open nationally to all photographers without restriction to technique. The theme for the exhibit is open.

We’re excited to have as juror for the exhibit Bruce Katsiff, former Director and CEO of the James A. Michener Art Museum (1989-2012).

Entries are open now through April 22. Details and online entry instructions visit artworks.berkeleyartswv.org/photo16/

The Berkeley Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) non‐profit organization incorporated in West Virginia working to ensure that Berkeley County has a vibrant, vital arts environment by promoting awareness, understanding and appreciation of the literary, visual and performing arts in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The Berkeley Arts Council is on the Web at www.berkeleyartswv.org.

 

 

Berkeley Arts Council Announces Award Winners

Rsmith Arts Events, Back Space Gallery, Berkeley Art Works, Berkeley Arts Council News

The Berkeley Arts Council has announce the winning art works in the Sixth Annual Art and Earth Juried Exhibit. The exhibit, which is produced by the Berkeley Arts Council is on display in the Berkeley Art Works gallery at 116 North Queen Street in Martinsburg.

The Best in Show award went to Mary Hurst of Lewisburg, West Virginia for her oil painting, “Matrix”. Merit Awards went to Thomas Mitchell of Holden, Missouri for his photograph, “High Water Mark Buckskin Canyon”, and to Dimitrina Kutriansky of Collinsville, Illinois for her oil painting, “By the Pond”.

Four Honorable Mention Awards went to Nathan Taves of Columbia City, Indiana for his oil painting, “Black Curve”, David Pittinger for his photograph, “At Rest”, Linda DeGraf of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia for her quilted fabric wall hanging “Heron”, and Gary Bergel off Charles Town, West Virginia for his digital photograph “Dayflower-It Blooms But a Morning”.

The awards were presented by Berkeley Arts Council President Malinda Shaver at the reception in the gallery on Saturday, April 9.

The exhibit is on display in the Berkley Art Works through April 30. Gallery hours are Wed 11-5, Thu 11-5, Fri 11-8, Sat 10-5, and Sun 12-3. Mon-Tue closed.

(Click on an image to see a larger version.)
“Matrix” by Mary Hurst
“High Water Mark” by Thomas Mitchell
“By the Pond” by Dimitrina Kutriansky
“Heron” by Linda DeGraf
“Dayflower – It Blooms But a Morning” by Gary Bergel
“Black Curve” by Nathan Taves
“At Rest” by David Pittenger

Following the awards presentation, Juror Doug Kinnett gave a talk about his work with his “crit group” of artists who meet to discuss their work and support each other.

The Berkeley Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) non‐profit organization incorporated in West Virginia working to ensure that Berkeley County has a vibrant, vital arts environment by promoting awareness, understanding and appreciation of the literary, visual and performing arts in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The Berkeley Arts Council is on the Web at http://www.berkeleyartswv.org.

Martha LeRoi: Mother Nature Captured in Clay

Rsmith Berkeley Art Works, Berkeley Arts Council News

The first thing you notice about Martha LeRoi’s ceramic pieces is the intricate design. When you look at them more closely, you realize her works reflect the colors and patterns of nature. Wisps, crackles, sways, rustles–you can almost hear nature’s sounds flowing from the clay.

Right now, Martha is showing a collection that pays homage to the common weed. Without a doubt, her next collection will reflect a new idea. “I don’t like to classify myself,” she smiles when asked to define her approach to art, “Let’s just say I’m a cabbage.”

Martha LeRoi
Martha LeRoi

Inspired by an aunt who “was not an artist but who liked to do art things,” Martha likes to play around with texture. Sometimes she carves directly into her clay. Other times she hand-carves a stamp and uses that to transfer an image.

Martha is a retired social worker; she still teaches sociology part-time at Shepherd University. She says she teaches for fun, just as she works with clay for fun. “Neither pays enough for anything other than having fun,” she says.

The freedom of doing art but not having to depend on it for a living is a luxury Martha appreciates. She grew up in Maine and spent her working life in Connecticut. About ten years ago she moved to the Eastern Panhandle, in part to be near a daughter and her family.

Being a member of the Berkeley Art Works Co-op for many of those years has been a positive aspect of her life. “I’ve enjoyed being part of a group of artists,” Martha comments, “and I’ve enjoyed being part of the markets and shows.” This year she used a new glaze that “seemed festive” for the pieces she sold at the Holiday Market.

Celadon, a green-glazed ceramic that originated in China, is her absolute favorite art form. Because celadon requires a special kiln that she has to travel to Baltimore to find, Martha doesn’t make as much of it as she would like. She is a practical woman, and excels with more easily-fired glazes that highlight the ridges and crevices of her original carvings and stampings.


Practicality should be an important consideration for any artist, according to Martha. She suggests anyone interested in becoming an artist first develop a day job. “Develop another area of interest, possibly another profession,” she says, “The old saw ‘If you love it you can make a go of it’ doesn’t necessarily work in art.”

The next time you are in downtown Martinsburg, stop by Berkeley Art Works at 116 North Queen Street and check out the collection of Martha LeRoi ceramics on sale for decorating your home or office and one-of-a-kind gift giving. The co-op gallery is open Wednesday 11-5; Thursday 11-5; Friday 11-8; Saturday 10-5, and Sunday 12-3. Berkeley Art Works is closed Monday and Tuesday.

15% Off All Artwork at the Reception 4-6pm Tonight at the Berkeley Art Works

Rsmith Arts Events, Back Space Gallery, Berkeley Art Works, Berkeley Arts Council News
"World Turtle" by Jessica Amsley
“World Turtle” by Jessica Amsley

Helping visitors to hold on to some “Green”, the Berkeley Arts Council will honor guests at a reception on April 9 from four to six p.m. with a 15% discount on all purchases of artwork. The reception marks the sixth annual presentation of art work created by artists and artisans from West Virginia and other states on the theme of “My Art – My World”. Admission to the reception is free.

Also during the reception, BAC will present awards to several participants, and juror Doug Kinnett will offer thoughts on his experience working with other artists in a mutual critique group. The presentation is planned for 5:00 p.m.

The Art and Earth exhibit is on display from March 30 through April 30 in the Berkeley Art Works gallery, located at 116 North Queen Street in downtown Martinsburg. Regular hours are Wed./Thurs. from 11 to 5; Fri. from 11 to 8; Sat. 10 to 5; and Sun. 12 to 3.

For a list of participating artists and details on the exhibit and other Berkeley Arts Council activities, visit www.berkeleyartswv.org. Note: The discount offer is only valid between 4 and 6pm on Saturday April 9 and does not apply to classes, workshops or membership fees.

Berkeley Arts Council and Berkeley County Libraries Offer Free Saturday Art Experiences

Rsmith Arts Events, Berkeley Arts Council News, Classes, Workshops

UPDATE: April Programs Start Saturday April 2

Berkeley Arts Council and Berkeley County Libraries
Offer Free Saturday Art Experiences
What Will YOU Create?

Mindkraft BookmarkThis spring, Saturday elementary school and preschool visitors to the four libraries in Berkeley County will have opportunities to play the ukulele, construct a colorful collage, and paint with watercolor pencils. All events are free and open to the public, and take place on a rotating basis in the children’s section of each of the county libraries.

The program, called #MindKraft, is jointly sponsored by the Berkeley Arts Council and the Berkeley County public library system. On Saturdays during March, April, and May, Berkeley Arts Council artists and Berkeley County library staff will offer two parallel creative sessions: one for children now in grades 1-5; another for tots in kindergarten or younger.

“#MindKraft is about an explosion of new art experiences for the youngest citizens of Berkeley County,” said Berkeley Arts Council president and CFO, Malinda Shaver. “We’ve put together a creative program that is sure to delight and inspire each child, and we invite parents to join in the family fun.”

Planned classes are as follows:

March: #MindKraft Ukulele. String musician Ernie Bradley of Hedgesville, WV, will introduce students to the ukulele and to strumming and singing in an informal back-porch style. An intergenerational jam will take place at the end of the class, with preschoolers singing and playing kazoos, elementary school age students singing and playing ukuleles, and interested parents singing and playing their own C-instruments which they are invited to bring for the jam. The elementary school age class will be limited to 20 children; ukuleles will be provided for use during the class.

The schedule for #MindKraft Ukulele follows: Sat., March 12, 11 am-noon at Martinsburg-Berkeley Library; Sat., March 12, 1-2 pm at Hedgesville Public Library; Sat, March 19, 1-2 pm at Musselman South Berkeley Library in Inwood; and Sat., March 26, 1-2 pm at North Berkeley Public Library in Falling Waters.

April: Epic Colors and Shapes. Using Matisse as inspiration, artist Hilda Eiber of Falling Waters, WV, will help children experiment with combinations of different colors and different shapes to create something pleasing to the eye. Using this experience, students will make collages out of construction paper to take home. Next, Eiber will lead a group project where everyone cooperates to make a giant collage out of newspaper end rolls. The preschool group will make snail collages.

The schedule for Epic Colors and Shapes follows: Sat., April 2, 2-1 pm at Martinsburg-Berkeley Library; Sat., April 9, 1-2 pm at Hedgesville Public Library; Sat, April 16, 1-2 pm at Musselman South Berkeley Library in Inwood; and Sat., April 23, 1-2 pm at North Berkeley Public Library in Falling Waters.

May: Kings and Queens for a Day. At the beginning of each class, mixed media expert Judith Becker from Hedgesville, WV, will give each participant a cardboard crown and a nice piece of watercolor paper on which she has painted the outline of a head with a crown. Using watercolor pencils, students will add features to the outline. Then they will divide the face into sections and in each section draw something they would do if they were king or queen for a day. Finally students will take brushes and, with water, dissolve the pencil markings into watercolor paints. The preschool class will make paper plate dragon puppets.

The schedule for Kings and Queens for a Day follows: Sat., May 7, 1-2 pm at Martinsburg-Berkeley Library; Sat., May 14, 1-2 pm at Hedgesville Public Library; Sat, May 21, 1-2 pm at Musselman South Berkeley Library in Inwood; and Sat., May 28, 1-2 pm at North Berkeley Public Library in Falling Waters.

The Berkeley Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) non‐profit organization incorporated in West Virginia working to ensure that Berkeley County has a vibrant, vital arts environment by promoting awareness, understanding and appreciation of the literary, visual and performing arts in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The Berkeley Arts Council is on the Web at www.berkeleyartswv.org.