S CUBED-CUBED
The upcoming exhibit at the Butler Art Center started out with three artists who have “s” in their names.
But the show has expanded to nine artists, yet they're all still associated with that letter, according to Stephen Haley, gallery director.
Haley, who began as gallery director in January, said the idea for this exhibit all started when he was informed that summer is the slowest time of year for galleries in general.
He took that as a challenge.
“I said to a couple (Art Center) members, 'Let's turn this chore into a challenge!'”
So Haley, along with acting president Steven Harding and friend Steve Dray, were all set to show their artwork in an exhibit called “S cubed.”
Harding works in watercolors, and Dray and Haley paint in oils.Now, in addition to the three Steves, the six other artists exhibiting are Sonja Barnes, Shirley Macauley, Seamus Macauley, Abraham Darlington, Holly Fox Croll and Anita Dinsmore.The connection with the letter “s” is obvious for Sonja, Shirley and Seamus, but Haley has slightly more creative “s” associations for the final three artists.For Darlington, Haley said he has been calling him “Solomon” since a friend told him he thought that was his name instead of Abraham.Darlington has already shown his work at the Art Center this year. He said the May exhibit was very successful for him, and he met a lot of people. He's added some new works this time out.
“I still do brightly colored abstracts, but I've included cityscapes for this exhibit but still done in my classic style, an abstract version of cityscapes,” Darlington said.He's also started some work in abstract collages and continued to pursue portrait work, and he'll offer those in this show, too.Haley said Croll has been a member of the Art Center only for a couple weeks, but that her “s” association is that she has “super self-confidence everyone should have.”And Dinsmore has a couple “s” associations, Haley said.The first is the “s” in the middle of her last name. The second is “that I tell her all of the time she is super-superior as an artist,” Haley said.These six artists work in media such as pastels, colored pencils, acrylics and photography.“What is great about the show is that each one of us has our own very unique styles that stand out, yet when juxtaposed stand together,” Haley said.
He said he already has had interest from people who want to buy some of the artwork.“I have had the opportunity to be involved in some great shows, but I have never been more proud to be part of a certain show,” Haley said. “Mainly, due to the fact that, at its origin, (it) was just a challenge and a joke, but has turned out to be unlike any other.”So now that the artwork is being hung up at the Art Center this week, Haley said he has a new name for the exhibit.“Since we went from three artists to nine, I think 'S cubed-cubed' is a much better title considering the new circumstances,” he said.A reception with refreshments is planned from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday.The show will run through Sept. 7.Regular hours at the Art Center, 344 S. Main St., are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays, except holidays.Admission is free. Call 724-283-6922 or visit ButlerArtCenter.org.
