4/28/08

SEVEN SIGNATURES: PASSIONS IN PAINTING - Lawrence Street Gallery - Fri May 2nd 6-9pm




SEVEN SIGNATURES: PASSIONS IN PAINTING
Show Dates : April 30 - May 31
Opening Reception (public invited)
Friday May 2nd 2008
6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
22620 Woodward
Ferndale
248-544-0394

Lawrence Street Gallery will host “Seven Signatures: Passions in Painting, a group exhibition from April 30 – May 1 with an artistsʼ reception on Friday, May 2 from 6:00 - 9:00 pm.
Painting can be a lonely endeavor, but these seven women artists have a long history together painting, selling, exhibiting, and sharing weekly studio time at the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Cener to offer stimulating critiques, inspiration and encouragement to each other.
They are all members of the Birmingham Society of WomenPainters (a group that begin in 1944 and was instrumental in establishingthe BBAC).
The artists are:
Elizabeth Sylvester and Emily Patz of Beverly Hills, Janet Clarke of Birmingham
Lillian Moran and Marica Tournay of Troy
Margaret Kelleher of Bloomfield Hills
Fran Nicolson of Bingham Farms

Fran Nicolson writes,”I have been painting for over 40 years, in oils, watercolors and pastels. My whole life has been in the arts. When my children were young it was hard to find time to paint so I joined the BBAC and it has been my second home.”
She has been in numerous juried exhibitions as well as one-person shows.

Janet Clarke writes “I paint subjects from nature. Floral bouquets are always painted from fresh flowers in my studio or outdoors. Landscapes are painted on location and from my current sketch book. Her acrylics and watercolors are in many private collections and she has exhibited in numerous juried and one-person exhibitions throughout her career.

Elizabeth Sylvester writes, “I have painted for over 45 years from newlywed apartment to full house to empty nest. Art has been my lifeline throughout life's richest joys and deepest losses. My work has developed from realism to impressionism and on to abstract experimentation.” Elizabeth has been involved with the BBAC for many years and is the current President of the Birmingham Society of Women Painters.

Emily Patz writes: “My recent work includes using acrylic paint on wood and canvas. Collage materials, such as, fabric, paper, sand, crushed eggshells, gel medium, etc. are incorporated throughout the painting using color to unify abstract shapes. Colors used are influenced by my trips to the Southwest.”
Lillian Moran's paintings use areas of color to establish composition. She works in acrylic, sometimes combining it with watercolor and collage.

Marcia Tournay writes, “My paintings begin with a chosen color shape. The next color and shape balance the first. I continue painting until the entire canvas is filled, using the elements of abstract art: intensity, value, and proportion. The next layer will be collage using such items as rice paper, sand, printing techniques,cloth, tissue paper, screen etc. She likes her viewer to be able to read her work; where she began and what layers were successively added.

Margaret Kelleher has Bachelor of Design from U of M and Master of Art from Wayne State University. She has been a member of the BSWP since 1956. She works in watercolor and acrylic. Last year at the BSWP annual exhibit at the BBAC, Margaret was awarded the Best of Show for her painting. Her art reflects her travels to Italy, France, and northwest Canada. She taught previously art to children in Ohio as well as the BBAC.