The “Escapes” art installation at Kasia Coffee.
(Corey Maher/Photo Editor)
LERON WELLINGTON
Staff Writer
Artistic expression can have many benefits, one of them being building a community. On Feb. 10, the North Shore Alliance hoped to do just that with their most recent art installation entitled “Escapes.”
The showing, which took place at local coffee shop Kasia Cafe, featured paintings, photography and mixed media inspired by landscapes and seascapes. As artists and viewers met in the cozy, intimate shop they escaped the cold weather of Fredonia through the art of many residents.
Cecelia Price, the curator for the gallery, is a Fredonia graduate and finds collaborating with different artists fresh and exciting.
“Landscapes are a great theme for the showing, because they are all around us and both simple and complex in many ways,” she said.
The North Shore Alliance is a non-for profit, cooperative organization which helps greater the quality of life for it residents by art. It hopes to eventually have a permanent space to showcase the artistic work from the community.
President of North Shore Alliance Marcia Merrins found her creative niche in sculpting seven years ago and finds art to be an essential part for any community. Merrin’s name can be found in the new addition of the Rockefeller Art Center’s dance theatre. This is her second showing as president and she said, “We are trying to make it [art] a fiber of the community and an economic driver. Usually it is communities with galleries that are healthy.”
Ronnie Lafferty featured five of her watercolor landscapes in gallery. Not only does she like to showcase her work, but she also thinks art can be therapeutic and helpful to people. As part of the local community group Art Start, she volunteers teaching people (mainly in retirement) to paint.
“We help them learn to paint but we also want them to come to art shows and learn what it really means to be an artist,” Lafferty said.
By having local art in a local business, the gallery showcased both the community and its achievements. There will definitely be bigger and better developments between art in the county and its residents.