[art] (no subject)

[diana@ozolins.com]

Dear friends of the gallery,

The State of the Art Gallery is pleased to present new works by Patty L. Porter
and Mary Schuler for the month of April. The show opens on April 5 and runs
through April 30, with an opening reception on April 7, 5-8 pm.

Mary Schuler and Patty Porter met recently as members of the State of the Art
Gallery. It was clear from the beginning that they share a love of the natural
landscape although they approach the subject matter from diverse color pallets.
Mary's paintings explode with pure color while Patty's colors are more muted by
her use of compliments to create tones.

Mary's paintings of earth, sky and water focus on the Finger Lakes with
excursions through Santa Fe and Mendocino. "Bouquets of flowers erupt on a dull
day, or spontaneously when the spirit moves me. I try to bring energy and
exuberance to my paintings by using vibrant color and the texture of paint,
very often using the palette knife and often through abstract expression."

Patty has painted in many locations: Maine, Ireland, France, New Mexico and, of
course, Ithaca. Many paintings in this show were inspired by a brief trip to
Race Point on Cape Cod. She let the images incubate in her soul for several
months, enjoying the memories of the light, foliage, blowing sand, and
undulating dunes. Momentum grew as she painted until there were twelve 12" x
12" canvases that captured the spirit of Race Point. "Being immersed in the
process of painting the Cape Cod series has been a most enjoyable experience,
one where everything fell into place."

Both Mary and Patty never tire of, or lose their curiosity and appreciation for
the perfection of nature. Their show, a "Celebration of Nature" wonderfully
reflects their happiness capturing delightful moments and observations on
canvas -- a show not to be missed.

Coming in May: The biannual Members Show.

STATE OF THE ART GALLERY is located at 120 W. State St., Ithaca, New York,
across from the State Theater.
Hours are Wednesday through Friday, 12-6 pm and Weekends 12-5 pm.
Phone 607-277-1626, for more information, see our website www.soag.org