November 14, 2021 - ChaddsFordLive.com

Gallery 222 exhibit opens

There is a distinctly light and positive energy bubbling away at Gallery 222 in Malvern. A lot of that energy comes from owner Andrea Strang, and the rest is supplied by the current exhibit which opened November 10^th. Art by Randall Graham and Alison Leigh Menke offers bursts of color to match our stunning fall landscape.

Graham is a mainstay of the Chester County art scene, painting landscapes that seem both familiar and otherworldly. He takes inspiration for some of his artwork from his frequent participation in Plein Air Brandywine Valley and other plein air painting events. Five pieces of his “En Rain Air” series are part of the current exhibit. These paintings look like landscapes viewed from behind a rain-filled window. Observers are invited to look beyond the textured surface to the vivid scenes beyond.

Other more traditional pieces capture perfect moments. “S’mores” is a large oil painting of young children silhouetted against a campfire complete with fireflies and a curious dog. “This brings out such emotion,” says Strang, looking at the piece. When pressed to pick her favorites of the exhibit, she looks to the right where four summery scenes hang. “On a Walk,” “Swell,” “Rental,” and “Off Season” show beach umbrellas in sand in different vignettes. “They are just a little nugget of sunshine,” Strang muses. “But make sure you write down that it was difficult to choose!”

Strang wavered among a few of Menke’s paintings, but seemed drawn back to “Snow Day,” a large bright oil painting. It catches the eye even from a room away. “It is almost more powerful when you are not looking directly at it,” she says. “I just feel like it is so dramatic.” Menke’s thick brushstrokes and heavy layers of paint build gorgeous vistas that make the viewer move around the room to take in paintings from multiple angles.

A reception held on November 10^th at Gallery 222 was well attended and guests seemed ready to get into the holiday shopping spirit. Many pieces by both artists have already been sold. Strang maintains a cottage in a beautiful garden behind the studio full of more artwork ready to show visitors. “Between last month and this month, it feels like we are getting back,” Strang notes. “There was a more relaxed feeling at this reception, with people coming out again.”

Gallery 222 rotates exhibits and art frequently. Both new and returning artists are featured in shows and also in corners throughout the space. Graham introduced Menke’s art to Gallery 222 and Strang a few years ago. “Randall presented her work to me and I just loved it. We first showed art by Alison at an exhibit in 2019, and now this is the second exhibit of her work.” It seems that local art lovers would be happy for it not to be the last.

Strang has been excited to be part of the growing art scene in Malvern and the long tradition of art exhibition of Chester County. “We just celebrated our fifth year, and it has been such a positive experience to get to know the artists and their work. And from the community, I hear thanks for being here in Malvern.” Throughout the pandemic, Strang has worked with artists to help showcase their art and bring them to the public, including through online exhibits and shopping. It has allowed Gallery 222 to keep supporting the arts in Chester County and keep in touch with guests, even virtually.

“I Can See Clearly Now” by Randall Graham

The current exhibit is open until November 27^th, and there is something for everyone. It is a great chance to look for a new art acquisition or for those who want to enjoy a relaxing gallery experience. Keep an eye out for the small pieces scattered throughout the rooms. It might be easy to miss “Yoda Lemon,” but Star Wars fans of all ages will delight in the surprising image to be found in the shadows. Other easter eggs as well as adorable gifts and fun artistic juxtapositions can be found in every corner.

Gallery 222 has upcoming exhibits which will feature local artists and pieces perfectly priced for one-of-a-kind holiday gifts. They also offer online shopping for those who prefer to browse from the comfort of their own home.

Gallery 222 is located at 222 East King Street, Malvern, PA. More information including updated safety and visiting protocols are available at gallery222malvern.com.

About Victoria Rose

Victoria Rose (she/her) is an editor, writer, avid reader, self-described geek, and fan of all things creative. Her passion for words has led to her current career as a freelance editor, and she is the owner of Flickering Words, an editing service. When not wielding a red pen (or cursor), she loves reading books of all genres, playing video, board, and word games, baking ridiculous creations to show off on the internet, or enjoying the gorgeous outdoors. She is a board member of the West Chester Film Festival and part of the Thirsty Monsters, a team of streamers from around the world who fundraise for various charities supporting LGBTQIA+ and accessibility rights. She can be found online @WordsFlickering or the Brandywine Art Guide @BrandywineArtGuide.

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Rabbinic Reflections: Thanksgiving rest

I have been seeking holiness of late. In the busyness of life and in the discordance of the airwaves, I have been seeking a rootedness, a stillness to make meaning of it all. Sometimes we just need to cease in order to be.

This Veterans Day, the sound of silence meant so much to me. For one, I learned, for the first time, a passage from Kurt Vonnegut’s Breakfast of Champions where he notes that “old men who were on battlefields … [described] the sudden silence [as] the Voice of God.” The old men were present at the close of WWI when at the 11th minute of the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, hostilities ceased. While I knew of Armistice Day as a predecessor to Veterans Day, I had no inkling of what it might mean to take a minute of silence to remember the end of WWI. This year, I took that minute, and it was holy.

May Thanksgiving be a time of gratitude, meaning, rest, and holiness.

My gratitude to veterans only increased as a result of being still, of listening to the silence and finding holiness. In past years, I have interviewed veterans to learn the stories of their service. Listening is such a necessary activity in our world where we normally rush past and too often yell. Veterans have so much to tell us; and, as I heard one veteran interviewed today say, we need to share in carrying the burden of those stories. My silence made room for that; I hope you will try it, too.

That same stillness is something I have been talking to my staff about as we approach Thanksgiving. The temptation with seemingly every holiday, especially if it becomes a vacation, is to cram our work into the days before so that we can be “off.” We unintentionally add stress to our packing, cooking, decorating, etc., and end up taking away from the celebration. Most of the time it is worth it, the memories are lasting. And yet I wonder how much more powerful, more enjoyable, maybe even more holy the day would be if we took time before. What if the days before Thanksgiving were also days of rest?

This Jewish year is a shmita year, the seventh year in a cycle towards a jubilee when we let the earth lay fallow. Shmita is observed in Israel much as it was in biblical times. Here, in America, it feels like we need a shmita for the soil of our daily lives. The pandemic pushed us very hard and is stretching our limits, especially for those with children under 5. At home, at work, at school, we have given our all, and our all is not what it once was. Shmitateaches us that the earth can continue to produce if we let it rest. The cessation from agricultural cultivation takes preparation and faith, and it pays off.

In seeking holiness now, in searching for more of “the Voice of God” in silence, my staff and I are taking Thanksgiving week as a shmita week. Our work allows us to, so I recognize the privilege. This effort is a conscious one that means we will append a note to our communications this week to indicate that we are working harder now so that we may rest then. We also will note that the effort is meant to help us recharge so that we can return to work on Hanukkah (literally translated “dedication), dedicated to our work going forward. I wish you a Thanksgiving of gratitude, of meaning, of rest, and I hope of holiness. It will take work; and, with effort, it can give rest to you and yours. May we return rooted and renewed.

About Rabbi Jeremy Winaker

Rabbi Jeremy Winaker is the executive director of the Greater Philadelphia Hillel Network, responsible for West Chester University, Haverford, Bryn Mawr, and other area colleges. He is the former head of school at the Albert Einstein Academy in Wilmington and was the senior Jewish educator at the Kristol Hillel Center at the University of Delaware for four years. Rabbi Winaker lives in Delaware with his wife and three children.