West Gallery to Host ‘Iron and its Accomplices’ Art Exhibition

by Diane VanDyke

Sun and Moon” metal sculpture by Paul Beatty.

Montgomery County Community College is pleased to host “Iron and its Accomplices,” art exhibition featuring metal artist Paul Beatty of Hemlock Forge and several area artists June 3-July 25 at the West Campus Fine Arts Gallery, North Hall, 16 High Street, Pottstown.

A “Meet the Artists” reception will be held on Wednesday, June 12, from 5 to 7 p.m. Both the exhibition and reception are free and open to the public.

Metal artist Paul Beatty owns Hemlock Forge in nearby Barto, Pa., and specializes in copper, steel and sheet metal. He initially studied traditional blacksmithing under blacksmith Ed Land of Huffs Church, Berks County. He later served an apprenticeship with renowned metal artist Greg Leavitt of Earl Township, Berks County.

Beatty’s masterful skills are reminiscent of a time when craftsmen poured their hearts and souls into the hard labor of their wares. He specializes in commissions of decorative and functional art, including arbors, fences, armillaries and sculptures, and all his work is hand-forged and custom-made. Beatty has been a metalsmith for more than 14 years and is a member of the Pennsylvania Artists Blacksmith Association and the Artist Blacksmith’s Association of North America.

Several local artists will be joining Beatty for the exhibition, including photographer Tammy Snyder of East Greenville; mosaic artist Amy Bruckner of Downingtown; stain glass artist Marlys Thomas of Harleysville; wood sculptor Mark Hughes of Barto; metal artist Ed Land of Huffs Church; and Damascus steel artist Robert Eggerling of Mertztown.

For more information about the exhibition, contact Montgomery County Community College Galleries Director Holly Cairns at 215-619-7349 or hcairns@mc3.edu.

Help support the arts and art education programs at Montgomery County Community College by becoming a Friend of The Galleries. Donations are tax deductible. For more information, contact the College Foundation at 215-641-6535.  Follow us at facebook.com/DestinationArts.

Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed weekends.

Gallery Hosts Philadelphia Sketch Club Exhibit

by Diane VanDyke

“Pot Heads” by Betz Green, oil on board

Montgomery County Community College is hosting a special art exhibition May 22-June 20 featuring the Philadelphia Sketch Club (PSC): Continuing 150 Years of Artistic Excellence at the College’s Fine Arts Center, Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell.

A “Meet the Artists” reception will be held Wednesday, June 5, from 5 to 7 p.m. Both the exhibit and artists’ reception are free of charge and open to the public.

Approximately 100 pieces of art, representing PSC’s membership of more than 200 professional and non-professional artists, will be displayed through a diversity of mediums, from watercolors, oils and mixed media to photography and sculpture.

PSC, located at 235 S. Camac St., Philadelphia, provides a meeting place for artists where they can share ideas and network with fellow artists. Founded in 1860, PSC is one of America’s oldest clubs for artists. Its membership list includes American masters such as Thomas Eakins and Thomas Pollock Anshutz.

For more information about the exhibition, contact Gallery Director Holly Cairns at 215-619-7349 or hcairns@mc3.edu. Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed weekends.

You can help support the arts and art education programs at Montgomery County Community College by becoming a Friend of The Galleries. Donations are tax deductible. For more information, contact the College Foundation at 215-641-6535.

Like the College’s Destination Arts Facebook page to receive the details about upcoming arts events.

West End Theatre Group to Present Original Student Play ‘Under the Hood’

by Rebecca Rhodin

Fairy tales are intriguing to Ryland X. Beck — especially the way so many versions exist of each old story.

His own family, of German background, shared some darker versions of the tales with him, while dancing around the truly gruesome plot lines, says the second-year student at Montgomery County Community College.

“I’m fascinated by how many variations there are of one story, with different endings and different details added and taken away, and how much a story changes through word of mouth,” explains Beck, 21, of Green Lane.

It has inspired him to write his own fairy-tale-based play “Under the Hood,” which will be staged on May 11 at noon and again at 1:30 p.m. by the College’s West End Theatre Group in the open-air theater at Riverfront Park, 140 College Drive, Pottstown.

The same way the Grimm Brothers collected and presented stories from ages past, Beck has taken bits and pieces of yarns, ideas and characters and pulled them into one script.

And he is building “the next generation” of fairy tale by combining story lines and adding modern details like cars and phones.

Some of the main characters of “Under the Hood” are a female auto mechanic named Robin, her boyfriend who happens to be a pig, and a wolfish lawyer named Lycan. The story weaves in threads of recent events, with the wolf plotting with a bank to take away people’s houses.

Beck worked with Montgomery County Community College Theatre Arts Coordinator Michael Whistler to tweak the play in the aftermath of its successful first reading during the College’s 12th annual Lasagna Dinner at the West Campus in February.

“It was a great experience because it helped me see what wasn’t quite clear yet, and how someone else might see it,” says Beck of the reading. “I’ve been editing it for four months now – it’s slow and grueling, but I’ve gained a lot of respect for playwrights!”

On the other hand, the auditions were fun. Some prospects brought a lot of energy to the tryouts, and Beck got to see his written words transformed into living, breathing characters.

The roles have been cast and the sets for the play will be limited because of the outdoor staging, he says.

“I hope I have a good turnout,” Beck muses. “At the reading, I was nervous before it started. It turned out better than I expected.”

Even though “Under the Hood” is the second play he has penned, the first being a project for high school English, theater is not his ambition. He plans to major in occupational therapy and hopes to eventually earn a doctorate in that discipline.

In fact, the idea for “Under the Hood” came to Beck while he was supposed to be studying for a history final. His original aim in writing it was to save money for the West Campus drama club by coming up with a play for which they wouldn’t have to pay rights.

“The only connection theater and OT have is they are both great interests of mine,” he says.

Inaugural ‘Courting Art’ Exhibit Celebrates Creativity of Montgomery County Seniors

by Diane VanDyke

Whether it’s bucolic landscapes, historic buildings or caring neighbors, Montgomery County senior artists will be sharing what they love most about their home county through their artwork at a special art exhibition, Courting Art, led by the Montgomery Bar Association (MBA) and its Community Outreach Committee (COC).

Montgomery County Community College will be showcasing the seniors’ artwork from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Friday, May 10, and Monday, May 13, at its Fine Arts Center Gallery, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The public is invited to this free special art exhibition, and parking is available in the lot off of Route 202.

Courting Art is a new arts initiative created by MBA and its COC. Through a series of juried art exhibitions, Courting Art will promote and share the artwork of Montgomery County senior artists in the interior of the Montgomery County Courthouse.

This year’s inaugural contest and exhibition features the theme, “What I Love About Montgomery County.” Montgomery County senior artists, age 55 and older, were invited to create and submit original artwork on May 7 for the juried exhibition and contest. The panel of judges for the art exhibition will include, among others, sitting judges from Montgomery County’s 38th Judicial District Court of Common Pleas.

More than a dozen prizes, including a grand prize of $1,000, will be awarded during an awards ceremony on May 13. The winning selections will be reproduced and displayed on the walls of the Montgomery County Courthouse.

During that same week, May 6-10, and as part of Older Americans Month, the College will be the setting for the 28th Annual Montgomery County Senior Games, which includes an array of friendly competitive activities. The week concludes with a free Senior Expo from 9 a.m.-12 noon in the College’s Physical Education Building with more than 50 exhibitors with free products and services.

In addition to partnering with senior community events, the College is expanding its support for older learners, as part of its recent participation in the American Association of Community Colleges’ Plus 50 Encore Completion program. With this program, an academic advisor will help plus-50 learners plan their educational course to launch another career, taking into consideration life experience.

For more information about the Courting Art contest and exhibition, please visit CourtingArt.com. For information about the Montgomery Bar Association or its Community Outreach Committee, contact Jim Mathias at the Montgomery Bar Association at 610-994-3660, or by email at jim@montgomerybar.org.

For more information about MCCC’s Fine Arts Center, contact Gallery Director Holly Cairns at 215-619-7349 or hcairns@mc3.edu.

Fine Arts Center Gallery to Host 45th Annual Student Exhibition & Competition

by Diane VanDyke

“Reflections of Glasses,” a painting by Taekyung (April) Do, from last year’s exhibit.

Montgomery County Community College will be showcasing the talent of its Central Campus art students at its 46th Annual Art Students’ Exhibition which opens Wednesday, April 10, and continues through Friday, May 3, at the Fine Arts Center Gallery, Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell.

More than 100 students will be displaying their artwork in the show. The reception for the artists will be held Wednesday, May 1, from 5 to 7 p.m. with the Awards Ceremony at 6 p.m.

The exhibition and reception are free of charge and open to the public. The Fine Arts Center Gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m.-9:30 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Parking is available in the lot off of Route 202.

The exhibition includes a full-range of media, including ceramics, sculptures, oil paintings, water colors, drawings, photography, digital arts and mixed media.

For more information about the exhibition, contact Gallery Director Holly Cairns at 215-619-7349 or hcairns@mc3.edu.

Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DestinationArts for information about upcoming performances and art exhibitions.

Gallery to Host 35th Annual Montgomery County High School Art Exhibition & Competition

by Diane VanDyke

Montgomery County high school art students will showcase their artwork at Montgomery County Community College’s 35th Annual Montgomery County High School Art Exhibition and Competition starting Sunday, March 3, through Friday, March 22, at the Fine Arts Center Art Gallery at Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell.

The opening reception will be held Sunday, March 3, from 1-3 p.m. with the awards ceremony at 2 p.m. The exhibition is free and open to the public.

Students from 32 public, parochial and private schools in Montgomery County were invited to participate in the exhibition. The artwork features a variety of subjects and styles in an array of media. College art faculty members will be judging the artwork.

Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m.-9:30 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Closed weekends, except for the opening reception. 

For more information about the exhibition, contact Gallery Director Holly Cairns at 215-619-7349 or hcairns@mc3.edu.

Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DestinationArts for information about upcoming performances and art exhibitions.

“Kid in a Candy Store,” acrylic painting by Phoebe Mikalonis, Spring-Ford High School

Dual Exhibit Features the Work of Artists Fred & Heidi Kreitchet

by Diane VanDyke

Sculpture by Fred Kreitchet

Montgomery County Community College presents a special father and daughter exhibition featuring the artwork of sculptor Fred Kreitchet and ceramic artist Heidi Kreitchet from Tuesday, Jan. 22, through Friday, Feb. 15, at the College’s Fine Arts Center Gallery, Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell.

The public is invited to meet these talented artists during a special reception on Sunday, Feb. 3, from 1-3 p.m. with a gallery talk at 2 p.m. The exhibit and reception are free of charge.

Using an array of materials, including clay, fiberglass reinforced plastics, bronze, metal and wood, Fred Kreitchet designs and makes three-dimensional sculptures in his Blue Bell studio and bronze foundry known as the Sculpture Workshop. Beyond his commission work, Fred also teaches three-dimensional design, sculpture, mold-making, fabrication and drawing as an adjunct art lecturer at Montgomery County Community College for more than 20 years.

Fred’s most notable work is the Treehouse at the Philadelphia Zoo, a commission piece for architects Venturi, Rauch & Scott Brown that won the Gold Medal Award from the Architectural Institute of America. His sculptures may be seen at such prominent places as the London National Gallery, the White House, The Baltimore Zoo, Penn State, Independence National Historical Park and The Academy of Natural Sciences, to name a few.

In addition to three-dimensional sculptures, Fred also designs and sculpts fine, bas-relief ornaments and medallions for special commemorations. These medallions have been in traveling exhibits from Boston to Los Angeles, and are in more than 600 private collections, including Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter and Reagan and dignitaries Madam Sadat, Menachem Begin, Gorbachev and Pope John Paul II.

Ceramic bowl by Heidi Kreitchet

Across the country in Pomona, Calif., Heidi Kreitchet is the studio director at The Ceramics Studio located at the American Museum of Ceramic Arts. She has exhibited her ceramics in numerous shows spanning the United States. In 2002, she won the Frederick Docstrader at an exhibit in Flagstaff, Ariz., and, in 2009, she won the Kiln God National award in San Angelo, Texas. Her work can also be found in permanent collections in the United States and Australia.

Heidi holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Northern Arizona University and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Utah State University. Following her undergraduate work, she assisted renowned ceramic artist Don Reitz for two years in Clarkdale, Ariz., as she developed her own distinctive style using a wood-fire finish.

For more information about the exhibition at MCCC, contact Gallery Director Holly Cairns at 215-619-7349 or hcairns@mc3.edu.

For more information about Heidi Kreitchet’s work, visit www.hkwoodfre.com; for Fred Kreitchet’s work, visit www.sculptureworkshop.com.

You can help support the arts and art education programs at Montgomery County Community College by becoming a Friend of The Galleries. Donations are tax deductible. For more information, contact the College Foundation at 215-641-6535.

Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed weekends.

Art Exhibition Features Montgomery County’s Natural Assets

by Diane VanDyke

Artist Susannah Hart Thomer’s painting, “Whirl and Twirl.”

Montgomery County Community College in collaboration with the Montgomery County Lands Trust (MCLT) will co-host “Embrace Open Space,” an art exhibition featuring the landscapes, historic properties and people of the region. The show will be held Monday, Nov. 26, through Friday, Dec. 14, at the College’s Fine Arts Center Gallery, Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell.

A special reception will be held Wednesday, Dec. 5, from 5-7 p.m. with a gallery talk at 6 p.m. The exhibit and reception are open to the community and free of charge.

“‘Embrace Open Space’ recognizes and celebrates the work of artists who receive inspiration from the natural world,” said Dulcie F. Flaharty, Executive Director of Montgomery County Lands Trust. “We hope that their vision inspires all of us to remain vigilant and energetic in safeguarding these special places.”

The show, curated by artist Susannah Hart Thomer, will reflect MCLT’s mission “to preserve and connect the natural areas, farmland, and neighborhood green spaces, which contribute to our quality of life, to a clean and abundant water supply and to the health of our region’s economy.”

Exhibit sponsors include Univest Corporation (presenting sponsor), Pennsylvania Land Trust Association, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Robert H. Erb.

MCLT, a non-profit organization established in 1993, was created in conjunction with the Montgomery County Open Space Program. Through its leadership, MCLT assists with the formation of private and public partnerships to find ways to save and preserve the County’s open spaces and natural resources.  In July 2012, MCLT became an affiliate of the regional Natural Lands Trust that serves eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey.

For more information about the exhibition at the College, contact Gallery Director Holly Cairns at 215-619-7349 or hcairns@mc3.edu.

You can help support the arts and art education programs at Montgomery County Community College by becoming a Friend of The Galleries. Donations are tax deductible. For more information, contact the College Foundation at 215-641-6535.

Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed weekends.

Studio B Artists Take Their Show on the Road

by Diane VanDyke

Dan Gorman’s oil painting, “Mich & Dolly.”

Montgomery County Community College will feature the artwork of the artists of Studio B of Boyertown during a “Members Show” from Monday, Nov. 5, through Friday, Dec. 14, at the Fine Arts Gallery, North Hall, 16 High Street, Pottstown.

A special “Meet the Artists” reception will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 7, from 5-7 p.m. The exhibition and reception are free and open to the public.

Located in the heart of downtown Boyertown at 39A E. Philadelphia Ave., Studio B operates as a community art center and gallery that hosts monthly exhibits and classes for students of all ages. The gallery—established in 2008 by the Arts & Activities Alliance of Building a Better Boyertown—has more than 60 artist members, who specialize in an array of media and styles.

“We are pleased to have this opportunity to exhibit the fine artwork of our talented artist members at MCCC’s handsome gallery,” said Susan Biebuyck, Studio B Gallery Director.

As an active member of the Boyertown area community, Studio B participates in several activities and events throughout the year, including Berks County Best Kept Secrets Tour (Nov. 2-17), the Fall Into Winter Tour (Nov. 17-18) and the Boyertown Holiday Open House Tour (Dec. 7).

The College’s Fine Arts Gallery also will be participating in this year’s Fall Into Winter Tour with Studio B’s Members exhibit. This annual art tour features local studios and galleries in Boyertown, Barto and the surrounding communities. For tour details and a map, visit www.studiobbb.org/fall-into-winter. Studio B will be featuring the outsider artwork of artist Bob Wood during the tour.

For more information about the exhibition, contact Montgomery County Community College Galleries Director Holly Cairns at 215-619-7349 or hcairns@mc3.edu.

Help support the arts and art education programs at Montgomery County Community College by becoming a Friend of The Galleries. Donations are tax deductible. For more information, contact the College Foundation at 215-641-6535.

Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., and Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed weekends, except for Nov. 17-18, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., for the Fall Into Winter Tour.

Fine Arts Center Gallery to Host Dual Exhibit ‘Becker/Light Hues’

by Diane VanDyke

Montgomery County Community College is hosting a dual exhibit featuring the artwork of Millie Becker and Molly Light from Wednesday, June 27, through Friday, July 27, at the College’s Fine Arts Center, Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell.

The opening reception will be held Wednesday, June 27, from 5 to 7 p.m. with a gallery talk at 6 p.m. The exhibit and reception are open to the public and free of charge.

Both artists enjoy using bold hues and exploring new ways of utilizing traditional media. Their styles are uniquely compatible and yet distinct. Powerful colors punctuate their artwork, created in a variety of water-based media, including watercolors, pastels, acrylics, encaustics, collage and mixed media

Becker’s rye sense of humor often informs her choice of subject and compositions. Her creativity and penchant for expressing new ideas is supported by a masterful command of different techniques and mediums.

Throughout her career, Becker has won numerous awards. Her artwork appears in the International Museum of Electrographic Art in Spain, as well as locally at Delaware County Community College, Rosemont College and the SPP Galleries in Conshohocken.

“Balancing Act” by Millie Becker

Often inspired by natural phenomena, Light’s abstracts evolve from weather or seasonal conditions—such as light, temperature, color, movement and textures—or from psychological moods. Her paintings push the envelope of what can be done with the unique qualities of each medium. Freedom of movement, balanced with intuitive timing and rhythms, contribute to rich combinations of color and stroke.

Educated at The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Moore College of Art, and the College of Art at Hartford University, Light has won numerous awards in juried exhibitions.

‘Water Dreams’ by Molly Light

Both artists are committed activists for the arts. Becker has served as president of the Montgomery County Guild of Professional Artists, and as a board member of Artists Equity. Light is a current board member of the Philadelphia/Tri-State Artists Equity and served as chairman of their signature 63rd Anniversary Exhibition in 2012.

For more information about the exhibition, contact Gallery Director Holly Cairns at 215-619-7349 or hcairns@mc3.edu.

You can help support the arts and art education programs at Montgomery County Community College by becoming a Friend of The Galleries. Donations are tax deductible. For more information, contact the College Foundation at 215-641-6535.

Summer Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.