Artists on Display
Artists on Display
Two local contemporary painters exhibiting at Tri-County Arts Council
OLEAN - The Tri-County Arts Council will exhibit provocative and visionary paintings by two modern artists beginning Friday, August 6th through Saturday, September 4th in the gallery, 110 W. State St., Olean. Gallery hours are noon-6:00pm Tuesday-Friday and noon-5:00pm Saturday, or by appointment at 716-372-7455.
A public reception for the two exhibits, Same Inside by Karle Norman, and Ruminations Rising by Michelle Capizzi, will be held from 7:00-9:00pm on Friday, Aug. 20th in the gallery.
In Same Inside, Buffalo based artist Norman explores the relationship of humanity’s shared experiences to their physical differences. In this series, which depict colorful abstracted skeletons inside portraits, he shows that despite outward appearances, we are all literally the same inside.
“The Same Inside pieces ask the viewer to look past the external differences that can set us apart from one another. Our anatomy is trying to show us how much we have in common,” Norman said.
A painting from Norman’s Same Inside series was included in the “Works from Home” mural and he is currently working on another mural in Buffalo’s Cobblestone District. Both murals were sponsored by the Albright Knox Art Museum. Norman also has lived and worked in Ellicottville for years.
Similarly, Michelle Capizzi’s paintings ignite deep conversations.
“Every piece tells a story, has its own energy, and is deeply layered,” she said, adding, “In Ruminations Rising, the conversation centers on the uplifting energy of renewal while reflecting on the rhythm that emerges when connecting to the inner muse that sets us free.
“I infuse those moments of joy into layers of paint, hues of positivity, and shapes that stimulate movement in body, mind, and spirit,” Capizzi, a mixed media abstract painter said, describing her paintings' effects on the viewer. “I am fascinated by the dialogue among shapes, color, and texture, all interwoven with music.”
Capizzi, who maintains a studio in Great Valley, NY and splits her time between Buffalo and Ellicottville, will be included in this year’s prestigious Buffalo Show House. She returned to her first love of painting following a busy period in her life raising three sons, working as an art director, graphic designer, fashion stylist, and art gallery volunteer. She feels her past established a fertile base for exploration and trust in her artistic process.
“The work of both these artists are about what we all share as people,” Sean Huntington, Tri-County Arts Council Exhibition Coordinator said, adding, “Michelle evokes feelings we all have through her use of color and movement, and Karle reminds us that our differences are only skin deep. Both artists use beautiful color palettes, so these pieces are visually appealing as well as thought provoking.”
The Tri-County Arts Council is honored to exhibit the works of these two up-and-coming artists with local connections.
The public is invited to experience the work of both artists in the Tri-County Arts Council’s Art Gallery, and meet the Artists August 20th during their reception. For more information, go to www.myartscouncil.net/gallery.