The well-received Off Track Art Co-op artists’ exhibition, featured at Birdie’s Café in Westminster, continues through Feb. 27.
The show, “Lucky 13,” opened Jan. 7 with a bang and plenty of new artworks by some of Carroll’s favorite and most well-known artists. Birdie’s Café opened last year in the old Pour House space at 233 E. Main St.
The featured artists include Kevin Dayhoff, Mary E. Decker, Gail Elwell, Judy Goodyear, Phil Grout, Charlotte Laslo, C.Z. Sawdey, Carolyn Seabolt, Linda Van Hart, Robert J. Waddell, Gordon Wickes, and Pam Zappardino.
The coffeehouse, run by local artist Sherri Hosfeld Joseph, of Westminster, has been holding art shows bi-monthly to promote local and regional artists. The artists from Off Track Art, known as “the Co-op,” are showing new works in addition to their ongoing, changing shows at 11 Liberty St., next to the railroad tracks and across from O’Lordans Irish Pub in Westminster.
Former Mayor Kevin Dayhoff, artist and writer, is showing new collage works and a wooden sculpture never shown before. Dayhoff has been a collage master for more than 30 years and just keeps getting better.
Dayhoff is exhibiting three pieces. Dayhoff said he “explores colors and shapes and various social themes through collage, mixed media assemblage, drawings, and photography.
“I like the patriotic theme of ‘The Union Bridge College Bell and Flag,’ photograph as well as the history and tradition of the image…” he explained.
According to Dayhoff, he is also particularly fond of “Insaniacs,” a digitally enhanced photograph. He likes the juxtaposition of the Bo Diddley quote about how insane society can be - on top of the tranquility depicted in a scene from his farm in Patapsco.
The most interesting piece in the show by Dayhoff is “Nosakhere,” a religious wooden sculpture from his African mask series. This piece, which is nearly 3 feet tall, is a commanding face and has an organic feel. The name is an African one that means “One with God.”
