WHALLONSBURG — Well over 50 eclectic works of art by an equal number of providers cover virtually every wall space available in two rooms while being coupled with sculptures and pottery, at Whitcomb’s Arts.
Living Room Project is not an artist’s show per-se, nor a themed event, except for the fact it displays artwork from the donator’s home. Other facets make this showing unique.
The art is not for sale.
It may or may not be works created by the exhibitor.
It is meaningful to the contributor.
Show organizer and Whitcomb’s chairperson Laurie House explained the rationale for the show.
“We thought about what more we could do with the Community Space as it was underused. We decided to have people bring in not necessarily their best piece of art, but art they love.
“This space has a great internet and a wood stove and we hope people in the community will just come in and get to know each other.”
The Community Space is analogous to a large living room with stuffed chairs, a sofa, and a variety of lamps. However, the walls are bare, except for an occasional artist displaying their works.
House hopes to have the Community Space become a visitor information facility with an interactive computer as Route 22 is a main artery for those heading south after taking the Essex ferry.
For the most part, the two-dimensional artwork was haphazardly placed wherever there was an opening. However there are a few, possibly unintentional, themes.
One, a quintuple display, is related to war and peace. This features a newspaper headline submitted by Jay Scott that states, “WAR IS OVER, If you want it,” which eulogizes John Lennon.
There is also Liam Clifford’s black and white drawing of a gas mask wearer. Tom Duca provided a photo of “Peace on Ice”, and additionally there’s a photograph of a 125 year-old battleship spewing smoke “full steam ahead” which Mark Van Duser purchased at a garage sale.
These images are contradicted by colorful flowers needle-pointed by Julie Warren.
Perhaps the painting which instantly captures the eye of gallery goers is Dr. Herbert Savel’s brilliant, “Sunburst,” loaned by Sue and Clay Reiser, “Which has been in our house for a half century.”
Some of the works are personal such as a photo of Caroline Thompson’s portrait with her pet hen, Won Ton, taking flight in a doorway.
Other pieces are meant to be “philosophical” with Kathryn Cramer displaying Ted Cornell’s painting entitled, “Early Person and the Blizzard of Lies.”
According to Mary-Nell Bachman, her donated work, “Looking Glass”, created by Spring Carson is, “The first thing you see when you come into my house.”
The show’s opening also featured guitar playing and singing by Liam Clifford.
Its Facebook page states, “Whitcomb’s Arts is a community indoor/outdoor space for hanging out, informational meetings, sipping coffee and tea.”
The converted garage also features artisan shops in blacksmithing, pottery, furniture creation, and woodworking.
The show, open Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., runs through the end of May.
Whitcomb’s is located at 1598 NYS W Rt. 22, Essex, NY.
Phone: 518-412-2056.