Addendum to Graffiti Gallery Post

The grand opening of the Graffiti Gallery was so successful that we were all still flying high Saturday morning. It was a great time.

I mentioned the efforts of Swan and Tom, but they were not the only forces behind the success of this show. I feel it is worth mentioning some of the others who were responsible (although I don't know the names of everyone involved and I do apologize if I misspell some names.)

The Gallery is on the ground level of the National Transit Annex building. The room was in much need of repair and cleaning, so right from the start it took lots of volunteers. Volunteers with elbow grease, time and some with monetary donations. The ceiling needed to be fixed, lights needed to be installed (along with some electrical work), the walls needed attention and the floor needed to be stripped and varnished. (Since I was not part of this process, I'm sure there are things I'm missing or am stating incorrectly. Please feel free to add information.)

People that I do know who contributed to the success of the Gallery are Joann Wheeler who is instrumental in everything going on in the arts in Oil City. Dr. Robert DeShong who not only donated his time and energy ( Maureen left her footprint on his freshly painted step) but donated the lights (I think it was the lights .... I know he donated something.) Annisa Gage who set up the beautiful food display in the back room (along with Joann who helped cut up the veggies.) I remember seeing Lee Mehlberger on a ladder in the gallery and I know he offered many hours in there. There were many, many, many more who should be noted for all the contributions they made, but I don't know who they are. So sorry that I can't mention you too, but kudos to you just the same.

The people who brought in their Butch Quinn works should also be commended for sharing their pieces with everyone; Kay Woods and Bill Hadley to name a couple.

The exhibit will be open on Fridays and Saturdays, 11:00-7:00 until October 22nd. Well worth a trip to Oil City. (Stop in the National Transit Studios while you are there. You may see some artists working in their studios.)

Graffiti Gallery

Tonight was the Grand Opening of the Graffiti Gallery in Oil City, Pa. The show highlighted the work of Butch Quinn, a local artist who has work in the permanent collections of the Museum of American Folk Art in New York City and the Smithsonian Museum of American Art in Washington, D.C. (among other museums.) Quinn was a local outsider artist whose work was created from just about anything he could find; rolling pins, logs, ironing boards, etc. Besides combining these findings into creative sculptures, he also worked in paint. His work is whimsical, colorful and just plain "fun".

Besides Quinn, work by other outsider artists were also on display. Bill Brady Jr, creates kinetic sculptures with welded metal. (Wish I had some extra money. I love his work.) Ten other artists also had work in the exhibit.

The gallery was a bustling place tonight (which my photos don't really show.) Looking from the outside in with the glow of the lights was very impressive. (Last year we had an auction to raise money to buy those lights.) Bill Brady's work is shown in the fourth picture and Heidi Heck's "Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk" is the bottom picture. (Loved that one too.)

It was a great opening...... so much fun ( great food and wine, if I say so myself since I took a couple of bottles of wine.) The turnout was fantastic. It was hard to believe for a few hours that we weren't in some big city at a major gallery opening.

Swan Daashuur who is in charge of the gallery (and Tom Huston) should be commended for the great job they did. This will be a hard act to follow.