WESTFIELD - The Art Corridor Gallery Walk will be held Friday from 6-9 p.m. Four local galleries will be participating in the walk to encourage art awareness and exposure to residents and tourists. The Art Loft, Patterson Library Octagon Gallery, Portage Hill Gallery, and Reno Pottery will open their doors simultaneously Friday for this group event. Refreshments will be served at each gallery free of charge for this event.
Nancy N. Ensign of Patterson Library Octagon Gallery feels that "each gallery has something very special to offer. This is a great opportunity to engage with more people around art. Hopefully this event will build excitement and peak the interest of those who would not ordinarily walk into a gallery."
The Art Loft is a one-of-a-kind seasonal art gallery and gift shop located 1/4 mile north of the historic Chautauqua Institution, in Chautauqua. Built in 1899, it was originally built as a storage facility for coal and feed. In the early 1900s it was converted into a lumber mill, then later used as a facility for teaching art classes to students in the area. The Art Loft was opened in 2008. The spacious open floor plan, 40 ft. loft ceiling, & rustic appearance, make for a perfect setting to house all styles of art. The gallery, a five room, ever-changing, malleable space, represents works by over 100 artists, exhibiting jewelry, sculpture, pottery, fine art, wearable art and more. It is owned and operated by Bonnie Beyer, a 33-year veteran as an independent artisan. Bonnie, a jeweler who specializes in the unique handcrafting of Swedish Horseshoe Nails, has worked Art Festivals for over three decades, and has sold her work in galleries and museums throughout the country. A devoted artist and champion of talented artisans, Bonnie, along with her husband, Warren, designed and opened The Art Loft to exhibit the work of hard-working, talented artists from throughout the United States, many from here in Chautauqua County. Located at 4994 West Lake Road (Route 394) Mayville.
The Patterson Library Octagon Gallery officially opened in 1972. The first art director was Joseph Koshute, an art teacher at Westfield Academy and Central School. The first exhibit was provided by Allegheny College through Professor Anthony Calarco, a former Westfield resident. Thirty years later, at 12 exhibits per year, this now regional gallery enhances the cultural and intellectual life of the community and its surroundings by offering monthly programs and services that highlight the visual arts as well as other areas of general cultural interest. Art Classes and workshops have been made available to students and adults. Local artists as well as those from outside Chautauqua County and New York State have been featured. Fine art professors, BFA students, professional artists, and novice artists promote artistic enlightenment and share their valued skills. Twelve exhibits annually consisting of solo, group, themed, juried and historical lore are featured in this 105-foot octagon gallery. Nancy N. Ensign, artist and curator, has been with the Octagon Gallery since 2002 and can be contacted at 326-2154 or octagongallery@gmail.com for interest in exhibition.
Portage Hill Art Gallery was first opened in 1982 as a venue to showcase the regional artwork of Chautauqua County. Audrey Kay Dowling, a native of the county, returned after living for 10 years in NYC and the Hudson Vallery. While there she realized the importance of a year round professional gallery for regional artists. Donald and Audrey purchased an 1830s Greek Revival home for this purpose. Audrey, a professional artist, also has used this house and outbuildings for her clay studio and multi-media studio. Over the past 30 years, the Dowlings have grown the gallery to represent the regional and national work of artists in three rooms of the house, including a dedicated gallery space added in 1995. As a value-added service to customers, Donald Dowling, after retiring as a local English teacher, attended Larson-Juhl framing school so he could add archival framing services to the gallery in 2001. Donald works with clients to ensure that they are receiving the custom-framing perfect for their chosen artwork, personal treasures, or documents. Donald's framing services are always prompt and courteous. Although featuring Larson-Juhl frames and mats, the Gallery also has other choices and Plak mounting is also available. The Portage Hill Gallery ships purchases both nationally and overseas. Donald will also personally deliver and install your purchase of artwork. And the Gallery offers free local delivery for those traveling by foot, bicycle, or motorcycle. Another additional service offered by the gallery is private art lessons.
Reno Pottery has been manufacturing handmade porcelain dinnerware and one of a kind pieces featuring drawings of crabs, fish, dragonflies, and now chickens. Each piece is individually made with drawings featuring whimsical zoomorphic designs. They are all our original designs and are hand decorated, so no two are alike. Each piece is one of a kind, food safe and can be used in a microwave oven. Reno Reno Pottery has been in business since 1974, creating unique hand crafted functional pottery in our studio in the beautiful Chautauqua Lake region of Western New York. Exhibiting their work at hundreds of art and craft festivals over the years, their work has found its way into homes and collections throughout the world. Their most recent works can be seen at Art & Craft Fairs and selected galleries throughout the eastern United States. If you are ever in Western New York, think about stopping by the home studio to see Alpine Dish Gardens or to purchase pottery at 6007 Centralia Hartfield Road, CR 54, Mayville.
