Have you heard the growing buzz about a truly exciting, grass-roots Arts movement centered along Angola’s downtown West Maumee? First the key journalistic highlights: “Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?”
Who? This incredible development is about regional artists, downtown Angola landlords and businesses, downtown patrons, and the many, many more people from beyond who will see the artists’ exhibits throughout August and beyond.
What? New artworks of all sort have been miraculously appearing in vacant storefront windows [Phantom Galleries] and in occupied, operating business windows (80+ works now). Some of the art has traditional appeal, while other exhibits are quite unusual and/or have major “pizzazz.” Most of the windows have nighttime lighting for after-hour viewing.
When? It’s going on right now, growing day-by-day, and exhibits can be seen at any hour. This first phase will continue through August and climax at the August 27 “Easels on West Maumee” finale with additional art and music on the street.
Where? All along Angola’s West Maumee Street. Noted on August 2:
· King Oberlin and Chris VanGompel share the Phantom Gallery at 214 West Maumee [once Bob’s Pizza Place sometime in the nearly-unremembered past]. Their art has major PIZZAZZ!
· Holly Dowidat’s great, artful ceramic dogs “animate” Selman’s 212 West Maumee Phantom Gallery and the Colonial Styling Salon window at 221 West Maumee. Everyone I’ve seen looking says “Wow!”
· Maria Davis’ three “computer-angst” and “reflections” works in the Old Nipsco Phantom Gallery have a decidedly contemporary edge guaranteed to engage your interest.
· Shirley Brauker’s fantastic “Moon Bear” display in the 206 West Maumee Phantom Gallery next to Sticks&Stones: this takes your breath away, no exaggeration. You cannot see the many and various works there without feeling stunned. Furthermore, know that each piece is borne of deep spiritual and poetic inspiration rooted in her native Ottawa heritage.
· Now look to the old site of the three-story Hendry Hotel used by Al Capone so long ago, burned down some forty years ago, replaced by a Thomas Home Center, followed by yet other businesses vanished and now forgotten … standing there in the 200 block of West Maumee in the night-time window’s luminance is … a Phantom Gallery, incarnating sixteen works by Angola Regional Artists’ Guild participants! Surely a miracle?
An August 10 update finds six more Hendry Hotel Phantom Gallery easels, and twenty-five other new works in yet six additional West Maumee locations, so watch the street, there will surely be even more by now!
Why? Because Artists are everywhere and Art is for everyone! Anyone who can find someone with an empty window and someone else with art to show can [and should!] have a Phantom Gallery. This is an idea that all of Steuben County can have ownership in, and its fruition might indeed distinguish our county as profoundly unique and creative, to the benefit of all.
How? I want to emphasize I have no executive or operational role in these unfolding events. I merely passed the Phantom Gallery idea on to various people until BINGO: Diana Killian of the Three Sisters specialty shop at 223 West Maumee ENGAGED! Diana is the quintessential ball of fire who is making it all happen up and down West Maumee, while Judy Houk of the Artists’ Guild lined up the exhibitors for the Hendry Hotel Phantom Gallery.
How? I want to emphasize I have no executive or operational role in these unfolding events. I merely passed the Phantom Gallery idea on to various people until BINGO: Diana Killian of the Three Sisters specialty shop at 223 West Maumee ENGAGED! Diana is the quintessential ball of fire who is making it all happen up and down West Maumee, while Judy Houk of the Artists’ Guild lined up the exhibitors for the Hendry Hotel Phantom Gallery.
And what beyond August? Time will tell … that is time’s way. My personal wish is that diverse interests will coalesce to operate diverse Phantom Galleries with diverse perspectives, ultimately throughout all of Steuben County, wherever yawns a vacant window of any kind: downtown, uptown, strip mall, rural, residential … all! Again, artists are everywhere and Art is for everyone: children, teens, adults, the aged … all! Painters, photographers, potters, sculptors, crafters … all! Folk, traditional, contemporary, modern, abstract, edgy, way-far-out … all! ALL!! ALL!!!
Postscript:
Since undertaking to write the Art Beat in May, I have ended each post with "Until the next post, know that the Angola area lakes region is an Art Region, and its towns are Art Towns! Today’s miraculous downtown Angola transformation leaves no doubt: Angola is an Art Town indeed.
So on behalf of all the regional artists who choose to exhibit works publicly here in Angola, on behalf of all the Angola businessmen and women whose storefronts serve as public galleries, and on behalf of all the everyday people who have and who will continue to come downtown to see this art, I am asking that Mayor Hickman issue a Mayoral Proclamation to this effect: ANGOLA IS AN ART TOWN!
So on behalf of all the regional artists who choose to exhibit works publicly here in Angola, on behalf of all the Angola businessmen and women whose storefronts serve as public galleries, and on behalf of all the everyday people who have and who will continue to come downtown to see this art, I am asking that Mayor Hickman issue a Mayoral Proclamation to this effect: ANGOLA IS AN ART TOWN!
August 15 update: Done! The Mayor has proclaimed such, it is official! Congratulations to all who have participated in any way, including all the spectators ... And thanks to Mayor Hickman. Our next steps must build on this proclamation ...
Until the next post, know that the Angola area lakes region is an Art Region, and its towns are Art Towns!
Stephen Rowe currently serves as the Angola Regional Artists’ Guild publicity chairman and writes two additional blogs:
Stephen welcomes correspondence of all sort per StephenRowe.OriGraphics@yahoo.com
No comments:
Post a Comment