Closing reception and artist talk with Wendy Bale

Octagon Gallery announces CURRENT art exhibit closing events

Celebrating the culmination of CURRENT, an exhibit of drawings, paper sculpture, and river-themed furniture, two closing events will be held at the Octagon Gallery on the final two nights of the show. Artists Bill and Wendy Bale will host gallery talks Thursday, May 31 6:30-8PM and Friday, June 1, 6-8PM, respectively. The public is invited.

Thursday evening’s event will focus on the woodworking aspects of the show, with Bill Bale ’s gallery talk explaining his techniques and materials used to create the collection of river tables, benches and bedroom furniture on display. Bill, of Sandhill Designs created the work using live edge slabs, epoxy resin, stone, and sand to evoke waterways. 

Friday’s closing event will center on the influence of waterways on Wendy’s charcoal drawings and paper sculptures. During a gallery walk, she will explain the inclusion of cut paper sculptures into her drawings and how this has affected her work. The Bale’s collaborative work, “Chester Drawers: a Cabinet of Curiosities” will be explored. 

CURRENT is the couple’s first duo show depicting at the same theme —rivers, creeks, and streams—and spans rivers from their Midwestern childhood to their present neighborhood in Western New York. “The show is autobiographical in that way,” explained Wendy, “these are the rivers that are near and dear to our hearts.” 

Both artists explored new techniques and materials for this project and the resulting pieces reflect the enthusiasm of these new experiences. “After over 20 years making custom Arts & Crafts furniture, it has been a different creative approach adding the rivers to the work, said Bill, “I’ve enjoyed the research wading through the area creeks!”

CURRENT opened April 20 and will be on display until Friday, June 1. The Octagon Gallery is located in the Patterson Library at 40 S. Portage St. in Westfield, NY and is open during regular library hours. See Pattersonlibrary.info. For more information on the artists, visit SandhillDesigns.com and WendyBaleArt1st.com