Exploring the power of Synergy: Artists unite to create collective masterpiece
The opening reception for “Synergy,” an invitational art exhibit now on display at Mercyhurst University’s Cummings Art Gallery, takes place Thursday, Nov. 2, from 5 to 7 p.m. It is free and open to the public.
Curated by gallery director Jessica Stadtmueller, the exhibit features 43 works by five artists: Ellen Anon, Jack Anon, Evan Everhart, Barbara Yerace, and Greg Zbach. Mediums include photography, manipulated photography, digital art, beaded and lamp-worked glass jewelry, blown glass, and large-scale metal sculpture.
ABOUT THE EXHIBIT
Synergy is the interaction of elements that when combined produce a total effect greater than the sum of the individual elements. This exhibit gathers a group of artists specializing in different mediums and materials that, when housed within one space, channel a similar energy through color, space, and material. Digital art and manipulated photography are juxtaposed with glass and metal, producing a clear, vivid energy... reflective, translucent, metallic, with fields of color and light in space.
The exhibit is funded by the Rev. Sylvester Jaworski Endowment, named after the Divine Word missionary and photographer who was memorialized in a gift by the late Audrey Hirt ’49.
THE ARTISTS SPEAK
ELLEN ANON on Photography: “My images, based on nature, are sometimes realistic and sometimes abstract but always designed to elicit emotional reactions from the viewer. My goal is to go beyond the ordinary in ways that hopefully stimulate others to pause and appreciate some of the beauty and wonder of our earth in a way that balances some of the stress of everyday life.”
JACK ANON on Photography: “Whether in my own backyard, or around the world, my camera allows me to capture those moments of light and color that take the breath away and give the heart that extra skip of a beat. While nature is my favorite subject, I am always open to any subject that arouses an emotional response.”
EVAN EVERHART on Metal Sculpture: "While some creations are representational and others are abstract, the powerful emotion in the sculptures are something viewers always comment on, and what is most important to me."
BARBARA YERACE on Glass: “Glass can be blown, cast in molds, and shaped with many different techniques. I am inspired by pure color. I just love color and glass is the perfect vehicle that showcases the colors that I choose. Nature and wildlife are also great sources of my inspiration. The planets, diversity of colors, climates, creatures, and conditions provide us with places for our spirits to ponder, rest, and to dream.”
GREG ZBACH on Digital Art: “The digital camera is one of the instruments I use to capture both the ordinary and extraordinary events I perceive. My work comes from a traditional photographic construct but I also alter certain works to magnify and focus a feeling, mood, or sense of wonder. This same approach applies to my newer all-digital works but the instrument I use is not a camera but a computer and specialized software. I strive to create a mysterious atmosphere in my creations, even to the point of strangeness, in order to draw the viewer in to a challenging and evocative experience.”
VIEWING OPPORTUNITIES
The exhibit is on display now through Friday, Dec. 8, in Cummings Art Gallery, which is situated in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center on Mercyhurst’s campus. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, noon to 4 p.m. The gallery is closed on weekends and during Thanksgiving break Nov. 22-26. Reminder: Opening reception is Thursday, Nov. 2, 5 to 7 p.m.
For more information or to schedule private viewing tours, contact Jessica Stadtmueller at jstadtmueller@mercyhurst.edu or 814-824-2092.
PHOTO: The featured image for this exhibit is “Shoreline” by Greg Zbach.