UUSRQ Lexow Wing Gallery
Vibrant Florals
by Jill Krasner
Opening Reception 11:30 AM Sunday, September 15th
On Exhibit through October 17th
Artist Jill Krasner’s most exciting collection of water-media florals – brilliant colors and unique still life arrangements make this show a must see! These beautiful paintings are available as originals, or as museum quality Giclees on archival watercolor paper or canvas and in a variety of popular sizes.
Jill Krasner is a well-known local artist. Learn more about her work on her website, the Jill Krasner Gallery.
Jill Krasner is a well-known local artist. Learn more about her work on her website, the Jill Krasner Gallery.
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All purchases are made between the artist and the buyer. The church office is not involved at all. Simply get in touch with the artist using the contact information shown along with their artwork. The artists then donate a percentage of every sale back to our UU community.
Gallery Hours:
Sunday 10 AM to 1 PM
Tuesday through Friday 10 AM to 1 PM
Gallery is free to all
Gallery Hours:
Sunday 10 AM to 1 PM
Tuesday through Friday 10 AM to 1 PM
Gallery is free to all
Arts Council Members Exhibit
On Exhibit through September 12th
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An exhibit of art works by members of the UUSRQ Arts Council is now open for viewing in the Lexow Wing Gallery. Please stop in to learn about our members and their talents, and see the variety of mediums and styles they use in creating and communicating through their art.
The exhibit will be up through September 12th. Don’t miss it!
The exhibit will be up through September 12th. Don’t miss it!
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Learn More About the
UUSRQ Arts Council
Chair, Linda Cordisco - [email protected]
Our church and its members have a rich history of support and involvement in the arts. The mission of the Arts Council is to provide Members and Friends of the Church avenues for artistic expression and appreciation. The Lexow Wing of the Church was designed as a gallery to help fulfill this mission. We are proud of the artistic endeavors of our members and others in the community who exhibit their work in the Gallery.
Membership in the UUCS Arts Council is open to all Church Members and Friends with an interest in the arts and a desire to share that interest with others. We meet the first Saturday of every month at 1:00 pm in the Lexow Gallery. Come share cultural information, help research artists, set up and promote exhibits, help preserve the aesthetic heritage of the Church, and have some fun in the process.
Above all, enjoy the wonderful art exhibits in the Lexow Wing Gallery brought to us through the efforts of the Arts Council!
Current Arts Council members include: Joan Boyce, Mary Brand, Carol Buck, Laura Campbell, Sally Coler, Kathy Cook, Gail Coppock, Linda Cordisco (Chair), Judy Croce, Bet Cummings, Cathy Cyrus, Susan Davy, Donald Diddams, Marvin Fields, Laura Glady, Peg Green, Judi Hennard, Marjorie Henry, Monica Jardot, Sue Kennedy, Pamela LaRocque, Arlene Leven, Kathleen Konicek-Moran, Holly Wynne O'Brien, Rick Randall, Enid Romanek, Cyndy Rosso, Rhoda Taylor, Penny Soldatos, and Betsy Wilford. See some of us in the picture below.
Membership in the UUCS Arts Council is open to all Church Members and Friends with an interest in the arts and a desire to share that interest with others. We meet the first Saturday of every month at 1:00 pm in the Lexow Gallery. Come share cultural information, help research artists, set up and promote exhibits, help preserve the aesthetic heritage of the Church, and have some fun in the process.
Above all, enjoy the wonderful art exhibits in the Lexow Wing Gallery brought to us through the efforts of the Arts Council!
Current Arts Council members include: Joan Boyce, Mary Brand, Carol Buck, Laura Campbell, Sally Coler, Kathy Cook, Gail Coppock, Linda Cordisco (Chair), Judy Croce, Bet Cummings, Cathy Cyrus, Susan Davy, Donald Diddams, Marvin Fields, Laura Glady, Peg Green, Judi Hennard, Marjorie Henry, Monica Jardot, Sue Kennedy, Pamela LaRocque, Arlene Leven, Kathleen Konicek-Moran, Holly Wynne O'Brien, Rick Randall, Enid Romanek, Cyndy Rosso, Rhoda Taylor, Penny Soldatos, and Betsy Wilford. See some of us in the picture below.
Click on the artwork below to view members' online displays of art:
Carol Buck
Catherine Cyrus
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Donald Diddams
Laura Campbell
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Peg Green
Kathleen Konicek-Moran
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Bet Cummings
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Recent Exhibits
"ART with PRIDE"
The UUSRQ Arts Council is proud to present this exhibition of works by our local LGBTQ+ community. Please join us in celebrating and embracing these artists and their work. The exhibit will be up through August 1st.
“It’s Primary” by Liz Cole
On Exhibit through June 13th
Fall Forest
"It's Primary" is a vibrant exploration of the elemental power of color in art. Liz Cole has created a collection of paintings that invites viewers to experience the energy and intensity of red, yellow and blue, as well as the rich nuances created when these colors are combined. The result is a body of narrative works done in her signature style of acrylic and handmade collage.
Liz Cole
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Liz Cole is a storyteller with a paintbrush, who reaches back into memory moments and brings them into her paintings. Known for her intense colors and handmade collage, she brings joy and energy to the whimsical narratives she paints. Her paintings have layers of color and patterns of markings that invite the viewer into an imaginative world of images. |
She often refers to her paintings as “memory shards.” As we recall places to which we have traveled or experiences we have had, they never come back to us like a clear photo but rather a glimpse or flash of something or somewhere that is brought back to mind. These memories often become better with time and putting them into a visual context eliminates all the detail while celebrating them in a whole new way.
“I have always had a passion for color and construction since my early years of art making. Throughout my training as a painting major in college, I consistently found myself developing layered surfaces of color held together through line work and rich, subtle patterns. You will never find empty spaces in my canvases. It’s as if I need to give every inch of my painting a definitive response and a nod to its presence in my artwork”. (Read more about her here.)
“I have always had a passion for color and construction since my early years of art making. Throughout my training as a painting major in college, I consistently found myself developing layered surfaces of color held together through line work and rich, subtle patterns. You will never find empty spaces in my canvases. It’s as if I need to give every inch of my painting a definitive response and a nod to its presence in my artwork”. (Read more about her here.)
On Exhibit through May 16th
UUSRQ Members Art Exhibit
Please stop in the Lexow Gallery to see how some of your fellow congregation members see our world, what inspires them, and what they have shared with us. We hope the diversity of their work inspires you!
The Arts Council thanks each of the participating artists for their contribution. The exhibit will be up through May 16th.
The Arts Council thanks each of the participating artists for their contribution. The exhibit will be up through May 16th.
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"Portrait Ukraine" by Allan Mestel
On Exhibit through April 18th
About the Exhibit
Embarking on three poignant journeys to Ukraine since the full-scale invasion in February 2022, photographer Allan Mestel presents a collection of images capturing the stark realities witnessed.
The Portrait Ukraine project is a testament to Mestel’s dedication to documenting history and revealing the truth about the war’s impact on Ukraine and its people. This exhibition features a comprehensive visual narrative, revealing the anguish, courage, and resilience of individuals facing heart-wrenching losses endured by countless Ukrainians. Each image in this collection is a piece of the larger tapestry, collectively weaving an authentic picture of the human experience amidst war.
The significance of the Portrait Ukraine exhibition lies in its commitment to distilling the complexities of war into individual visual stories. Through these evocative portraits, Mestel aims to forge a profound connection between the viewer and the brutal reality of the war, inviting reflection on the shared humanity that transcends borders.
As you embark on this visual journey, understand that it is ongoing. Allan Mestel is not merely presenting a snapshot in time but rather an evolving chronicle. The Portrait Ukraine project continues with another planned trip to Ukraine in the first half of 2024, ensuring that the world remains informed and connected to the ongoing struggles and triumphs of the Ukrainian people.
Follow this link to read more about the Portrait Ukraine project.
The Portrait Ukraine project is a testament to Mestel’s dedication to documenting history and revealing the truth about the war’s impact on Ukraine and its people. This exhibition features a comprehensive visual narrative, revealing the anguish, courage, and resilience of individuals facing heart-wrenching losses endured by countless Ukrainians. Each image in this collection is a piece of the larger tapestry, collectively weaving an authentic picture of the human experience amidst war.
The significance of the Portrait Ukraine exhibition lies in its commitment to distilling the complexities of war into individual visual stories. Through these evocative portraits, Mestel aims to forge a profound connection between the viewer and the brutal reality of the war, inviting reflection on the shared humanity that transcends borders.
As you embark on this visual journey, understand that it is ongoing. Allan Mestel is not merely presenting a snapshot in time but rather an evolving chronicle. The Portrait Ukraine project continues with another planned trip to Ukraine in the first half of 2024, ensuring that the world remains informed and connected to the ongoing struggles and triumphs of the Ukrainian people.
Follow this link to read more about the Portrait Ukraine project.
About Allan Mestel
Allan Mestel is a photojournalist, photographer and filmmaker based in Southwest Florida. Originally from Canada, Allan spent many years working in the advertising industry in Toronto, directing national and international TV commercials for most of the major worldwide advertising agencies. He received many awards, including the Television Bureau of Canada’s ‘Gold Bessie’ awarded annually for the best TV commercial in Canada. Moving to Florida in 2014, Allan opened a commercial photography studio and began working as a photojournalist and documentary photographer. His work has been exhibited across the US, Europe, and the United Kingdom. He has dedicated thousands of hours to shooting for human rights and social justice organizations, as well as non-profit organizations. His work photographing migrants at the US-Mexico border and refugees in Ukraine has been published in major newspapers and featured on CNN, NBC, PBS, FRONTLINE and many other local and national media outlets. His work has been recognized with numerous awards in portrait and photojournalism categories. Visit allanmestel.com to learn more about his background and work.
On Exhibit through March 15th
I photograph what I come across in my walking-around, everyday life. Using my intuition–and because I have my camera with me at all times–serendipity sometimes rewards me.
I gravitate to quiet places. I find weirdness, power and humor in our human-made artifacts–signs and symbols meant to boss us around, things in the street as beautiful as renaissance drapery, mysterious marks left by nature and people.
The scenery I happen upon can be more interesting to me than any set-up or contrivance I’ve tried. Like they say, “fact is stranger than fiction.” Sometimes I can ascribe meaning to a photograph later, sometimes it’s just a meditation.
–Laura Campbell, 2/4/2024
Click here to see more of Laura's work.
I gravitate to quiet places. I find weirdness, power and humor in our human-made artifacts–signs and symbols meant to boss us around, things in the street as beautiful as renaissance drapery, mysterious marks left by nature and people.
The scenery I happen upon can be more interesting to me than any set-up or contrivance I’ve tried. Like they say, “fact is stranger than fiction.” Sometimes I can ascribe meaning to a photograph later, sometimes it’s just a meditation.
–Laura Campbell, 2/4/2024
Click here to see more of Laura's work.
“Taking Shape” – Ceramics by Betty Gerich
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Betty Gerich is a local artist well known for her tender paintings and drawings of people, and especially her ceramic sculptures.
Betty writes, “What makes one person different from anybody else? For me, it is written all over their face…The human figure is always present in my sculpture, even when the work appears very abstract in form. When I create works out of clay, I’m interested in drawing the viewer around the piece in a swirl of implied motion. In the most recent work, several faces have begun to appear, each with a distinct personality.” “Textured surfaces make the viewer want to touch these sculptures. After firing in an electric kiln, the work is finished with an acrylic patina which highlights surface textures and enhances the form adding color to the completed piece.” See more of Betty's work here. |
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“My View” – by Enid Romanek
On Exhibit through February 15th
"At 86 I decided to hang a show in my UU home, depicting the many ways I have expressed my view of my inner world and the world I’ve seen around me." -- Enid Romanek
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"After graduating with a BFA in illustration and a minor in creative writing, I’ve been published as an author/illustrator of books and poetry for children, drawn and painted every place I’ve come in contact with, memorialized people and their pets, expressed fantasies on paper, been a street vendor in DC with my art, participated in art fairs, had 2 galleries of my own, an outdoor kiosk, employees, and, lately, been carried away by photography."
"And now I’m very happy to share this small retrospective of my big life as an artist, with you. Thanks so much for the opportunity." -- Enid Romanek
"And now I’m very happy to share this small retrospective of my big life as an artist, with you. Thanks so much for the opportunity." -- Enid Romanek
“Symphony of the Sea”
Paintings by Carol Buck
and
Beadwork and other wearable art by Ruth Danielle
On Exhibit through January 18th
Carol Buck
With these seascapes, it is my hope that the viewer experiences a personal memory of a color, sound, or smell of being on the beach. Perhaps a particular color or scene will reach out to the viewer and bring that moment of peace and introspection back to the present. My oil paintings express my appreciation for nature in all her diversity. My work tends to lean toward the abstract expression of the vast palette of colors offered by the sun, moon, sky and sea. I hear the roar of the waves slapping the beach as I paint. I paint because it is my belief that painting offers what words cannot. -- Carol Buck
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Ruth Danielle
In Chicago, Ruth’s artistry was expressed musically. In San Diego, Ruth was primarily a writer and editor. In Sarasota, Ruth’s artistic activities have been even more varied. She designs jewelry with glass beads and precious stones, and also takes forays into fabric, with award-winning costume designs, and photography, including a catalog of travel presentations.
For this exhibition, Ruth displays her art in several media – bead stringing and weaving. beaded flower creations, fabric jewelry and wire wrapping. Ruth especially delights in designing uniquely personal pieces with and for the wearer.
For this exhibition, Ruth displays her art in several media – bead stringing and weaving. beaded flower creations, fabric jewelry and wire wrapping. Ruth especially delights in designing uniquely personal pieces with and for the wearer.
“Things I Have Seen, Remembered”
Paintings by George Babich
and
“Wheel Life"
Ceramics by Joan Libby Hawk
On exhibit through December 14th
George Babich
“Placing a thought or a memory on a piece of paper that evokes a response from a viewer is amazing. How can paint and paper awaken feelings and emotions in others? Showing my work with this in mind is the show’s purpose.”
“I never planned on becoming a watercolor artist, but as a child I would constantly draw and color on every piece of blank paper I could find. I now appreciate the versatility and difficulty of the watercolor medium... Using soft washes and variation in bold colors and different brushstrokes helps me to convey a mood that feels right to me. The movement of paint and water on the paper create beautiful washes that almost seem real. Not a photograph but an emotional expression of the work.”
“Edgar Degas said, ‘Art is not what you see but what you make others see.’ When someone stops to look at my painting, I often wonder what it was that made them stop to look. When I am able to create a mood or an emotion in the viewer, I feel I have accomplished my goal. And when someone stops and smiles at my painting it is the best compliment.”
“I never planned on becoming a watercolor artist, but as a child I would constantly draw and color on every piece of blank paper I could find. I now appreciate the versatility and difficulty of the watercolor medium... Using soft washes and variation in bold colors and different brushstrokes helps me to convey a mood that feels right to me. The movement of paint and water on the paper create beautiful washes that almost seem real. Not a photograph but an emotional expression of the work.”
“Edgar Degas said, ‘Art is not what you see but what you make others see.’ When someone stops to look at my painting, I often wonder what it was that made them stop to look. When I am able to create a mood or an emotion in the viewer, I feel I have accomplished my goal. And when someone stops and smiles at my painting it is the best compliment.”
Joan Libby Hawk
Joan Libby Hawk is a multidisciplinary artist based in Sarasota, FL. She uses many materials to investigate visual questions and express her incisive point of view through clay vessels, sculpture, paintings on shaped canvas and paper crafted into three dimensions.
The collection in this exhibit is comprised of wheel-thrown high-fire porcelain pieces and burnished clay completed by applying horsehair and feathers to the still burning hot piece creating unique and contemplative surfaces. These burnished works, when refined and dry, receive multiple coats of a suspended, sometimes colored, liquid clay called terra sigillata and are buffed by hand after each layer – an ancient technique.
From liberal arts graduate of Mount Holyoke College to anti-Vietnam War and human rights activist, to artist/student living in Oxford, England, to New York City graduate studies, to a notable career in nonprofits and the United Nations working for women’s rights, Joan retains her unwavering commitment to art and social justice. In 2016 Joan stepped down from consulting and UN work to fully concentrate on art. Thinking if not now, when? she took a risk in 2017 and opened her studio in Sarasota, FL, jumpstarting a full-time art practice put on hold decades earlier.
The collection in this exhibit is comprised of wheel-thrown high-fire porcelain pieces and burnished clay completed by applying horsehair and feathers to the still burning hot piece creating unique and contemplative surfaces. These burnished works, when refined and dry, receive multiple coats of a suspended, sometimes colored, liquid clay called terra sigillata and are buffed by hand after each layer – an ancient technique.
From liberal arts graduate of Mount Holyoke College to anti-Vietnam War and human rights activist, to artist/student living in Oxford, England, to New York City graduate studies, to a notable career in nonprofits and the United Nations working for women’s rights, Joan retains her unwavering commitment to art and social justice. In 2016 Joan stepped down from consulting and UN work to fully concentrate on art. Thinking if not now, when? she took a risk in 2017 and opened her studio in Sarasota, FL, jumpstarting a full-time art practice put on hold decades earlier.
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