September 16, 2014

Art Watch: Fantastical ceramic creations

Art Watch: Fantastical ceramic creations

Meghan Bergman’s fantastical ceramic creations,  plus what’s going on art-wise in Kennett Square

Ceramic artist Meghan Bergman will be showing her barnacle-inspired vases and vessels this Thursday from 4-8pm at Galer Estate Winery’s Pop up Art Show.  Meghan’s ceramics are mesmerizing combinations of organic forms applied to an open vessel.

Meghan Bergman ceramics X2

I have three of her larger pieces, one of which greets visitors as soon as they come into my house.  Meghan says, “These are meant to be used”, so my pieces are filled with tactile art objects that I have collected over time, but you could also fill them with interestingly shaped plants like bonsai or aloe or ferns.   The fascinating textural qualities and details of her forms draw you in and make you want to touch them. They are quirky and cool, and seem to come from a world under the sea.  The more you look at them, the more you see her care and attention to each element of the forms.

Meghan also creates wonderfully designed mugs in earthen colors, which she sells regularly at Mala Galleria in Kennett Square as well as many other local venues.  Recently the Kennett Brewing Company commissioned Meghan to do an exclusive series of mugs designed especially for them.  These mugs will be available for purchase this Fall 2014. Come to the winery this Thursday to meet the artist and see Meghan Bergman’s extraordinary ceramic sculptures face to face.

Voted the “Best Art Gallery for the Community-Minded” in 2013, Mala Galleria in Kennett Square brings interesting and beautiful new shows to the public every month. This month the work of natural realist painter Frank De Pietro  is exhibited in  Mala Galleria’s front showroom.

The gallery owner, Zvezdana Stojanovic Scott, writes that “Frank’s paintings focus on the associations and relationships we have with elements of nature. They reveal the beauty found in various cycles of life and the passage of time, in a crisp and technically sharp manner.”

From Mala, you might head South on State Street and check out the wonderful Longwood Gallery that is filled to the brim with artwork from local artists including Lore Evans glasswork, the delightfully bright and whimsical works of MaryAnn Weselyk, and pastoral Chester County scenes from a number of artists including Nan Jackson. Kennett Square is really becoming a hot spot for artist studios as well as galleries.

Painter Carol Lesher has moved her studio gallery to 109 South Broad Street, in the loft studio of the Holly Peter’s building.  Carol says, ” I love the studio !  The space is peaceful and a great place to work in, and of course working in Holly’s building is such a great experience.”

Carol Lesher new studio

Artist Peter Willard has moved into Carol’s former studio gallery at 105 South Broad. This is such a great location to showcase art.   Passersby have fun peeking into his gallery window and  checking out Peter’s passionate landscapes and portraits that fill up the window space.  Master Potter Charlie Metzger’s studio and shop is open to the public just around the corner on Union and State Streets. His bowls and mugs make wonderful gifts and he is also such a friendly a delightful person and terrific pottery teacher too.

Master painter Neilson Carlin’s Rilievo Studio is also down the street a bit at 128 South Willow Street. He just finished an extraordinary masterpiece commission for the Catholic church’s 2015 World Meeting of Families that was unveiled in Philadelphia in the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul this past Sunday. Neil offers classes throughout the year, and he is the most patient, best art teacher that I have ever had. He makes Realism possible for anyone by breaking it down into approachable, understandable units.  Neil can take you from drawing a stick figure to a perfect two dimensional rendering of the three-dimensional form.

For more on what’s going on in the Kennett Square, check out the listings on the Historic Kennett Square website. There is too much going on to list in one column!

 www.meghanbergman.com

www.facebook.com/mvbceramics

www.galerestate.com

www.malagalleria.com

www.longwoodartgallery.com

www.facebook.com/pages/Charles-Metzger

www.carollesher.com

www.neilsoncarlin.com

www.historicakennettsquare.com

About Lele Galer

Lele Galer is an artist who has chaired numerous art shows, taught art history and studio art, public art and has chaired, written and taught the Art in Action Art Appreciation series for the UCFD schools for the past 12 years. She worked at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and wrote for the Associated Press in Rome. She has been dedicated to Art History and art education for most of her adult life. Lele and her husband Brad own Galer Estate Winery in Kennett Square.

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Boost Your Business: Social media’s role in today’s workplace

In my business, with social media being an integral part of marketing and business development, I am often questioned on the role it plays when employees have access to social media while working.

Certain aspects of marketing often overlap with human resources and many policies need to be integrated into an employee handbook, which are essential to the development of the business.

Do you really know what your employees are posting on the Internet?

The increased use of social media sites can create some questions and concerns within the workplace. The expansion of the Internet and sites where individuals can post information have been a great asset for business, particularly small businesses. Your business might even have a Facebook page and you can use this as a communication tool to reach existing customers and potential customers. However, there are also some challenges that come along with this increased technology, particularly when it comes to employee privacy rights.

The key concern that enters the picture is the employees’ use of time on social media sites while they are supposed to be working, thus, creating loss of productivity. When can an employee use social media, and what are employees allowed to post?

The more challenging aspect of social media sites for employers is the actual information that an employee may post on a site. Is it potentially harassing behavior toward another employee?  Is the employee posting information about the company that could violate any nondisclosure policies or agreements?  In order for companies to gain a better handle on these situations, it is recommended that organizations have clear Internet usage and social media policies written into their employee handbooks.

A good policy should provide the following:

  • • Instructions to employees on what is and is not permissible with regard to using the Internet at work;
  • • Clear information about the employer’s right to monitor employee computers within the workplace and require employees to acknowledge in writing that they should not have an expectation of privacy for anything that is sent, received or stored on the company’s computer systems;
  • • Restrictions on the use of personal phones and other electronic devices while on company time;
  • • Consequences for employees if they are in violation of the Internet Usage and Social Media policies.

For more information on social media policies or employee handbooks, please feel free to contact Maria Novak, owner of Marketing Solutions & Business Development.

About Maria Novak Dugan

Maria L. Novak Dugan is president of Marketing Solutions & Business Development, a firm serving Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland, offering creative marketing services and goal implementation for small businesses. She has more than 30 years’ experience in the Marketing & Sales Industry ... 13 of those as the sole sales representative for a Pennsylvania payroll company growing their client base by over 500%. Maria Novak Dugan is also the former Managing Director of the Delaware Chapter of eWomenNetwork. Creating, developing, and conducting this division of a national organization strengthened her knowledge of networking, event planning, fundraising, and small-business development. For more information, contact Maria at 610-405-0633 or Maria@Maria-L-Novak.com or visit www.Maria-L-Novak.com

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