Hang Time

At SUArt Galleries, Michelangelo: The Man and The Myth
looked at the artist from several angles: as an architect, a
businessman, and subject for painters and sculptors. Ultimately,
Michelangelo emerged as a complex figure, as a wildly gifted artist who
also dealt with finances and construction schedules. At the Everson Museum of Art Pollock Matters
moved beyond Jackson Pollock’s artworks; it considered the artistic
milieu from which he sprang, his popularity, and the perspective of
some of his advocates. 

The year was also big on exhibitions with a twist. Gallery Y,
in the downtown YMCA, scored with a show pivoting on collaboration
between W.D. Snodgrass, a poet, and Deloss McGraw, a painter, who
painted over pages of poetry, creating visually exciting works.
Similarly, Point of Contact Gallery went out on a limb with The Golem: Visual Visitations, in which seven artists used photos, video and other media to explore a poem by Jorge Luis Borges. 

The Delavan Art Gallery initiated the Shadow Exhibit,
combining the theme of shadows, use of different lighting sources, and
works by Arlene Abend, Hilary Gifford and Jeff Schuessler, among other
artists. The show is interesting thematically and visually, with
sculptures, fabric pieces and other media all fitting comfortably into
the overall exhibition. In Fayetteville, Limestone Art and Framing Gallery hosted 20/20 Small Works Show,
a series of small artworks including wooden sculptures, mixed-media
creations and other media. Local artists like Dan Babich and Diana
Godfrey have work in the show, and so do artists from outside Central
New York. 

Paper Politics, a traveling show devoted to political printmaking, filled the walls at The Redhouse.
The works, which show off a slew of printmaking techniques and were
created by 180 artists, discussed an array of subjects—the current Iraq
war, health care and homelessness, just to name a few. 

The aforementioned shows represent only a fraction of the group shows on display locally. Large shows took place at Auburn’s Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center, the site for Made in New York 2008, featuring works by artists mostly from upstate New York, and the Everson, the venue for The Object and Beyond, the 2008 biennial exhibit, and a well-done show. DeWitt’s Edgewood Gallery presented The Color of Light, featuring Laura Wilk’s paintings, Carmel Nicoletti’s glassworks, and bags and scarves created by Sherry Gordon. 

Light Work, during November and December, displayed two exhibitions that complemented each other beautifully. Tracing Memory,
featuring images by five artists, started with a wide-ranging
conversation about photography and memory. It also showcased Paula
Luttringer’s haunting photos reflecting her experiences as a political
prisoner kidnapped and tortured during Argentina’s “dirty war.”

The second show both honored the 2008
Light Work grant winners and also touched on the topic of memory. The
grants went to Paul Pearce, whose photos delved into objects and their
influence upon us; Kathy Morris, for images reflecting on her
confrontation with serious illness; and Nancy Keefe Rhodes for her work
on a project focusing on local photographer Marjory Wilkins. The Light
Work exhibit displayed 37 of Wilkins’ images, taken during a 40-year
period. They deal with family relationships, the 15th Ward, once the
epicenter of Syracuse’s black community, and other topics. 

There were interesting solo shows as well: a retrospective of Rodger Mack’s work at Stone Quarry Hill Art Park, Philia Changhi’s one-woman show at Onondaga Community College, the Brian Wood Art Gallery’s display of paintings by Dr. Ferdie Pacheco, and Brantley Carroll’s The Whipping Post at the Community Folk Art Center. 

Several venues opened downtown. The SUNY Oswego Metro Center,
at the Atrium, 2 Clinton Square, is currently hosting Kelly Roe’s
one-woman exhibition and a four-artist show. At 305 Montgomery St., the
Orange Line Gallery, a second-floor walk-up, showcased pieces by
Amber Blanding, Jacqueline Adamo and J. Francis Maloni. In addition,
110 Lincoln Center is now home to the Museum of Young Art, a venue with two goals: to present children’s art and to have a space in which children can make art. 

At 505 Hawley Ave., ArtRage has wrapped up its first two exhibits and is now preparing for the Jan. 17 debut of Voices of Diversity, Lida Suchy’s photos of the Syracuse Community Choir. 

In addition to new beginnings, two galleries celebrated their longevity. Eureka Crafts, in Armory Square, marked its 25th anniversary. And Community Folk Art, born in 1973, set aside its fall schedule for Founding Visionaries: Herb Williams and Jack White, honoring them by presenting their artworks.    

Community chest: The asset that is the
Community Folk Art Center was on display during this fall’s homage to
its founders, Herb Williams and Jack White. MICHAEL DAVIS PHOTO