Visual Interpretations of Sound and Music
Thru August 24th

 
 Photo: "Younger Days" by Laura Hohlwein -Oil on canvas, 70"X50"

Bassoonist Catherine Clark performs at the Ice House on Friday, July 18 at 7:30pm, appropriately providing live music for the opening reception of the Visual Interpretations of Sound and Music special gallery show. The show, which will hang through August 24, features nearly a dozen artists exhibiting in a range of media. Produced by the Morgan Arts Council, it is centerpiece of the group's ArtWalk which includes stops at both Mountain Laurel and River's Edge Woodworking. Refreshments are provided at the reception and throughout the walk.

The ArtWalk begins on the corner of the square with Mountain Laurel's meet-the-artist reception from 5 to 7:30pm showcasing fabric and clothes designer Barb Polin and her hand marbled garments and accessories. Rated one of the 10 best craft galleries in America, Mountain Laurel offers two floors of regional and American art crafts. The walk also makes a stop from 5 to 7:30pm at Riverıs Edge, showcase for owner Jason Arnoldıs woodwork, and located next door to the Ice House.

Multi-media artist and designer, Jennie McBee curated the unique Sound and Music gallery show with an eye towards bringing cutting edge work to Berkeley Springs. "I wanted to inspire free thinking and propel art forward in the future with this exhibit," said McBee.

Work in the show is available for sale including prints of the famous Rolling Stones etching, "Tell the Truth and Shame the Devil" by legendary Manhattan artist Eric Shenker. Laura Holhwein is another nationally prominent artist whose work is hanging in the show. Her enormous layered oil paintings are abstract and active like the intense music that inspired them.

Virginia Joyce from Philadelphia displays Energy Art Meditations, vibrant paintings with intense patterns. "I transform the energy I sense in my environment into color, form and music," said Joyce. Also linking energy and color with abstract painting is Joyce Kolb of Arnold, Maryland who aims at capturing healing forces.

Two video installations make this exhibit different from any hung in the MAC Gallery since the Five Rings Video Festival in 1998. One is created by digital artist Heath Hanlin, an associate professor of Art Media Studies at Syracuse University; the other from video artist Michael Betancourt, a teacher of film theory at the University of Miami.

Local artists exhibiting their visual interpretations of sound and music, and music related art include: Lynn Lavin-sculptor, Jonathan Heath- painter, Jan Heath -printmaker, Jann Richardson- painted furniture maker/photographer, Jane Frenke - quilter, Ann Darling - quilter, Ellen Gould- mosaic artist and Greg McGrath- painter. Curator Jennie McBee collaborates with her musician sister, interpreting several of Joanıs original classical compositions.

Funding for the special exhibit is provided by the West Virginia Commission on the Arts and hotel/motel taxes from Morgan County and the town of Bath. For more information on upcoming gallery shows and events, call 304-258-2300 or check online at www.macicehouse.org.