Commentary on Blue and Gold By Warren Prindle

A year passes swiftly between each Blue & Gold @ The White exhibition. The show features only a small portion of all the works created by Housatonic Valley Regional High School students, and in that sense, represents a snapshot of what happens in the art rooms during the past year.

The primary focus rightly belongs to the students, for their impressive works. However, in the year leading up to the opening reception, much behind-the-scenes-work occurs.   Credit and recognition needs to be given to those who toil to make The Blue & Gold @ The White a reality. These include:

• Tino Galluzzo, who steadfastly promotes the show, while receiving no financial remuneration. In fact, this show requires a substantial monetary commitment by Tino and The White Gallery. The White curates the entire show as well as provides the ‘White Gallery Award”.

• The Gallery Arts Guild has opened their doors and will feature allow more of the students work to be shown. Thanks go to John Brett for his sponsorship of one of the Blue & Gold awards.

• John Borden, Sotheby’s International Realty. John Borden has been a generous contributor for The Blue & Gold since day one. He sponsors some of the marketing as well as awards.  On longstanding loyalty alone, John deserves special thanks.

• Frames on Wheels. This premier framing gallery goes to great efforts to mat and present the work. They labor within the deadline of the show with grace and cheerfulness.

• Ed Martinez and Scott Bricher. These two supremely talented artists who have donated their time and expertise to serve as this years judges of awards. Both Ed and Scott have impressive accomplishments in fine art and illustration, and are well suited to the daunting task of judging the show.

Deano’s Pizza contributes the great pizza and treats that make the opening reception a tasty one.

Peter Beck’s Village Store contributes greatly to the awards for the

show.

Thornhill Florist adds to the receptions’ festive air by contributing their artful creations.

• Gina DiGiacomo, Hillary Henrici and Erica Kavanagh, student artists who created the imagery for this year’s postcards and posters.

• The Sharon Womens Club has emerged as a loyal supporter of the arts in the Northwest Corner. At the Blue & Gold opening reception they will conduct a drawing for the Grand Prize of a hand-painted children’s chair.  The Womens Club raffle benefits their Arts Award Fund.

This year’s reception features a special musical treat: Not Quite Jenson. This multi-talented group, featuring singer Ana Horowitz, has emerged as a local favorite. Known as True Jenson in previous incarnations, this group has won ‘Judges Top Pick’ and ‘People’s Choice’ Awards at the two past Battle of the Bands contests. Their sounds range from jazz, blues, rock and reggae.

The Blue & Gold @ The White represents a year in the making. Please spend Friday night with us.

On Painting and Process By: Jane Filer

Jane Filer “Echo Valley” 25″x25″ Acrylic on Canvas

My paintings are about my reaction to living on the Earth and interacting with animals and nature.  There is often something surreal and other dimensional.  I feel that there are various ways of perceiving reality.  In a way we create our own existence.  We give meaning to color and react to stimulation on many levels. 

Painting and drawing have always been a part of my own personal expression.  It is a subtle mode of transferring sentiment.  It’s language is rich with dialects.  The use of story to carry and capture human interest has been a favorite formality of mine. 

My first approach to the canvas is to “free fall” into abstract realms where anything is possible.  This is a place where I don’t know anything by name yet feel in other ways a connection.  Something occurs in the paint and charcoal that will trigger my curiosity.  My favorite subjects will have mysterious characteristics.  Something familiar and something mysterious side by side create shifts in perception.  Shifts in perception create shifts in meaning.  The experiencing of these shifts is exciting. 

And so I paint and think and experience playful realities. These depictions feel much more real to me because they are feeling and seeing at the same time.   Through out the making of a painting I work with staying in certain streams of consciousness.  The conscious emotion is important to maintain through out the work. It will dictate color and the handling of the paint.  There are times of flow and there are the times I find myself lost.  Being lost could be a good thing in that it guides me into unfamiliar territory and hence discovering something new.  My job is to stay open and sensitive to new developments as they arise.  This is important in giving the work a life of it’s own.

To see Jane’s pieces in person please visit us  in person at:

344 Main Street

Lakeville, CT, 06039

or online at:

thewhitegalleryart.com