New art series offered at Maridon Museum still need quotes from Keyes
“The Collectors,” a new program series offered by the Maridon Museum, will feature local residents talking about their art collections.
These “show and tell” presentations will include objects with stories that reflect the interest and/or passion of the collectors.
Objects will be exhibited in the museum's multipurpose room.
Presentations will take place at 7 p.m. select Thursday evenings at the museum at 322 N. McKean St.
The first presentation will be Sept. 17 and given by Dr. Dennis Keyes on “Digital Transformations-Beyond Photography.”
Keyes, an area dentist and member of the Maridon's board of trustees, has traveled extensively and has taken more than 5,000 photographs.
He will focus on China for the Maridon program but has also traveled to Italy, Mexico, France, Southeast Asia, Japan and Hawaii, among other places.
He has printed many of his photographs on various substrates and digitally manipulated some of the images, transforming them.
He's done photographs from China on metallic paper and silk.
“Sometimes I do acrylic on canvas from some of my photographs,” Keyes said. “Maybe I have some photographs that might be fabulous, but with blemishes, garbage cans in them, or so many satellite dishes or people I just don't want there. I use a digital paint program and then I run the canvas right through the printer and over paint with acrylic.”
The technique was new when he started but is more widely used now. “There is an awful lot of tinkering you have to do with the program before you can become proficient at it.”
Other installments in “The Collectors” series will be:
“Hello Dolly,” dolls by Ellen King, Oct. 15. King, a long-time antiques dealer, will talk about and show some of her doll collection. She will explain the many types, styles and makers of the dolls and how the values vary and why. Emphasis will be on Victorian era bisque head dolls. Attendees may take one of their own dolls to share.
“Elephants-Gentle Giants” by Cyndy Sweeney, Nov. 19. Sweeney, chairman of the collections committee and vice president of the Maridon's board of trustees, will talk about elephants, a childhood favorite. Her collection includes jewelry, clothes, paintings, books and statues.
“The Eclectic Collector” by Carole Fruehstorfer, March 17, 2016. Fruehstorfer, a member of the Maridon's collections committee, will present a sampling of objects collected. When asked what she's looking for, she says, “I'll know it when I see it.”
“Once Upon a Time,” Victorian jewelry by Tammy Gallagher, April 21, 2016. Gallagher, an antique dealer and long-time collector, will talk about and show Victorian jewelry. Attendees may take along a piece of jewelry to share or ask a question.
“The Cat's Meow” by Zelda Wilbert, May 19, 2016. Wilbert started her collection in 1982 at Animal Friends in Pittsburgh when she adopted her first cat, Max. As she travels, she collects figurines, sculptures, jewelry and whimsical pieces and framed art, all with a cat theme. Oil paintings by artist Manuel Adria and a bronze sculpture by Sergio Bustamente are highlights.
Reservations for the talks are required. Call the museum at 724-282-0123.
