Big thank you to Jay Spivey at Fete Greenville online magazine for the July 2012 cover feature! We were honored to be chosen. Additionally, Fete columnist and our very good friend Teresa Roche wrote about us in her page 33 feature "Travel Inspired". Check out the magazine online at http://emag.fetegreenville.com/.
Here is lovely Teresa's article:
"Summer-time
greetings friends and collectors! When
artists travel, my hear pitter-patters as I anticipate the all-new and
completely inspired collections of works that follow. Travel has inspired
artists’ creations for centuries, from stunning vistas and landscapes of 19th
century Realist painters to the spectacular photographs of Walker-Evans. Several of Greenville’s finest are spending
quality time on the road this summer as well
Greenville’s
very own JJ Ohlinger found himself completely and totally inspired on a trip
with his wife last year and that trip has resulted in a very exciting project and
a brand new body of work. For JJ, the
New York subway system “hosts one of the most elegant dance performances you
will ever see, and it’s free to anyone who , takes the time to watch.” In JJ’s eye, the hundreds of people who load
and unload, moving quickly in both directions is like watching an “amazing
ballet.” Because he loves introducing
contrasts, with respect to light and dark, in painting, he enjoys the challenge
and reward immensely. Just as in life experiences, JJ explains, “contrasts of life in the City
abound in the subway. At one point you
can be wedged between hundreds of people on the platform and be completely
alone while in the next moment you can be the only individual in sight, yet you
are completely connected with all that is New York City.” But, to JJ the inspiration came when the
trains departed and the halls and walkways were calm. His F Train project features subway
stations in a mode of silence and calm and features amazing tile work, graffiti
and layers of grime earned over years of serving the city. New York is one of my favorite cities on
earth – I am thankful to JJ for reminding me of the subway ballet when NY City
seems so far away.
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| "Church and 18th" watercolor by JJ Ohlinger |
Signe
and Genna Grushovenko, Greenville’s newest art couple is hitting the road this
month as well. The husband and wife painting duo’s next art
tour takes them to DesMoines, Denver and Madison (WI)” When Genna and Signe
travel, they often take a few detours between shows for rest, refueling and inspiration
to boot! Signe comments, “before we make
it back home again. Genna will take time in between the first two shows
to camp and fish in Rocky Mountain National Park with fellow artists.
That’s become one of our favorite parts of the festival lifestyle...connecting
strongly with our ‘tribe’ and taking mini vacations all over the place.”
Last year they spent time in the Arkansas Mountains and on the Texas coast,
neither of which they would ever have done if they hadn’t been cooling their heels
waiting for the next festival. Capturing
blissful moments with family and friends in oil paintings is at the heart of
the Grushovenko’s work. Traveling and
visiting with art friends at summer art festivals is sure to kick start all new
collections – can’t wait to see the results!"
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| "Dapper Dans", oil on linen, 36" x 48" |
Read more on Teresa's blog at http://www.artandlightgallery.blogspot.com. Teresa is a visual artist, a writer, a gallerist, an interior designer, and as far as I'm concerned, the glue that holds the Greenville art scene together! Her gallery, Art & Light, is moving this month from the Flat Iron Studios building in the Farthest West End to a fantastic little spot right off Augusta Street. Read all about it and see the 'before' pics of her new space on her blog.
