For the Birds

 

You know it’s spring when birds show up at Gallery 54. The birds we see little of from October to April suddenly appear bringing their beauty and joy into our lives. We have new herons here at Gallery 54. James Seaman again has created fabulous sculptures; spectacular and graceful to adorn any room or garden. You have to see these beauties in person.

Bird houses by Kevin Ridgeway and smaller bird sculptures by Candace Rhea give us anticipation of the season as it bursts forth - and burst it has. We have new flowers in our planters, fresh paint on the walls, the windows and doors stay open to bring the breezes from the lake into the gallery.

We’re gearing up for our annual Artists’ Self Portrait show which opens on First Friday, April 6^th from 6-9. The show will be up for the entire month of April.   Come out and help us celebrate local art.

Spring at 54!!

Spring has arrived earlier than ever here in Central New York!  Flowers are starting to bloom and color is popping up everywhere. There are many new things to see at Gallery 54 and we hope you will take the time to enjoy a stroll through Skaneateles and check out what's new. 

Coming soon the the gallery......a sterling silver spider brooch by Dana Blythe Stenson.



 Below is a fiber vessel by Lauren Bristol, one of our consignment artists.

This beautiful quilt by Sharon Bottle Souva will bring color and cheer to any room it is presented in.  Enjoy!

Musings of an Artist

It came to my mind the other day as I drove to Skaneateles for a day at Gallery 54, that we artists/owners of this gallery are among the fortunate. We spend time surrounded by beautiful jewelry, visually stimulating textiles and fiber art, fantastic pottery and paintings, each unique and spectacular in their own way. We sit with toys, birdhouses, colorful to die for glass garden art and a huge assortment of art and fine craft. It occurred to me that these are the things that enhance our loves and our homes, give joy to the spirit and add a measure of delight to our friends as we give a gift.  Above all art brings beauty to our world; without such beauty our days would be bleak and dreary. There is always the need for brightness, joy, beauty, pleasure and delight.

Yes…… we owners of Gallery 54 are indeed fortunate for the opportunity to visit with this art on a regular basis. And yes……….. on occasion, purchase something to take home for a continuation of the love affair.

This weekend is the Skaneateles Winterfest featuring ice sculpture, chilli and cider, and many activities in town.  Sharon Bottle Souva will be demonstrating her fiber collage techniques on Saturday from 12-3.  We hope to see you there!

Christmas Eve 2011

So here it is Saturday December 24^th.

Anticipation is high

Expecting shoppers and visitors to Gallery 54.

We are still amazed at how many new faces we see stopping in;

This being their first visit to Skaneateles.

The beauty of the day has a dusting of snow that we all

(well maybe not everyone) have been waiting for.

It is Christmas Eve after all.

We were visited today by the queen and the duchess.

These regal women stopped by to purchase a few last minute items to put under the tree.

Later on in the day Charles Dickens himself was here.

Funny how they fit in with the modern day shoppers.

Across the street the Temperance Ladies were gathered

Signs telling all who passed by of the evils of drinking.

What fun to be a part of Skaneateles on Christmas Eve.

Expressions of Joy

Decking the halls couldn’t have been more fun here at Gallery 54. We sat through our monthly meeting with the aroma of pizza in the air.  Our meetings are an opportunity to discuss the working aspect of our co-op gallery.  Each voice gets heard which makes for some lively discussion. After this month's meeting we decorated the gallery for the Holidays. You would have thought we were a big happy family decorating the tree… what fun.

We have found some new artists to bring in as consignees. Most notably here is Lauren Bristol. Her coiled baskets are exquisite and we are honored to be able to share them with our customers. Some of our regular artists are bringing in all sorts of wonderful Christmas gifts.  There will be something for everyone here at Gallery 54…. Even toys!

The member/owners of Gallery 54 invite you to come out over the weekend to do your holiday shopping.  We encourage you to come out and support independent artists and local business this Holiday.  This is a wonderful way to find truly unique gifts and support your local community and economy.  We will be open Friday the 25^th from 10 to 8 and Saturday the 26^th from 10 to 5. Let us help you get all your shopping done, all in one weekend. For those of you who prefer the thrill of last minute shopping…… we can help there too!

                                                                                                                                    

This month's First Friday Opening on December 2^nd will feature our “Expressions of Joy” show. The Gallery 54 artists invite you to celebrate the joy of the season with fine art, wonderful harp music, wine tasting and treats. We hope to see you then from 6-9.

In The News

The artists that love/work at/run Gallery 54 are a group of passionate men and women, passionate about their chosen art/craft.  We work hard to produce only the best for the gallery. We put in time …. not always recorded on the hours log …to make Gallery 54 a place that our customers will want to visit again and again.

As of this musing one of our painters was in the news again. Kathy Schneider’s work was used to promote the Dickens Christmas by the Post Standard. If you haven’t yet experienced “A Dickens Christmas” in Skaneateles you are in for a treat.  Starting the day after Thanksgiving, weekends are alive with your favorite characters from A Christmas Carole. So come on out… bring your friends…. Stay for the day…. Shop…..Shop…..Shop.

Our First Friday feature is “Best if Used: Functional Pottery by Jim Burke" opening Friday November 4 from 6-9 pm at the Gallery. We will have live entertainment by Christopher Molloy and his Electric Blue Harp and wine tasting by Giancarelli Winery.  Man…. It doesn’t get any better than that.

Color Abounds

  Ceramic sculpture by Terry Askey-Cole

                                                  Found object assemblage by Donna Smith

                                                  Gourd masks by Andree Newton

                                                   Sunflower lantern by Lauren Ritchie

                                              Landscape by Kathleen Schneider

Color….. no other time is it more spectacular in Central New York than in Autumn. A drive down any street or road – a stroll beside the lake – down a path along a river – everywhere the eyes rest will be glorious color. The garden flowers are finishing up their stay even as the first leaves fall from the branches above. We turn our gaze upward and are greeted with reds, oranges, yellows, greens and browns of the turning foliage.

The artists at Gallery 54 bring these beautiful colors to their work. Always evolving – ever changing, the gallery is filled with the shapes and colors of the season.

Our October featured artists are Terry Askey-Cole and Donna Smith. They present Autumn Hues, a collection of ceramics, assemblages and jewelry.

We are open to inspire the artist in everyone every day as we celebrate Autumn in Skaneateles.