Brenda Decker, of Stockholm, NJ, is a multitalented painter and printmaker, skilled in both abstract and realistic approaches. Known in particular for her vividly textured, abstract gelatin print monotypes, the new paintings she produced for this show explore the capabilities of acrylic to mimic the textural qualities of gelatin prints. Also included in the exhibit will be recent gelatin monotypes. Decker has been focusing on her artwork professionally since 2001, mostly self-taught but attributes her printmaking knowledge to artist, Lisa Zukowski and her painting to Jonathan Talbot. Her works have been exhibited locally at the Sussex County Arts & Heritage Council Gallery and Gallery by the Green in Newton, Art at the Mill of Lafayette, and Hilltop Country Day School in Sparta. She has also had the honor of acceptance in several Skylands Juried Art Shows at SCA&HC, including this year’s, which opens on the same evening.
For several years TraillWorks has supported ovarian cancer awareness through various events after her mom’s best friend passed away several years ago from the disease. This year Brenda's show falls during September, National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Turn the Towns Teal®, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded by Gail MacNeil in 2007 to raise awareness by tying teal ribbons around towns. It has now grown into a national campaign and Jennie and several volunteers will be "tealing" Newton on September 1st at 9am.
Throughout the day, TraillWorks will donate 5% of all sales to Turn the Towns Teal®, Inc. Customers then have the option of taking a 5% discount or having TraillWorks donate an additional 5% of their purchase to the organization. Symptom cards and information about ovarian cancer will be available at the gallery.
TraillWorks would like to thank Krave Cafe and Caterers for their generous donation of hors d' oeuvres as well as and Frederick Wildman and Sons, Ltd. for their donation of wines. A special thank you to Jane MacNeil of Turn the Towns Teal®, Inc. for her support of this benefit and ongoing fight to save women's lives.
Born in Omaha, Nebraska, artist David Ohlerking now resides in both Philadelphia, PA and Chester, NJ while making many other small towns in the tri-state area his home. The talented painter has been studying with artist, Alex Kanevsky and follows the "rules" of abstract-expressionist painter, Richard Diebenkorn. As part of his training with Kanevsky, Ohlerking has been traveling to Newton every Thursday to paint free 15 minute portraits in front of Cheddar Alley, thanks to business owners Dennis and Kristi Becker. He sets up his easel and paints willing subjects all day long in exchange for credit from Kanevsky. This roving artist is making a lot of headlines. When he's not painting the people of Sussex County, he composes loose, vibrant paintings of Spring Street which he is exhibiting at TraillWorks. Visit his website for more information on David and his work.
Jewelery Artists:
Bernadette Blaney, owner and designer of Glassical, has been working and growing with glass for over ten years. Her work fuses Dichroic glass into exquisite pendants, brooches, earrings, barrettes and cufflinks. If you visited 214 prior to TraillWorks, you may know of Bernadette's work. She is the former owner of Radiant Essentials which used to occupy my location. She's known around Newton as "The Glass Lady".
Liesl Carlsonof Mass. took her first jewelry class in 2005 and joined the Professional Craft Studies Program at the Worcester Center for Crafts. Liesl moved to Peters Valley Craft Center in Layton NJ, where she took jewelry workshops and worked for Judy Neugebauer. Liesl has been in many exhibitions including Craftforms and the New Jersey Arts Annual: Craft. She has appeared in many publications, most notably 30 Minute Earrings from Lark Books available now at Amazon.com. Her jewelry, influenced by the snow-covered New England landscape, focuses on the play of texture and reflection on the silver. You can follow Liesl's work on her blog, L Carlson Jewelry.
Martha Traill Schaeffer otherwise known as "mom" to me, graduated from the University of Toledo with a degree in art education with a focus in metalsmithing. After a thirty-year hiatus, the artist is making jewelry again, with her debut at TraillWorks. While she is still experimenting with techniques and materials her interest lies in textured spheres, whether bowls, rings, or organic drops of silver, that accentuate natural stones and beads.
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS / EXHIBITIONS:
TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY - October 2nd - November 27th | New Works by Martha C. Hall & Jennie Traill Schaeffer
Opening Saturday, October 9th, 5 - 8pm
DAVID OHLERKING PAINTS NEWTON - December 4th - TBD
Opening Saturday, December 11th, 5 - 8pm
WORKSHOPS
No Sew Fiber Art with Martha C. Hall - Sunday, October 24th, 10 - 3pm
Workshop participants will make one to two pieces of small fiber art, one of which will be a postcard suitable for mailing. We will experiment with surface design techniques including fused fabric and papers, stamping, writing with fabric ink pens, freezer paper resists and stencils. Design concepts and tips for working on a small ‘canvas’ will also be addressed.
Workshop Fee: $110 by 9/30, $135 after (Included in the workshop price is a basic kit for making a postcard, plus an assortment of supplies made available to try out and share among the group. Additional basic kits, offered in two sizes, can be purchased if you want to make more than one piece of art. An additional supply list will be provided at time of registration.
EVENTS EARLIER THIS YEAR:
TRAILLWORKS GRAND REOPENING 5th ANNIVERSARY PARTY - April 25th
View the entire album from the big bash on Facebook.
Workshop participants will make one to two pieces of small fiber art, one of which will be a postcard suitable for mailing. We will experiment with surface design techniques including fused fabric and papers, stamping, writing with fabric ink pens, freezer paper resists and stencils. Design concepts and tips for working on a small ‘canvas’ will also be addressed.
