The Huntington Arts Council is proud to announce the second of our Invitational Gallery Shows. This show, featuring visual artist Barbara V Jones, Francine Perri mixed media artist, Nicole Franz mixed media collage artist, and Randy Ilowite, photographer, will begin with the Opening Reception on Friday, July 24, from 6-8pm at the Main Street Gallery, 213 Main Street, Huntington. The show runs through August 8th. All are welcome to attend.
Barbara V Jones, a graduate of SUNY Stony Brook, NY is primarily a self-taught artist. She is a visual artist working in several art forms including mosaic, photography, and painting. Barbara participates in workshops and critiques with professional artists and artisans at renowned venues. She currently holds memberships in the East End Arts Council, Huntington Arts Council and Northport Coalition.
Artist Statement: “I “create from within” to capture moods, feelings, textures, and movements which connect organic forms with pure abstraction. When I paint I strive to combine the dynamics of the individual colors to create variations in shade, tone and hue. The source of my inspiration comes from all aspects of the natural world. However, I am strongly attracted to the beauty, energy, and mystery of coastal settings and their surrounding environments: sea grasses, flora, sand, rocks, marshes, bogs, etc.”
Francine Perri, a self-taught mixed media artist making collages and jewelry has published works in various art magazines such as Altered Arts Magazine and Just Steampunk. She has shown pieces at the Art League of Long Island as well as the Huntington Arts Council.
Artist Statement: “I am a self-taught mixed media artist. I enjoy making collages and jewelry. I have participated in Adelphi’s Cancer Awareness Program for three years. I designed bras front and back for a silent auction that they hold. As a result of this, I have been in three coffee-table books”.
Nicole Franz, a mixed-media collage artist whose passion is portraiture, holds a degree in Illustration and Design from the Fashion Institute of Technology and a Master’s Degree in Art Education. She has worked in the fashion industry, hip-hop music industry, and taught various art forms for over 10 years. Currently Nicole is a full-time artist working out of her Long Island studio. Her work has been exhibited in galleries from Brooklyn to the Hamptons.
Artist Statement: “I create portraits with recycled papers. My art is my outlet. I never know what my pieces are going to look like until they are complete. I love that about my work. They are constantly changing, morphing, and taking on a personality of their own. When I am working on them, the world around me shuts down.”
Randy Ilowite, a member of the Long Island Center of Photography has had a long and successful career in the film industry as a film editor. Working every day in an environment with film directors, producers, art directors, graphic designers and cinematographers inspired his lifelong passion for still photography. Randy’s work has been exhibited in several locations including the African American Museum, NY, Foto-Foto Gallery, Huntington and Barnes Gallery, Garden City.
Artist Statement: “[My] background [in film] has also encouraged me to incorporate graphic elements and motion picture compositions into my photography. I seek out scenes that usually go unnoticed in everyday life and try to capture a moment or an event that deserves a closer look and to share that moment with the viewer.”
The Invitational Gallery Shows are a Huntington Arts Council opportunity for small groups of artists to participate in a shared exhibit in our Main Street Gallery.