Oshkosh
Northwestern
| Monday, December 24, 2007 | ◄www.thenorthwestern.com► |
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Local artists
land gig in NYC New York City, get ready to see what Oshkosh can do. A group of eight veterans of the Oshkosh art scene have secured a two-week run at a SoHo gallery beginning in late January that will showcase a variety of paintings, sculptures, mixed media and other works Gallery Walk veterans probably already know. “Abstractions from Elsewhere” will open Jan. 29 and run through Feb. 10 at the Broome Street Gallery in New York’s SoHo district. David Kelley, Edsel LaBillois, Leif Larson, Dan Weber, Don Ford, Nikki Slaets, Melissa Baker and Mercedes Baker have each had a selection of their works selected by the gallery for display as group members continue to seek audiences outside Northeast Wisconsin. “We want to do this on a national and international stage. We were hoping to do Europe in the next few years, so we found working together helps out,” said Kelley, who produces works under the name Daithi. LaBillois said Larson spent some time in New York City this year scouting galleries and pitching ideas. “He visited a lot of galleries, saw what they had up and figured out what they liked to feature – emerging artists – and decided to propose a group show from Oshkosh,” LaBallois said. “We’re going in there essentially unknown artists from the Midwest, so they’re probably not all that impressed, but hopefully we can impress them with our individual talents as well as our group talents.” |
AT A GLANCE ►Jambalaya Co-op, 413 N. Main St., will host a fundraiser during the Jan 5 Gallery Walk to support the “Abstractions From Elsewhere” artists with shipping, transportation and other costs. For more information, contact Leif Larson at: leif@leiflarson.com ►On the web: www.foxvalleyart.com ■ ■ ■ The Oshkosh 8 will hold court in the Broome Street Gallery in SoHo New York City, from Jan.29 to Feb 10. The artists featured are: ►David
“Daithi” Kelley
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“They were very intrigued by the colors and the way we are expressing ourselves,” Kelley said. “We want to bring attention to Wisconsin and Oshkosh. We want to get attention for Oshkosh that has become a reservoir of creative energy.” AtomicKatz co-owner Deb Toman, who has one of Weber’s murals hanging in the Waugoo Avenue store, said the show was a good indicator of the talent level that Gallery Walk patrons see on a monthly basis. “I think it’s exciting they put this together and it’s happening,” Toman said. “It says a lot about the caliber of artists here and reflects well on Oshkosh that they’re out there, getting better known and getting a following.” Kelly said the artists hope to arrange further exhibitions and shows while in New York, but he also extended an invitation to any Oshkosh residents in New York at the time and feeling a little homesick. “If you’re going to be in New York, come on by,” Kelley said.
Jeff Bollier (920) 426-6688 or
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