If you have walked by the David Katz Gallery recently, you may have seen the artist himself hard at work on a large-scale painting that, at first, seemed like an abstract mosaic. But as it has come together, if you thought it looked familiar, you are not alone. “The view of West Chester is almost a fairy tale,” Katz says. The artwork, which will debut in its final form at the Spring Gallery Walk in Downtown West Chester, is based on a photograph that has been featured, shared, and liked many times over on West Chester Views. “David reached out to me with the idea and I loved it!” says Erik, the founder of West Chester Views. “I have been a fan of David's art since he opened his gallery so I was honored he reached out to me. We have found we have very similar eyes when it comes to our art.”
Katz is similarly enthusiastic about the collaboration. “Erik is one of my favorite artists in Chester County,” he says. “I have never used another person’s photo for inspiration, but Erik’s take on West Chester is beyond exceptional.” Erik’s perspectives of West Chester and the surrounding countryside have an ethereal quality to them, showing perfect reflections of familiar scenes in rain puddles, flowering trees in full bloom, and friendly neighborhood pups keeping a close eye on their sidewalks.
“It is definitely a different take,” Katz says of the original photograph. “Erik’s high-up snapshot shows the almost abstract nature of the roofs.” The large format of the painting invites viewers to step closer, orienting themselves in the streets outside the gallery. Erik is known for his photographs of the West Chester vistas from above. “I am always looking up at the sky to see if there is an amazing golden hour, sunrise, or sunset happening,” Erik says. “If so, I hurry to one of the parking garages in town to get my pictures.”
The idea for West Chester Views came after Erik moved to the town in 2017. “I was on a walk with my dog Miley and took a photo with my phone to try and capture some of the beauty I was seeing,” Erik says. The photo came out well, and he decided it was worth sharing. “I made an Instagram page, called it West Chester Views, posted that photo, and never looked back.” Miley hasn’t wanted for exercise, since Erik notes, “I continued to go on walks and take photos almost every single day since.”
Katz works on his paintings in the large front window of his gallery, which provides both natural light and motivation. “When the local store owners, like Danny Halka, of Taco Mar or Glen Ascenzo, of D’Ascenzo’s Gelato, bang on your window as you are painting and give you the thumbs up, then you know you have something really special,” Katz says. His process for is paintings is direct: “It’s a quick gut feeling, instinctively driven decision.” Whether with quick brushstrokes or a rush to the top level of a parking garage, both Katz and Erik take advantage of the moment. As Katz puts it, “Overthinking does not work.”
The David Katz Gallery is one of the mainstays on the Fall and Spring Gallery Walks in Downtown West Chester. John O’Brien, Executive Director of the West Chester Business Improvement District, knows why it is always a popular spot: “His willingness to engage with the public.” It goes beyond simply opening the doors and showing off his recent artwork. “Meeting David, you can understand his passion for his art, but you also get a strong sense of community,” O’Brien notes. “That is important in West Chester.”
New or returning visitors to the Gallery Walk will find a wide range of artwork on display at the many participating businesses, which include everything from art galleries to hair salons to jewelers to banks and more. Each location has a different artist or exhibit on display. O’Brien explains, “We have a range of different artists, from Mr. Katz to students from the local school district displaying their art.” Perhaps a good first stop, then, is the David Katz Gallery, in order to orient yourself using the new artwork and the Gallery Walk Map, available at all locations and other spots around West Chester, which marks all the stops on the tour.
As Katz says, referencing both the original photograph and his large painting, “You can almost envision yourself walking through the streets here.” While there may not be snow on the rooftops anymore, like there is in the painting, there is still plenty to see. The painting, Katz notes, “invites you in . . . just like the town of West Chester does.”
The Spring Gallery Walk is Friday, May 6th, from 4 to 8 pm in Downtown West Chester. Free on-street metered parking is available. Information, including participating businesses and locations, is available at DowntownWestChester.com. The David Katz Gallery is located at 128 East Gay Street, West Chester, PA. More information can be found at DavidKatzGallery.com and on Instagram @the_skypainter_. Prints and more information about West Chester Views are available online at WestChesterViews.com and on Instagram/Facebook @WestChesterViews.
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.
- Web |
- More Posts(112)
(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading...
Comments