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“A Glance at Legacy” Opens First Friday

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family photo of Aubrey Clark

My great grandfather John P.E. Clark, his sons, Kenneth Harding Clark and my grandfather, John C. Clark

family photo of Aubrey Clark

Great grandmother, Lillian B. Jones and her daughters Florence and my grandmother Dorothy on the upper right.

Aubrey Clark, noted painter and printmaker of the natural world, is taking up her family history in a new exhibit at the Cooperative Gallery 213 called “A Glance at Legacy” opening April 1st, 2022. “The impetus for the April exhibit came about as I find myself at a crossroads of whether to write or continue to create visual work,” comments Clark about this new show. The Cooperative Gallery, at 213 State St. in Binghamton is open First Friday 5-9 pm, and every Friday 5- 8 pm, Saturdays 11 am- 3 pm, and by appointment with the artist. A Third Thursday Art Talk is scheduled for 7 pm via Zoom or in gallery.

Clark has said of her body of work, “There is a celebratory aspect to the work that relates to my attitude toward all life.” In this show she explores the idea of a family tree, incorporating, literally, images of trees which have long been a part of her artwork. “The research on my family is the result of my interest, curiosity, and appreciation for what got me here. The show has been enhanced by learning more about the interconnectedness of trees and their relationship to human beings. I can only scratch the surface but am combining what I am learning with my vision and desire to share how this heritage and community are interrelated in numerous ways.” Clark was inspired by the Richard Powers’ Overstory which helped her explore her own family story.

The Cooperative Gallery 213 in Binghamton NY is entering its 22nd year of presenting exhibits of local artists and community events. The gallery regularly schedules Life Drawing and a Third Thursday Art Talk. “The pandemic has forced us to do more things on line, like our online store and Facebook Live events,” according to Gallery president Karen Kuff-Demicco. Over 100 gallery members and the public receive a weekly e-newsletter and exhibiting members are featured on the website at http://www.cooperativegallery.com and Facebook and Instagram.

“Renewal” and “Contrast” at Cooperative Gallery 213

Aubrey Clark and John Thomson are opening exhibits, entitled, respectively  “Renewal” and “Contrast” on First Friday August 4th 6-9 pm  at the Cooperative Gallery 213 on State St. in Binghamton, NY. The exhibits will be on display through August 26th.

Aubrey Clark speaks of the process that has culminated in Renewal: “As an artist and potential memoirist, I have notebooks full of ideas and sketches, art materials for many mediums, a collection of fine papers, work unfinished, forgotten, or put aside to perhaps revisit. The question is not so much whether I can use it but will I use it? As an artist, I see potential in everything .”

She continues, “Renewal is part of the process of revisiting work, materials, and ideas. Recurring themes emerge to engage me: the natural resources of clean water, fresh air, fertile soil, animals and plants, planet sustainability, and life cycles.”

John Thomson is a professor at Binghamton University, artist and sculptor. He explains his artistic origins, “My interest in design, drawing and structure began  as a child, when I designed and built hundreds of model airplanes and ships. As an adult, my fascination with structure extended into building sailboats and musical instruments. Recently I’ve been making drawings and small scale sculptures that reflect a life long interest in the natural world. In these pieces there is apt to be a contrast between organic and geometric forms.”

The Cooperative Gallery, a popular stop on the First Friday Art Walk, located on Artists Row –State of the Art, at 213 State Street in Binghamton, is open on First Friday 3- 9 pm and regularly Fridays from 3-6 and Saturdays from 12- 4 pm and by appointment with the artists. To be apprised of gallery events sign up for our weekly e-newsletter on our website at  www.cooperativegallery.com or on our Facebook page, Cooperative Gallery 213.

 

Air and Water: Clark and Thomson

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Otter Creek by Aubrey Clark

This First Friday the Cooperative Gallery 213 will open an exhibit by Aubrey Clark and John Thomson titled: Air and Water. The exhibit, which will run from Nov. 6th to Nov. 28th  includes oil paintings, monotypes, and solar etchings by Aubrey and small sculptures by John. A reception, open to the public, will be held at the gallery on First Friday, November 6, from 6-9 pm.  The artists hope to lead a lively discussion on Third Thursday, November 19 at 7 pm about the challenges artists experience to create their work.

“My work in this exhibition was inspired by visits to Vermont, giving me time to see the movement and changes in the landscape, in particular Otter Creek,” said Aubrey Clark about her work. “I have continued to reflect on these experiences, to appreciate the visual ambiguity in nature, between earth and sky for instance. The work is elemental, moving past a single object or moment, suspending time.”

John Thomson talks about his art work, “I’ve had a lifelong intense interest in design, drawing, and structure, probably the result of designing and building hundreds of model airplanes and ships as a kid, and sailboats as an adult. I’ve been teaching design and drawing for forty years at Binghamton University. Recently I’ve been doing drawings and small sculpture expressing a lifelong interest in the natural world and more recently, digital imaging.”

The Cooperative Gallery, a popular stop on the First Friday Art Walk, located at 213 State Street in Binghamton, is open on Frist Friday 3- 9 pm and regularly Fridays from 3-6 and Saturdays from 12- 4 pm. Find us on Facebook at Cooperative Gallery 213 and sign up for our weekly e-newsletter on our website at  www.cooperativegallery.com or on our Facebook page.

 

 

 

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