August at the Artists Hand

This eventful summer is not over yet! This August we have a show by Harold Miller gracing our walls and great music for you every Friday night. Downtown Indiana is alive with art and music and we've got quite a showcase here at the Artists Hand this month.



Featured Exhibit
Harold Miller
The Eastern Farm: Simple Shapes and Functional Beauty
August 6-August 31, 2013
Opening Reception: Friday, August 9, 6-8pm

Friday Nights
August 2, 6-8pm: Steve Grace, acoustic guitar
August 16, 6-8pm: David Coffey, acoustic guitar
August 23, 6-8pm: Jim Holmes, acoustic guitar
August 30, 6-8pm: Al Craige, jazz guitar

Other Events
August 15, 4-7pm: The Gap Ministry Music Night
August 29, 5-7pm: Love of Life Event

We hope you decide to join us in all the fun!

Linda van Gehuchten

Linda van Gehuchten first came to Indiana in 1992. She is a wood turner out of Sarver, Pennsylvania, and also a teacher. She teaches her art to interested artists through the Indiana Council for the Arts. She enjoys working with wood and has an incredibly talented way of manipulating it, to make everything from mirrors to clocks, all of which turn out looking spectacular. Linda prefers to work alone but sometimes uses her husband to help with some of her projects.

Bottle Stoppers
$30.00

Chess Board
Inlaid Wood
$300.00

Linda's pieces are timeless examples of the blurred line between function and form, proving that usable pieces can also be aesthetically intriguing. Along with the bottle stoppers and chess board above, Linda has also shared with us some elegant cutting boards and mirrors. Linda's bottle stoppers are a hit among our visitors, impressed with the unique patterns and tones of the wood. Often our patrons will also take a seat and enjoy playing chess with stunning handmade pieces, an experience that enriches the game. By using art in our every day lives, we make the choice to enrich our days with culture and beauty.

Patrick McKelvey

Patrick McKelvey grew up in Indiana, lived in southern Virginia for about 20 years, and then returned to Indiana where he has been doing artwork on and off for the last couple decades. He likes to draw and paint from life and from memory or imagination. The mountains, streams, farms and fields, the people and the houses, the skies, seasons, even the weeds he finds very appealing. Some paintings are done on location, some are based on photographs, while others are complete inventions done in the studio.
He's been doodling and sketching as long as he can remember. In the mid 70's he attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia for two semesters. Prior to that time he worked primarily in pencil, pen and ink, and watercolor. After the Academy he worked almost exclusively in oil, with an occasional pencil drawing now and then.

Country House and Barn
Oil
$390.00

Dead Tree
Oil
$390.00

If you grew up in a rural area, Patrick's work will hit a chord with you. His pieces are embedded with a nostalgic feeling of "home," from the rustic subject matter, to the color saturation, to the frames that surround the painting itself. Even in Dead Tree, a subject which would traditionally warrant a drab color scheme, Patrick commits to the enhanced saturation levels that seem to define his work here in the gallery. The colors glorify the nature that the artist finds so close to his heart.
Stop by the gallery next time you're downtown to see the work of Patrick McKelvey and over 60 other local artists!

John Eyler

John is a Pennsylvania born artist with a knack for paper folding. His friends know him as "Paper John" or "Origami John." When he was ten years old, he learned how to make a flapping bird. Then in 1992, his sister bought him a book of basic origami. He's been collecting origami books ever since.
He's donated two mobiles, one to the Indiana Free Library and one to ICW vocational services. Recently he completed his goal of a 100 piece mobile. He strives for variety in what he does. Learning a new piece is always exciting! He wishes to thank everyone who gave him books, sold him books, and people who encouraged him through the years.

Animal Kingdom
$300.00

John's piece, Animal Kingdom, is a 100 piece origami mobile spanning approx. 3 feet in length.Using pipe cleaners and string as the main suspension rig, John created a charming display of familiar animals, dinosaurs, and some fantasy animals as well. At face value, the mobile is a fun and colorful piece that catches the eyes of many gallery visitors, but it really takes a closer look to appreciate the effort, craftsmanship, and creativity that went into the piece. Each animal is brought to life by John's methodical selection of colored and patterned paper, drawn-on facial features, and positioning on the mobile. Fish swim together at the bottom of the piece, while birds fly closer to the top. 

There is so much more to see than what is pictured here. Finding your way through his maze of animals, you will discover a kangaroo, skunk, flamingo, elephant, owl, whale, and even a flying dragon. But the only way to experience the wonder of his work is to stop in the gallery and see for yourself! Bring the kids along and come see this small zoo that's housed within our gallery walls.

Fred Hummel

Fred has been specializing in box making since 1990, having been captivated by the unique characteristics of boxes which offer, first, a beauty in and of themselves, followed closely by the insuppressible desire and anticipation of the first opening to reveal a world unto their own. He works with different types of wood and designs in varying degrees of complexity. In the mid 1990s, Fred studied with Wayne Barton, world renowned chip-carver and founder of the Alpine School of Wood Carving. Since then, Fred has been featuring chip-carved boxes made from slow growth Basswood.
Fred is a criminal defense attorney who resides in Indiana, PA with his wife Carol.

Octagon Chip Carved
$300.00

Curly Maple
$450.00

It goes without saying that craftsmanship is something that Fred is both trained and naturally gifted in. Along with this trait, he has an eye for design, transforming natural materials into tightly executed, inorganic shapes. Symmetry and simplicity are principles that define Fred's work. His chip-carved  boxes, as seen in the top photo, carry designs that are created by hand, using a knife or chisel to remove small chips from a flat piece of wood. The designs seem so pristine, it is hard to believe they are cut by hand. But if you look closely you can see small incision marks that give the piece a beautiful character. Fred's Curly Maple piece garners several comments from gallery visitors, remarking on it's stunning sheen. So if you're looking for a vessel to keep your treasures in, stop by the gallery and peruse our collection of Fred Hummel's boxes.

Summer is in full bloom here in Indiana, PA. It's always a great day to come out and visit your all-local art gallery!

Become an Art Maker

We'd like to introduce a new activity here at the Gallery, our "Make It By Hand " station in the Studio. 

When you stop in to the gallery, wander into the back of the space and you will find the above tri-board, and some art materials. Take a minute and play. Paint, build, weave, glue or whatever there is there calling you to take a step and make something of your own. 

This month to celebrate the work of Bill Perry, our solo exhibition, we have a little watercolor station set up. There will be water and paper available, just dip a brush into the water, rub over the surface of the watercolor pad in whatever color is you favorite and get to work, there are no mistakes and you can't make a bad painting. Remember this all about having fun making art. CHILDREN OF ALL AGES WELCOME!

Come in often and make your own statement!

Barbara Pennington

Barbara graduated from Moore College of Art with a BFA in Illustration in 1970. Then she did two internships. One was creating newspaper ads for the theaters in the round like Westbury Music Fair (owned by Barbara Walters' husband, Shelly Gross). The second was illustrating words for students at Philadelphia College for the Deaf.

She became the art director for an advertising agency, Aitken Kynett. Later she became the art director for Visual Communications, an exhibition company. Here she oversaw the production of the artwork and graphics for exhibits up to 3 stories tall.

When she moved back to this area she saw some wire art and decided that she could do it and love it, so she did. She maintains an art studio here in Indiana on the third floor of 647 Philadelphia Street. This is where she creates her free foam sculptures.

Enamel on copper
$25.00

Enamel on copper wrap
$38.00

Now practicing the art of jewelry, Barb has many pieces here in the gallery's display cases. She manipulates wire into organic, yet often recognizable forms. Music lovers would surely enjoy her pair of treble clef and music note earrings, as well as a necklace with music note charms. She uses the wire not only as a design element, but as a functional piece of the jewelry. For example, the red wire necklace shown above employs beautifully coiled wire as a means to hold the pendant to the strand, and even to clasp the necklace in the back, a unique feature that is sure to garner a lot of attention. Another note about Barb's work is her tactful use of color. Combining earth tones with pops of richer colors, she creates a more dynamic composition. Barb has a multitude of unique hand-crafted items in the gallery for you to choose from. Whether you're planning to give someone a thoughtful and personal gift or simply want to sport a statement piece for yourself, Barb's pieces are a sure to satisfy.

Stop into the Artists Hand Gallery and Espresso Bar to see Barb's work, along with the work of other talented local artists, in person!