Last Weekend of "Watermarks"

"House Hunter" © Beatrice Bork

LAMBERTVILLE NJ— It's hard for me to believe, but "Watermarks" at Artists' Gallery  is in its last weekend already! The show has been well received and quite a few paintings have found new homes. We will be having a "Coffee and Conversation" closing celebration on Sunday Oct. 4th, 2-4pm, all are welcome to stop by!

Another new painting I've featured in the show is "House Hunter", a carolina wren seeking out a new home, and has landed on a particularly interesting tree with possible potential? I enjoy our local birds as much as any birds I've seen in my travels. Wrens are cute, loud—in a melodious way, and quick. 

I've chosen a frame that echoes the tones in the painting and the bird. It has a nice contemporary feel with a rustic finish that I find suits the painting well. Conservation framing with UV protective museum glass.

A "Lyrical" Theme

"Caribbean Sun" © Beatrice Bork

This upcoming February Artists' Gallery group show, has the theme of "Lyrical" which pairs musical lyrics (or poems) with art. One of the paintings I'm planning on exhibiting at this show is "Caribbean Sun" along with the lyrics from the song "Yellow Bird" which I'm familiar with via a Trinidadian Steel Drum version, and a cover by Chris Isaac (it has been covered by many singers/ musicians).  While I was searching for the lyrics to the song, I found out that it is actually a Haitian Folk song, written by Oswald Duraund with music by Michel Mauleart Monton, 1893.

"Yellow Bird"
Yellow bird, up high in banana tree.
Yellow bird, you sit all alone like me.

Did you lady friend leave the nest again?
That is very sad, makes me feel so bad.
You can fly away, in the sky away.
You're more lucky than me.

I also had a pretty girl, she's not with me today.
They're all the same those pretty girls.
Take tenderness, then they fly away.
Yellow Bird, yellow bird.

Did you lady friend leave the nest again?
That is very sad, makes me feel so bad.
You can fly away, in the sky away.
You're more lucky than me.

Wish that I were a yellow bird, I'd fly away with you.
But I am not a yellow bird, So here I sit.
Nothing I can do.
Yellow bird, yellow bird.

What's next?

The current Artists' Gallery exhibit is winding down ("AG 18/18/18" ends Feb 2), and I'm getting ready for the next group exhibit, "Lyrical". This will be the second time we're going with this theme, it pairs up art with a song or poem.

"Lyrical"
2nd Annual Exhibit
18 Bridge St.
Lambertville, NJ 08822

January 25, is the last day of the Philadelphia Sketch Club exhibit where "Through the Shoals" is on exhibit. I was one of three jurors for this show, and there are some excellent pieces represented there.

"Lyrical"

"Lovie Dovie" © Beatrice Bork

February marks the start of a unique group exhibit at Artists' Gallery in Lambertville, NJ. All 18 of the house artists are participating in "Lyrical" a show that groups art with poem and song. Due to the snow storm predicted, the opening reception for "Lyrical" will be held on Sunday, Feb 10 from 3-6 pm. The show is on display through March 3.

I have chosen 2 pieces, "Lovie Dovie" which is paired with the poem "Hope" by Emily Dickinson, if you have read my last blog on Feathers, makes an obvious connection with my recent journey. I also chose my painting "Summer House at the Shore" to go along with the song "Surfin' Bird" by the Trashmen. It is just a fun old song, there's always room for some fun! ...  My inspiration for this piece comes from the Purple Martins seen at Cape May by the lighthouse, where there are a slew of "apartments" set up for these birds that "surf the air". 

"Summer House at the Shore" © Beatrice Bork