E-newsletter of Off Track Art , an artistsʼ cooperative gallery June/July 2010

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an E-newsletter of Off Track Art , an artistsʼ cooperative gallery
June/July 2010
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11 Liberty Street (Side Entrance)
Westminster, MD
hours:
Tue-Wed " noon -6 PM
Thu-Fri " noon -7 PM
Sat " " 10 AM - 5 PM
www.offtrackart.org
Visit us on Facebook, too!
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CALENDAR, into Summer:
CLOSING: Stop by the Off Track Art gallery before the end of June to enjoy the lovely, glowing

oil paintings of Guest Artist, Jodi OʼConnell. Closing Wednesday, June 30th.

OPENING: Mark your calendar for an

opening reception at Off Track Art as we

celebrate the sculptural and

photographic works of our upcoming

Guest Artist for July-August, Virginia

Sperry. Meet the artist at the reception:

Friday, July 9th, 5:30 - 7:30 PM.

Starting July: The artists of Off Track Art

refresh the gallery with new works in new

arrangements. Coming with our mid-year

re-installation you will see a welcome to

summer with paintings of colorful day

lilies by Mary Decker; thereʼs a new

necklace series using mahjong tiles from

Susan Williamson, along with collage

paintings exploring the dilemma of a

cancer diagnosis; Gordon Wickes brings in some black and white photographs of a past

period; and more new works.

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GUEST ARTIST, May/June: Jodi OʼConnell

Off Track Artʼs current guest artist, Jodi OʼConnell, is a Carroll County painter. An art therapist

for many years, Jodi now devotes her time to decorative painting and wall murals. Her true

love is to create art. Many of her paintings are of the beautiful, ever changing landscape

around her, and how light effects subject matter found in nature. See and enjoy these quiet

and colorful paintings before the end of June.

GUEST ARTIST, July/August: Virginia Sperry

Off Track Art in July is proud to present an installation of sculpture and photography by Virginia

Sperry. Virginia is a local sculptor and photographer. A self-professed dumpster diver, she

delights in finding objects that have lived beyond their primary use and combine them to create

cool sculptures. Welding steel is the latest of her artistic passions. Virginia has been welding

since 2003 when she took a metal fabrication class at the Maryland Institute College of Art. "I

like to think that I am glueing with lightning." Her sculptures run from abstract to figurative, with

a life-sized giraffe being the largest piece she has finished.

In addition to three dimensional sculpture, Virginia is intrigued with photographing unusual

things in her life. "Computers and digital technology have turned photography into instant

gratification. Because my sculptures can take several months to finish I enjoy being able to

take and download photos in the blink of an eye."

Virginia lives in Eldersburg with her husband, two dogs and two cats.

OUT and ABOUT:

Westminsterʼs fun and popular Art-in-the-Park happens on Saturday, June 5, 10 AM - 4 PM.

Look for artists of Off Track Art who will have booths there this year. Offerings include jewelry,

paintings, prints, photography and more, by Kevin Dayhoff, Charlotte Laslo, Mary Decker,

Susan Williamson, and Melinda Byrd.

Linda Van Hart during May & June is living on a working llama farm (www.lamahof.com) in

central Switzerland, sketching and taking photos to assist in a new line of pin designs. The

renovation to her studio should be complete upon her arrival home to begin sculpting the new

works. June 11-13 Linda is wait-listed for The Mountain Heritage Show in Harper's Ferry.

Linda,the Visual Arts Coordinator for Common Ground at McDaniel College, invites you to

check out their classes at www.commongroundonthehill.com. She is teaching “Reticulation

and Hot Connections,” week II afternoons. Her article about Reticulation was published along

with pictures of her Savannah and Harriet Tubman series, and containers by her mentor, John

T. Fix, in the Spring Metals Guild of Maryland Newsletter. She is on the Board of Directors of

both Common Ground and MGM.

Linda will display her metalsmithing and jewelry at The Roots Music and Art Festival, July

12-13 at Carroll County Farm Museum.

Lindaʼs mixed media collage and metalsmithing on display at The Rice Gallery on McDaniel

Campus, July 4-16. Selections from her collection of jewelry are available at Unique Jewelry in

Westminster.

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Gail Elwell’s work can be seen at the Blue Elephant Art Center, 4A West 5th St., in Frederick,

MD. The exhibit, "Addiction and Art," features the Artists and Editors from the critically

acclaimed book and runs from June 19th to June 27.

Cathy Sawdey provides another reason to visit Frederick. Cathy shows two of her drawings

as part of the regional juried exhibit at the Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center in

Frederick, Md., on display June 5 through July 18.

OFF TRACK ART Bids Farewell to Melinda Byrd:

Melinda will be missed by her partners and patrons, both for her wonderful artful offerings as

well as her professional and creative spirit. Best of everything to her as she continues her

work in other venues in the area.

Below is her message to everyone.

Dear Friends of OTA,

I am sad to say that as of the end of June, I will no longer be a partner of OTA. I have mixed feelings

about this decision as I have made many close friends here over the past 16 months. Yet during that

time, I have increased the number of galleries and shops who represent me as well as in the number of

commissions I receive for custom work...not to mention the list of projects I want to do when "I can find

the time." It has simply boiled down to determining how many hours there are in a day and how can I

best accomplish the goals at hand. Please know that I am still here--in the community--and available to

create art for you, and I welcome your company at Byrdcall Studio in Woodbine (by appt.

410-549-4889). Please keep in touch. Email me if you'd like me to add you to my studio email list so

we don't loose touch. Byrdcall@aol.com or www.ByrdcallStudio.com.

My last days on duty at OTA are Tuesday, June 15 from noon to 6 PM and Wednesday, June 30 from

noon to 6 PM. Please stop by to learn more if you are in the area.

I know OTA will continue to grow and thrive as creative ideas are implemented each month. I look

forward to continuing to be a #1 fan of Westminster's only artists' coop. See you around!

Sincerely,

Melinda Byrd

ARTISTS: ===================================================================

Vestal Abbott" " " " " " Cathy Sawdey

Melinda Byrd: www.byrdcallstudio.com" " " Gordon Wickes

Kevin Dayhoff: kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com" " Linda van Hart: www.tollhousestudio.com

Mary Decker: www.chartruesemoose.com" " Bobby Waddell

Gail Elwell: www.gailelwell.com"" " " Susan Williamson

Judy Goodyear" " " " " " Pamela Zappardino

Charlotte Laslo"" " " " GUEST-Virginia Sperry: www.virginiasperry.com/home.html

" " " " " " GUEST-Jodi OʼConnell: www.jodioconnell.com

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Track Art.
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Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ (http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/) http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/