Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Nature in the back yard - NITBY


One of my hobbies is growing all sorts of plants .... this is my Elephant Ear (aka Mammoth Ear) growing and taking up about 10% of my office. Just discovered today that my new leaf is actually a beginning flower!
A wonderful aroma now fills that end of the room! I'll post another picture when it opens!
I'll tag this one "Nature in the back yard". My dad - Mel Olney - and I love to notice all the living things that abound even in a very city type place!

Monday, January 29, 2007

Success!



The "Generations" art show opening was a great success. That's Cheryl, standing next to a wonderful fabric "quilt" by Frances Hare. We had a great turnout, complete with punch and cheese, and a live piano player!

Especially wonderful was the presence of several of our younger artists who were most proud to be part of a "real" art show! They stood by their photos and paintings, explaining their work, and receiving the rightful compliments of the adults admiring their work! Monday evening our local Channel 13 featured some of the kids in their "Bright Spot" local news segment!

Cheryl and I were very happy that it all turned out so well! The show is open through the end of February, and is well worth a visit!

Friday, January 26, 2007


Generations

As we rushed to end one year and begin another, we were approached by Jean Boyle of 1570 Gallery to curate an exhibitition of local African American artists for Black History month.

Around that same time, we were asked to create a Sankofa recognition plaque to be given by the Blackstorytelling League of Rochester NY to founder Sankofa David Anderson. That project gave us pause to think about the meaning of Sankofa: the process of learning from the past as we build the future.
From these thoughts the multi-generational concept for this art show was born.

In assembling the show, we called on friends, acquaintances, people whose work we'd seen or heard about, and "people who knew people who knew people" for HELP!

On very short notice, amidst the hustle and bustle of the Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Year's holidays these generous and wonderful artists agreed to participate. We are particularly excited to include the work or Rochester area children and teens, who have created some amazing work and may well be our community's future sought after artists.

Personally, curating Generations was a first for us. We hope that it will grow legs, and contribute to the ongoing, important, and too easily neglected, conversations between the generations in all aspects of our lives!

Cheryl and Don Olney January / February 2007

Sankofa is an Adinkra symbol from West Africa. Adinkra symbols are mainly printed by hand oncloth, but also decorate homes, and public spaces. The various Adinkra symbols are visualexpressions of the history, religious beliefs, ethics, politics, and aesthetics of the Akan people of Ghana. The Sankofa is a bird - going forward, but looking backward, with an egg - its future - in its mouth. Sankofa is transliterated in the Akan language as "se wo were fi na wosan kofa a yenki." Literally translated, it means "it is not taboo to go back and fetch what you forgot.”

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Generations Art Show


Cheryl and I have curated an art show for the 1570 Gallery in Rochester, NY ---- our first curating effort, and if I do say so myself it looks really great. Most of the greatness of course must be credited to the artists. Our concept was to do a "Generations" concept with artwork from relative newcomers to this world, along with others with many years of experience. The show opens on Friday nite..... if you are in the area drop by Friday nite, or visit the show between 9am-5pm weekdays through the end of February. Friday nite I'll try to get permission to post a couple of pictures of the work from some of the artists.

Sunday, January 21, 2007

Some days just give us wonderful reinforcement!






Found this note in our mail box the other day. As people who try to create beautiful uplifting art every day, knowing that someone notices and takes the time to say "Thank You" is wonderful.