September 19, 2017 - ChaddsFordLive.com

Art Watch: Anniversary 1 for Gallery 222

1Andrea Strang, owner Gallery 222 — Andrea Strang, owner Gallery 222

The big go-to art event this weekend is the first Anniversary Exhibition and celebration reception at Gallery 222 in Malvern on Saturday from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Artists, art lovers , friends and public are all welcome to enjoy art, live music, food and drinks to toast the gallery’s first year in business. Gallery’s 1st Anniversary Show, “Graham, Galer and Durnin” will be on view at 222 East King Street in Malvern through October 14th.

After only one year in business, Gallery 222 was voted Main Line Today’s Best New Art Gallery for 2017, and when you come for a visit to the gallery, you will understand all the accolades. Thanks to the vision and unstoppable energy of gallery owner Andrea Strang, in just one year, 222 East King Street changed from a charming little house to an award winning, must-see gallery, studio space, and event space. It has brought new vitality to the business community of Malvern, and created an important new art space to encourage local art. Cheers to Gallery 222’s First Year Anniversary!

Andrea Strang, owner of Gallery 222 in Malvern is very excited to celebrate the success of Gallery 222’s first year open to the public. A year ago, Andrea completely renovated the interior of the location’s cheery clapboard house by creating three welcoming, light-filled galleries with a large, central country kitchen and a lovely outdoor garden patio. Currently Lele Galer and Monique Sarkessian are exhibiting their large steel welded sculptures out in the garden patio area. Lele’s three very large steel welded metal nests are joined with Monique’s lively abstract found-object steel sculptures, all in a beautiful garden setting off of the main gallery. Gallery 222 houses three distinct galleries that flow easily through the first floor space.

Commanding Attention by Randall Graham Gallery 222

This month, Randall Graham’s oil paintings will hang in the largest exhibition gallery, and Nathan Durnin and Lele Galer’s paintings will hang in the two smaller galleries. Randall Graham has a light, impressionistic style of realism that pays close attention to the truth of object of interest, but also plays with light, color, texture and thoughtful brushwork. Graham’s work is steadily evolving to a signature style that belies the simplicity of his subject matter. He is an artist to watch, and to collect.

Each of the Gallery 222 exhibition spaces are bright white, with great lighting and the art work is hung beautifully by Andrea Strang, who makes an easy transition from one gallery space to the other. Every month, Andrea curates at least three different art exhibits. With monthly opening receptions, gallery talks, hanging art and taking it down, she is a lot of work to manage! But, you would never know it from Andrea’s enthusiastic, happy personality.

Over a very short time, Andrea has developed a very long list of loyal artists and customers. Andrea takes time to get to know her artists and to know the tastes of her clients. If a painting doesn’t work out for a customer, then she’ll take it back because she wants her customers to love whatever art they purchase. Besides running the gallery, the location also houses several rented art studios and is a popular event setting for local businesses and parties.

At the Top of the Lighthouse by Nathan Durnin Gallery 222

“Graham, Galer and Durnin” runs through October 14. Both Randall Graham and Nate Durnin are well-known for their work as award winning plein air painters, and Lele Galer (me, actually) is known for her large abstract forest-scapes and steel metal sculpture. Both Randall Graham and Nathan Durnin are also art teachers. Randall Graham teaches painting to students out of his rented studio space at Gallery 222, and Nathan Durnin teaches painting and drawing classes at the Wayne Art Center and Delaware County Community College.

Light in the Forest by Lele Galer Gallery 222

One of the many unique things about Gallery 222, is the video and online promotion that The Graham Group gives to each exhibiting artist. They make an artist feel like a TV star! For artist in-studio videos, check out Gallery 222’s website and facebook sites. The in depth video interviews and online artist descriptions are great ways to make art and artists more accessible to the general public. For Gallery 222, art is all about accessibility, sharing, chatting, and enjoying art in a beautiful, comfortable setting (preferably with a glass of wine and a bite to eat!) Each of the artists is very excited about participating in this 1st Anniversary show, and Andrea Strang is enthusiastic about the milestone show, and looking forward to the year ahead.

I asked Andrea to look back on this first year at Gallery 222, and she said “Wow, what an amazing year! It was a jammed packed inaugural year filled with so many wonderful moments for G222 with our 1^st Annual Plein Air Malvern, the Artist Receptions, Gallery Talks and all the amazing people who chose to hold their events at our Gallery. But I must say, my favorite part is knowing so many pieces of fine art are now being appreciated in the homes of our clients. We look forward to what our second year brings including some amazing events and continuing to spread the importance of supporting local artists and the amazing art they passionately create.”

If you have yet to visit Gallery 222, September is a great month to do so. Try to visit Gallery 222 this Saturday evening, and join us in raising a glass in cheers Andrea Strang for a stellar first year!

Be sure to tune into Art Watch Radio WCHE am 1520 this Wednesday, September 20, when John Chambless hosts Chester County Art Association’s Executive Director Wendy Kershner and art collector Richard Chalfont, as they talk about the new shows coming up for CCAA, including “Art as Change: 1960s Revolutionary Images” and the “Hall Collection and Auction.” Art Watch Radio is every Wednesday from 1 to 1:30 p.m. on WCHE Radio 1520 where various local art hosts interview artists and art movers and shakers in our area. To hear previous podcasts, go to www.lelegaler.com for free downloads.

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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School board teams with township on road

School & Education

PA82_sidewalks_crosswalks_concept_2017-08-04-1 — School board teams with township on road

As anticipated, Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board directors voted to join with East Marlborough Township on a contract to improve pedestrian safety along Route 82. The Sept. 18 vote was unanimous.

The initial contract is for $180,000 split between the township and the school district. If the Longwood Foundation joins, the three parties will put up $60,000 each.

While the total cost of the project is $1 million, grants could pay for the rest of the work. District Business Manager Bob Cochran said during last week’s work session that the district would not know whether the grants are approved until 2018. If approved, work would begin in 2020.

The proposed project includes eliminating right-hand turn lanes on southbound Route 82 in front of CF Patton Middle school and Unionville High School, shortening the pedestrian crossing distance, installing pedestrian refuge islands and 1,200 linear feet of sidewalks up to the traffic roundabout north of the two schools.

Randy Waltermyer, of TPD, Transportation Planning and Design, explained the project before Monday night’s vote. He said while East Marlborough Township has petitioned PennDOT to lower the speed limit along Route 82 from 45 mph to 35, the transportation department has declined. He said the project could cause PennDOT to reconsider.

The current two crossing areas — one each at the high school and middle school — are 62 feet wide crossing five traffic lanes, two through lanes, a center left turn lane and two right turn lanes.

That 62-foot crossing distance is too long, Waltermyer said, adding that the idea is to expose pedestrians and students to the road in “as narrow a width as possible.”

Removing that southbound right turn lane would shorten the crossing distance to 49 feet. Refuge islands are proposed near the two entrances to Manor Drive, adding another level of safety.

While the project does not directly call for a reduction in the speed limit — though the township would petition PennDOT again after completion — the work would create a visual impact on motorists having a subconscious effect.

He explained that regardless of the posted speed lint, a driver sees a wide road with no vertical obstructions and thinks it’s safe to drive faster. Narrowing the road — by eliminating southbound right turns — and installing a rapid flashing beacon on an overhead mast arm would cause drivers to slow down automatically.

According to Waltermyer, studies show rapid flashing beacons reduce crashes and near-crashes by 40 to 70 percent.

In addition to the beacons, crosswalks, sidewalks, and islands Waltermyer said there would be brick textured paving on the road at the approaches to the area. That, too, would cause drivers to think to slow down.

Should the project go forward, and follow-up traffic counts show the speed limit should be dropped, it would take about additional three months for that to happen, he said.

Other business

Pennsbury Township residents are asking the board to re-evaluate a school bus stop on Parkersville Road at Ravens Lane. Three residents spoke during the public comment period saying the stop is on a blind curve in the road and they fear for the safety of students getting off buses at that location. The board said the district would look into the matter.

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.

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Police Log Sept. 20: Accidents, DUI, counterfeit cash

Police

• An unidentified couple passed a counterfeit $100 bill at the Sunoco station on Route 1 in Chadds Ford Township, a police report said. The incident happened between 9 and 10:30 pm. on Sept. 13.

• An unidentified 45-year-old is accused of harassment after pushing a 19-year-old and grabbing him by the neck. Police said the action took place on Sept. 14.

• A Chadds Ford Township resident told state police that someone stole her engagement ring and a Bluetooth speaker from her residence on Wilderness Way. The incident happened between noon and 3 p.m. on Sept. 8.

• Police from the Avondale barracks said Julie Ann Desposito, 25, of Avondale, is accused of driving under the influence following an accident in which she drove off the road and struck a utility pole. The accident happened at 8:23 p.m., Aug. 31 on Route 1 at Constitution Drive. The report said she had consumed enough alcohol “to render her incapable of operating a motor vehicle.”

• Courtney J. McLaughlin, 21, of Cochranville, was cited for careless driving after she fell asleep at the wheel, drifted across Route 926 in East Marlborough Township and struck a utility pole, police said. After striking the pole, the Dodge Ram she was driving ran back across the road and struck an embankment. According to police, McLaughlin told troopers she had fallen asleep. She was not injured. The accident happened 6:48 a.m. on Aug. 17 near Wollaston Road.

• Neither driver was injured, but one was cited for an improper left turn following an accident on Doe Run Road in East Marlborough Township on Sept. 11. Neither driver was identified in the police report, but police said the accused was driving east on Doe Run Road and turned left onto Oak Tree Road, but into the path of oncoming traffic.

About CFLive Staff

See Contributors Page https://chaddsfordlive.com/writers/

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