Artisans 3: Jewelry, Photography & Watercolors
Susan Ferrandiz, Necklace maker; RBG Cooperative Artist and Photographer Dennis Keyes; and Angela Hardwick, watercolorist.
Weekends from Friday, July 11 through Sunday, August 17.
“Meet the Artists” at the Wine and Cheese Exhibit Reception on Sunday, August 10th from 4 to 6 PM, with reception background music performed by jazz pianist, Mark DeWalt (also a wood artisan and RBG cooperative member).
The reception follows the 2 PM concert in Lincoln Hall of Dazzling Virtuosic Pianist, Svetlana Smolina, who returns by popular demand after receiving two standing ovations in her ARCA debut last year. Tickets are $25, Students $5 – and ARCA Member discounts $20. Buy here or call to reserve, cash/check at the door: 724-659-3153
In ARCA’s 20th Anniversary Season and in the Red Brick Gallery’s 15th season, “Culture with a View” in Foxburg on the beautiful Allegheny River takes on enhanced meaning with the RBG’s summer exhibit that features three diverse artists each inspired by the richness of their international travel and world cultures.
“Artisans 3” presents the work of Susan Ferrandiz, necklace maker, who captures the color, patterns and textures of her time living in New York City, Cuba and Korea. Watercolorist Angela Hardwick depicts gardens and architecture in her native England and countries of her international travel, and photographer and painter Dennis Keyes’ explores the cultures of Mexico, China, and Europe in his fascination with the mythology of myriad cultures.
The Red Brick Gallery is located at 17 Main Street, Foxburg, PA 16036.
Weekend hours are: Fridays, 1-6 PM; Saturdays, 11 AM to 7 PM; and Sundays, 12 noon to 5 PM at
Advance Appointments outside regular hours available by reservation. For more information – Call 724-659-3153
Susan Ferrandiz – necklace maker
I was born and grew up in New York City in a multi cultural and multi racial environment where I experienced not only my Hispanic culture but the various international cultures of neighbors, friends, and classmates. I attended graduate schools in New York City, Korea and Pennsylvania. My academic areas of study were history and information science.
Visiting numerous museums and ethnic shops in New York allowed me to see the beauty of handmade items from around the world. I lived respectively as a child in Cuba and and as an adult in Korea. There I was able to see and experience varied designs and uses of color in art, nature, and everyday life. Designing necklaces allows me to explore my love of color, patterns and textures.
Artist Statement
My necklaces are partially inspired by Berber Moroccan necklaces combined with my own design ideas. These timeless and fashionable pieces can be worn with jeans, power suits or formal wear. A number of my beads are from Africa, Asia and the Near East. Some of the semi-precious beads and stones I use are: amber, copal, carnelian, coral, jade, jasper, lapis, turquoise. When I design a necklace, the shape and color of the beads lead me to the final design. This process can take several hours or several days. Each piece is unique. You will never see another woman wearing the exact necklace.
Because many of the beads are handmade there may be small irregularities in them, such as non-uniformity in size and color. These minor irregularities should not be looked upon as imperfections but as adding to the uniqueness and beauty of each piece. When designing, uppermost in my mind is the balance, harmony, and overall attractiveness of the piece. My necklaces are for women who are not afraid of and who appreciate color and boldness and who also enjoy the experience of wearing a unique piece of handmade jewelry.
Necklaces Care
Please do not attempt to clean your necklace with any kind of cleaning solutions. The patina on some beads over time is a natural occurrence of handmade beads which adds to their ageless and authentic appearance. Avoid twisting the necklace or allowing spray from wet perfume touch the beads. To store, lay flat in a drawer.
Angela Hardwick – watercolorist
Born in London, England, Angela Hardwick was exposed to all the arts at an early age and was particularly drawn to music and painting. Eventually, a career in the music business with HarrisonParrott artist management in London found her managing international conductors and much of her free time was taken up singing and touring with the London Symphony Orchestra Chorus.
Angela’s work as Assistant to the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s Music Director, Andre Previn, brought her to Western Pennsylvania, where she met her husband, Charles Hardwick, a violinist with the Pittsburgh Symphony.
Since retiring from running European Artists Direct for a group of European artists’ managements, Angela at last has had the time to indulge her love of painting (self-taught), along with her other passions, gardening and cooking.
Angela produced a watercolor series including the four seasons of the Frick Cafe and Greenhouse, which were on sale in the Frick Museum Gift Shop and now are available in the Red Brick Gallery Gift Shop.
Angela enjoys commissions to do watercolor paintings of people’s houses and pets. Much of Angela’s artwork is inspired by regular trips to Europe with her husband. They live with their three amazing cats in Wexford.
Artist Statement
My watercolors reflect my love of British scenes and villages, along with interesting places we have visited in Europe on our travels. I usually work from photographs which enable me to reproduce the details more clearly and I particularly enjoy painting scenes with shadows which add depth and interest. To combine elements that spark memories of some of these places is a great joy – if one can imagine the perfumes in a beautiful garden or perhaps catch the sea breeze in the air, that’s magic.
Happily, retirement has given me more time to spend with my watercolors – and my years with the Red Brick Gallery have added a new dimension to my life as an artist and a wonderful outlet for my work, for which I am truly grateful.
Dennis Keyes – photographer/painter
Dennis Keyes is a digital artist and photographer. He uses digital tools to reshape the reality represented in a photograph into the vision he sees in his “Mind’s Eye” In addition to print and electronic media, he has produced many custom renderings of portraits, landscapes and architecture as watercolors and acrylics on canvas and on aluminum and silk. He also offers photography services for artists in need of high-resolution photographs of their work and complete custom framing. Learn more by visiting his website: denniskeyesphotography.com
Dennis is a member artist of the Red Brick Gallery in Foxburg, a co-op under the Allegheny RiverStone Center for the Arts. His works are displayed in galleries, private homes and corporate boardrooms in the US and in Europe. Some of his architectural work has been featured in the duPont Registry – Gallery of Fine Homes.
Dennis also is the photographer representing the state of Pennsylvania at the new Andrews Air Force Base Hospital Gallery. His work is featured at the Emergency Suite at the Armstrong County Memorial Hospital. His work is on permanent display at the International Dark Sky Park at the Headlands in Michigan.
Since retiring from the practice of dentistry he has also produced a number of travel videos celebrating many of the places he has visited. Travel videos can be viewed on his YouTube channel. Dennis Keyes – The Traveler’s Trance Travelography
Artist Statement
I began my photography journey with my first camera I purchased in Vietnam. I took hundreds of photos on slides of scenes and people in Vietnam and our military presence. All were lost in a fire.
In the early 70’s, I had a darkroom and produced thousands of black and white print images. I switched to digital in the early 90’s, shooting mostly clinical photos for my dental practice. Landscape and street photography became my favorite pastimes. I developed my own technique for converting digital photographs into paintings. This has become what I feel I do best. I can take an old faded tattered tiny B&W photo from a 1952 Photo Booth and turn it into a 16×20 color photo for a family heirloom. I can take any number of images and combine them into new “Concept Image” from my imagination or from yours!
Since retirement, I rescue old images for customers, create my own “visions” and produce videos on my YouTube channel: drdk84
Its Summer in Foxburg!
Plan to enjoy the full spring day in FOXBURG on the banks of the beautiful Allegheny River – arriving early to walk or bicycle along the Allegheny, take a boat tour with Foxburgtours or have lunch in The Allegheny Grille or Foxburg Pizza.
Or have a wine tasting or enjoy a bottle of wine on the patio of the remodeled Foxburg Wine Cellars.
Make it a weekend on the beautiful Allegheny – having a romantic overnight at The Foxburg Inn, where every room has a river view – and seating on the patio is the perfect place for reading or resting after a walk or bicycle ride.
