'Pastel' show nearing end at Kenan Center

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Todd Overturf's "Cranberry Harvest II" is one of the featured paintings at the Kenan's "Pastel Perfect" show. Contributed Photo

October 5, 2009

By Phil Dzikiy<br><a href="mailto:phil.dzikiy@lockportjournal.com">E-mail Phil</a> The Lockport Union-Sun %26 Journal Mon Oct 05, 2009, 10:39 AM EDT

Only one week remains to see an oft-overlooked art medium at the Kenan Center as “Pastel Perfect: A Survey of Western New York Pastel Artists” comes to a close next Sunday.

Six Western New York artists are on display at the exhibition, which can almost be seen as a collection of solo exhibitions, according to guest curator Gerald Mead.

Mead already had six artists in mind when he heard the Kenan was interested in doing some kind of drawing media exhibition.

“I know and see a lot of people’s work,” said Mead, who is an artist, educator, arts writer and independent curator.

Pastels don’t often get proper respect in certain art circles, Mead said. He hopes that a show like this will change some minds.

“As far as an art media, any drawing media tends to get short shrift,” he said. “It’s seen as second-rate sometimes.”

Mead walked through the halls of the Kenan Center, hopping in and out of the six rooms that showcase the artists separately. The first room contained the works of George Palmer, who is widely known for his portraits (some of his work can be seen in the Shea’s lobby), but Mead noted that Palmer’s backgrounds are just as dynamic as his portrait subjects.

A walk through the exhibition with Mead revealed many other observations on the artists works, as well. Priscilla Bowen’s work is more abstract, featuring elements of nature. Two of the artists, Kathleen McDonnell and Todd Overturf, are showcasing landscape work but Mead noted the differences in the works.

“(Overturf’s) approach to the landscape is a lot more impressionistic,” he said.

Another artist whose portrait work is on display in the exhibition is Margaret Coakley Hart, an 85-year-old artist. Rounding out the exhibition is the work of George Grace, the current president of the Buffalo Society of Artists. Grace’s work in the exhibition revolves around aerial drawings and night scenes.

“It’s wonderful to show the other side of landscapes,” Mead said, of Grace’s work.

For those artists — current or aspiring — interested in dabbling in pastels, Mead points out that pastels are a quick medium that could prove addictive.

“I think (pastels) have an immediacy,” he said. “You can apply it and immediately see results.”

The opening reception for “Pastel Perfect” drew a large crowd of about 80 to 100 people to the Kenan Center, marketing director Elaine Harrigan said.

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