This month, the b. j. spoke gallery presents two solo exhibits by artists John A. Bell and Barbara Grey, along with a showcase of member artists’ work in the third gallery room.
Bell’s solo exhibition, “Celebrating Detroit,” and “Grey’s Terrain: Colors of the Earth” will be open to the public now through Sunday, May 27.
Bell is an artist who reclaims salvaged metal to create sculptures. “I search for and acquire steel parts and objects to incorporate in my metal sculptures,” he says. “Of particular interest are truck or automobile suspension elements. Detroit has provided me with endless inspiration and raw materials to construct sculptures using their limitless assortment of steel components. With these works I celebrate the great industry that began in Detroit, Michigan.”
Bell’s body of work includes sculptures created with steel from demolished buildings and industrial scrap materials. By allowing the metal to react to the environment, as well as to chemical applications, he creates surface textures of deterioration which add mood and meaning to the sculptural shapes. His sculptures are collected by art lovers across New York.
Grey’s show features collages and watercolors of the Southwest, and oil pastels based on photos of the Badlands that she took from a plane. She loves the colors and the patterns made by layering and erosion over millions of years.
Bell and Grey will also be included in the gallery members’ show, which features work by the following artists: Richard Anello, digital painter; Phyllis Baron, abstract painter; JoLorraine Carol, abstract painter; Katherine Criss, surreal painter and photographer; Liz Ehrlichman, painter; Christine Greene, realist painter; Barbara Grey, painter, collagist, photographer; Barbara V. Jones, abstract painter; J. Lefsky, abstract painter; Karen Kirshner, abstract painter; Kevin Larkin, abstract expressionist painter; Lili Maglione, realistic and expressionist painter; Dianne Marxe, bronze animal sculptor; Nicolette M. Pach, fabric artist; Gia Schifano, realistic painter; Cindy Shechter, colorful abstracts; Constance Wain, mixed media with found objects; and Bert Winsberg, scenic painter.
Mid-Day Marshes by Phyllis Baron, painting
In addition to exhibitions, the gallery hosts an Artist Circle, which meets on two Sundays per month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., for discussions on creativity and for sharing of art with colleagues. The remaining meetings this year will take place on May 20, June 3 and 17, July 8 and 22, Aug. 12 and 26, Sept. 9 and 23, Oct. 7 and 21, Nov. 11 and 25, and Dec. 9, the last meeting for the year.
b.j. spoke also welcomes local poets to listen and read their work at their Poets Aloud group, which meets the second Friday of each month from 7:30 to 10 p.m. There is a suggested $3 donation to participate in this event.
b.j. spoke gallery is located at 299 Main St. in Huntington. For more information about the exhibits or to contact the gallery, go to www.bjspokegallery.org or call 631-549-5106.
