New Water Street Studios exhibits open July 12
On Friday, July 12, Water Street Studios, 160 S. Water St. in Batavia, will host opening receptions for two exhibits from 6 to 9 p.m. Artists will be present at the reception to discuss their work and answer questions. It is part of Second Fridays in Downtown Batavia.
Appetizers will be provided by Gaetano's Batavia, cash bar featuring beer from Solemn Oath Brewery, and wine will be available for purchase. This event is free and open to the public.
Visitors are encouraged to make a $5 donation at the door to support arts programming at Water Street Studios.
'Dot to Dot'
The "Dot to Dot" exhibit explores form and questions the idea of formal art through analogy and metaphor. The exhibit will open Friday in the Dempsey Family Gallery on the first floor.
Steve Sherrell, a painter and digital artist, with his son, Colin Sherrell, a sculptor, bring audiences 65 years of making and exhibiting artwork.
Steve is a career painter with early influences from his father who was a painter and window dresser for a large department store.
As a boy, he was exposed to Abstract Expressionism, Cubism, Pop Art and American Realism.
His training at the School of the Art Institute was with Ray Yoshida and Whitney Halstead, who introduced him to studio practices that he has utilized since he graduated.
Steve is professor emeritus of art at Joliet Junior College.
"I've done all the stuff, the shows, the travel, the galleries, the museums. I have worked as an artist for 50 years," Steve Sherrell said. "I worked at an art museum. I've started galleries, been with galleries, been in the magazines and newspapers. I taught college art for 30 years.
"I have done interesting things and know many, many interesting, amazing people. But the truth is, I prefer to be in my studio, doing what I do. That is where I am myself and feel at home. Art has given me a reason to wake up every morning and begin the day."
Steve Sherrell shares, "Growing up surrounded with art, my work tends to deal with referencing art and existing sculptural tendencies including Conceptualism, Fluxus, Dada, Minimalism, Arte Povera, and endless amounts of theory. I approach these tendencies with reference to a wide variety of traditional fabrication processes and materials."
His son, Colin, works in woodworking, fiberglass, glass, ceramics, stone masonry, metal fabrication and more.
To see more artwork by Steve Sherrell and Colin Sherrell, visit www.stevesherrell.com or www.colinsherrell.com.
'100 Years of Art'
In the Chicago Capital Gallery on the second floor, celebrate 100 years with the Aurora Art League featuring their exhibition titled "Aurora Art League - Celebrating 100 Years of Art in the Fox Valley."
You are invited to celebrate the long and colorful history of the Aurora Art League with this exhibit featuring a wide variety of media, including oil, oil with cold wax, acrylic, watercolor, colored pencil, and photography.
The Aurora Art League has members from the city of Aurora and surrounding communities. The Aurora Art League works to encourage and provide opportunities for those interested in all forms of creative visual art; promote high artistic standards; and stimulate interest and understanding in art. Since its inception, the art league has continued its mission to stimulate interest and encourage opportunities in the visual arts. A weekly open art studio is held, so members can work on their current art projects together; sharing knowledge and support in a causal environment. Members are encouraged to show their work in one of the several locations where the league furnishes exhibits. Additionally, a scholarship is awarded annually to a deserving high school graduate to assist in furthering the study of art on a collegiate level. For details on the art league, visit auroraartleague.org or www.facebook.com/AuroraArtLeague/.
A special thank you to event sponsors K. Hollis Jewelers and Batavia Enterprises Inc.
Don't forget to share your photos during the event by using #2ndFridaysBatavia.
Water Street Studios is partnering with the Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry and Clothes Closet during the Second Friday Gallery opening receptions. They will be accepting donations on their behalf. Consider bringing an item from their current needs list that can be found at www.bataviafoodpantry.org.
Both gallery exhibits will continue to be on display until Aug. 3. The exhibits in both galleries can be visited during regular public hours: noon to 5 p.m. Thursday to Sunday.
Water Street Studios is a nonprofit art center. Its mission is to help make the arts more accessible to the Fox Valley region and beyond. Its vision is to be a cultural hub in the Midwest. They provide the community with art classes, artist studios, community events, gallery exhibitions, free after-school art programs, outreach, private events in a historic venue, and more. Learn more by visiting www.waterstreetstudios.org or www.facebook.com/waterststudios/.