Artists think small in new fundraising exhibit

The Art Alliance of Central Pennsylvania will bring a first-of-its-kind event to the area when the “SIXxSIX” fundraiser and exhibition opens on Wednesday in the Art Alliance Gallery Downtown.

The Art Alliance has invited artists, students and the community to create artworks that measure 6 inches by 6 inches to be donated and displayed at the Art Alliance Downtown during the month of July. Painting, drawing, collage, printmaking, photography, sculpture and mixed-media works in diverse styles and representing many subjects will be shown. All pieces will be available for sale at $25 each, with proceeds benefiting the Art Alliance.

Artist Jim Bright, chair of “SIXxSIX,” brought the idea to the Art Alliance after seeing a similiar show in Rochester, N.Y.

“We have found both artists and potential visitors are excited about our event and its coordination with the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts,” Bright said. “Artists find the 6 x 6 format to be one that encourages them to try new techniques and ideas — ones that can be expressed more quickly than in larger works. There is a playfulness about many of the 6 x 6 works.”

Robert Baumbach, a retired State College Area High School art teacher, recently had an exhibit of his works at the Bellefonte Art Museum titled “Feathers,” and he sells bird-themed postcards and art at Ways Fruit Farm. Therefore, he decided to do five 6 x 6 images of some of his birds.

“I feel that these would make very saleable art for the show,” he said. “The whole idea is to sell art to benefit the Art Alliance and I wanted to provide work that I know has sold well.”

For Susan Graham, a State College-based architect and painter of larger abstract acrylic paitnings, the criteria for the show was challenging at first.

“At first, I thought surely they were asking us to do 6-foot by 6-foot paintings; but the process was really the same for a small as for a large painting,” she said. “First, I created a ‘problem’ by placing the paint on the canvas, then through the application of color and form tried to make it a meaningful visual experience.”

Erin Welsh, who just completed her first year teaching art at Bellefonte Area High School, is submitting many pieces from her art students, as well as a few of her own abstract pieces. The students made 6 x 6 pieces as a final assignment for her and for her colleague, Heather Fry. Students had the option to submit their work, which they created using a variety of subjects and mediums.

“The students were excited to participate in this exciting local art/community event,” Welsh said. “As an artist and a teacher, I was thrilled to have my students able to participate in a show that includes works made by well-established artists as well as young students still learning.”

Most works in the show are by local or regional artists, but the Art Alliance has received work from the Harrisburg, Washington, D.C., New York City and Pittsburgh areas.

Purchasers may choose the work of an “up and coming” art student or that of a veteran artist during this unique buying opportunity. All art will be purchased on a first-come, first-served basis during gallery hours.

“Signatures are found only on the back of the art, so some fortunate — or savvy — buyers may get the work of some of our premier painters or photographers for a very modest price,” Bright said.

The Art Alliance is also excited to have music by local rock and blues band 3MO, which will be playing in the Martin Luther King Plaza, just outside the gallery.

“We hope to make this a fun event for artists and art lovers,” Bright said. “We also hope to make viewers more aware of the Art Alliance’s new downtown location.”

The Art Alliance’s expectations in the first year of the “SIXxSIX” show were to reach 500 donated works for the pleasure of all viewers, and it appears that it will reach that number.

“The excitement by our artists and visitors makes us confident of the success of our first-year event,” Bright said. “The financial boost to our organization will be a bonus to that success.”

“I really hope we can get the public to come out to the show,” Baumbach said. “The 6x6 format and consistent price for the works should make buying art easy for anyone. The variety of pieces and mediums will provide a good variety of art to choose from.”

To Graham, the excitement of art is the interplay of the artist and the viewer, and she hopes that anyone who sees this show will feel that excitement.

“I think this will be a really fun show to see,” Graham said. “So many artists will all be working within the same confines and I’m sure will come up with very diverse, creative ideas.”

This story was originally published July 6, 2017 at 10:27 AM with the headline "Artists think small in new fundraising exhibit."