Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day is fast approaching and we invite you to have a look at some gift ideas at Gallery 54.  One of the things we are most known for is the wide variety of handcrafted jewelry we carry in the shop.  Donna Smith is one of our talented jewelry artists, and also one of our co-owners.  She creates pieces using vintage findings in addition to being a talented metal smith.

Rhodocrosite sterling earrings by Donna Smith.

While our customers love her jewelry, the owners at Gallery 54 also appreciate her talent for merchandising.  Donna oversees the design of our front windows, and creates a new display and motif every season for us all to enjoy.  Below is a view of our current window display, best appreciated in person!

Upcoming Featured Artists

Hello!  During the next couple months we will be featuring new work by our consignments artists.  During January we have featured new work by Bill Perrine, one of our fabulous potters.  Scroll down to our November blog post for photos and information about Bill's wood-fired pottery.

During February we will be presenting new work by Leslie Green Guilbault.  Leslie is a multi-talented artist who makes beautiful pottery and also carves bone jewelry.  Several of her pieces would make excellent gifts for your Valentine!  Stop by the shop, warm up, and browse Leslie's beautiful nature-inspired work!

Water, Water, Everywhere

In Central and Upstate New York, one is never far from a body of water.  In addition to the Fingerlakes and the Great Lakes, there are countless smaller bodies of water for all forms of recreation: boating, swimming, ice fishing, you name it.  Many people from the region identify themselves with the lake they are nearest to.  Here is just a small sampling of the many regionally inspired pieces in our shop!

Painting by Kathleen Schneider inspired by the water at Mirabeau Spa

Painted wine glass by Nella Joseph

Custom silver bracelets with a silhouette of Skaneateles Lake on them by Dana Stenson

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

The artists of Gallery 54 want to wish you a Happy New Year!  We hope you had a safe and fun holiday.  It has been a cold winter so far, but the snow is quite beautiful.  We are looking forward to the Skaneateles Winterfest January 25 & 26.  The town will be full of winter activities for the whole family and many shops will sponsor ice sculptures made by a local artist.  Stay tuned for more information!

Handcrafted plate by Terry Askey-Cole

In the meantime, we hope you will stop by the shop and enjoy some of the beautiful new pieces we have to offer.  Here are two inspired by the gorgeous snow we have had recently.  Enjoy the season and stay warm!

Quilt by Sharon Bottle-Souva

Holidays at the Gallery

The Holiday season in Skaneateles is in full swing and we hope you will come out to enjoy some of the festivities!  This Friday is Skaneateles First Fridays.  Several shops will be open with art, music, and refreshments.  It is also the annual tree lighting in town.  Gallery 54 will be open late for our Holiday open house.

Photo by Tom Dwyer of the famous gazebo on Skaneateles Lake.

This year is the 20th Anniversary of the Dicken's Christmas in Skaneateles.  During the weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas every year Skaneateles has characters from Charles Dickens beloved tales throughout town.  There are skits, music, and several events associated.  See the Skaneateles Chamber Website for the full events listing at www.skaneateles.com.  A commemorative gazebo ornament is available at Gallery 54 as well!

"Let is Snow" necklace by Dana Stenson with dendritic opal.

Wednesday, December 10 is the Skaneateles "Shop, Sip, and Stroll" day.  We will be open until 8pm and all candles, Better Brittle, and Skaneateles Soap Company items will be 20% off!  We will also be serving complimentary mulled cider and with each purchase customers will receive a coupon for a free drink at a local restaurant.

Pen and ink holiday scene by Kathleen Schneider.

We hope you can make it out to enjoy the festivities!  Here are photos of some of the lovely pieces available at the gallery.  Happy Holidays!!!

Sweet feathered masks by Andre Newton.

Inspired Tidings

You’re invited to our Holiday Open House

“Inspired Tidings”

Friday December 6 from 6 to 9pm

Painting by Kathleen Schneider

Featuring music by Chris Molloy on his electric blue harp, refreshments, and new work by our talented artists.  We hope you can join us to celebrate the season!

Wood-fired Pottery by Bill Perrine

Bill Perrine is a resident of Central New York. A retired teacher, Bill now spends his time creating beautiful pottery in his hand-built manibagama kiln. Gallery 54 recently welcomed Bill as one of our artists and we are ecstatic to be able share his beautiful pieces with you

From Bill's website www.splitfirepottery.com: "Wood-firing is a traditional process that was first introduced to Japan from Korea in the fifth century. The anagama (single-chambered kiln, wood-fired) allowed temperatures to exceed the 700 degrees previously gotten from bonfires, pit firing, etc. For many centuries the anagama continued to provide the Japanese potters with the aesthetics and ceramics that they desired. But in the early 17th century, the anagama lost its importance and was replaced by the noborigama (multi-chambered climbing kilns) for efficiency reasons. Recently, in the last 20-30 years, the anagama has re surged in popularity, allowing for contemporary expression in ceramics as an art form."

Bill's hand built manibagama kiln in 2009.

One of many unique things Bill is known for making is traditional Japanese teapots and tea bowls. They are not only functional for making fabulous single servings of tea, but also beautiful to look at as an art form. Bill's glazes take on different characteristics from the native woods he uses to fire the kiln. His glazes range from turquoises to rustic browns.

One of Bill's Japanese tea pots

We invite you to stop by the Gallery to see Bill's work as well as that of all our other artists.  We are gearing up for the Holiday season.  Stay tuned for information about our Holiday Open House Friday, December 6!!

Tea bowl