‘Spring Awakening’ Exhibit by Ten Pound Studio silk artists at Flatrocks Gallery, Gloucester, MA
‘Spring Awakening’, an exhibit by seven silk artists from Gloucester’s Ten Pound Studio will be on display at Flatrocks Gallery in Gloucester, MA March 13 to March 15 2015. Opening Public Reception Friday March 13, 5.30 pm to 9 pm. Gallery hours: Saturday and Sunday 11 am to 4 pm.
Ten Pound Studio’s silk artists have created the show ‘Spring Awakening’ inspired by the idea that the vivid, brilliant colors and luxuriant warmth of their silk creations could help overcome the dull hues and biting cold of our Cape Ann winter.
Ten Pound Studio has been a teaching studio for silk painters for the past four years, at One Center Street, Gloucester. Silk painter teacher and musician Stephen Bates, who recently retired from the Kennedy Center’s Opera Orchestra, teaches both experienced and novice artists the magic of painting on silk. The seven silk artists and fellow visual artist in this show ‘Spring Awakening’ will be exhibiting a vibrant and eclectic collection of hand-painted wearable silk scarves, shawls, tops, ties, cushions, silk sculpture, silk paintings, as well as an exhibit of Cape Ann quarry-inspired silk banners and photography by Leslie Bartlett.
Silk painting teacher Stephen Bates said of the Studio, “Ten Pound Studio is a unique silk painting teaching Studio. As far as we know, there is no other such teaching Studio in the United States. It is made up of a group of individual artists with a great variety of artistic and professional backgrounds. It is exciting to me that the students are on different journeys. Some are treating the work as part of their on-going careers; some do it for the experience of painting on silk to add to their artistic repertoire, and some enjoy silk painting for the pure pleasure it gives.” Musicality and artistry are intertwined at Ten Pound Studio. “I bring musical ideas and images into the silk work at the Studio,” says Bates. Classical music during classes permeates the large white-washed Studio with it’s 20’ high ceilings and views of the ocean.
Ten Pound Studio is a place where silk artists can experiment with different techniques, materials and artistic approaches, in an atmosphere of support and cameraderie. Each silk artist offers a reservoir of artistic and life experience for the others. Images range from glimpses of the Universe as seen from the Hubble telescope; to the problems of climate change; to fanciful abstractions, and imagery from nature. Another unique element of the Studio!
Silk artist Christine Gauthier-Kelley explained the possible source of this synergy between artists, “There is a supposed energy vortex off Halibut Point, Gloucester said to attract to Cape Ann the most creative souls around. It’s energy can be the only explanation for the creative force which inspires the production of vibrant hand-painted silks by this talented artist group at Ten Pound Studio.”
The opportunity to show at Flatrocks Gallery, one of the premier new Galleries in this area, is a big step forward for Ten Pound Studio after four years. “This collaboration with Flatrocks represents an important step for us to share our work with Cape Ann community residents and visitors, ” said Stephen Bates.
Ten Pound Studio Artists: Stephen Bates, Allyson Christopher, Christine Gauthier-Kelley, Sue Niemi, Susan Quateman and Leslie Bartlett (photographer), Joan Wardwell, and Candace Wheeler
Contact: Susan Quateman, Ten Pound Studio, 978. 430. 9534, http://www.susanquateman.com
susiequateman@gmail.com
Good Morning Gloucester 