WHO:
Brian S. Keeler of Wyalusing, PA and Ithaca, NY
Treacy Ziegler of Ithaca, NY
WHAT:
Opening Reception “A Collection of New Artwork by Brian S. Keeler and Treacy Ziegler.” Keeler has a collection of new oil paintings and Ziegler has new work in a variety of mediums, including oil, bronze, and paper cast sculptures.
WHEN:
Friday, May 12 from 5:00-7:00pm (Opening Reception) Music will be performed in the Upstairs Gallery by Harpist, Meredith Kohn Bocek.
Exhibit on display: May 12 – June 8
WHERE: (In person and online)
Enjoy in person:
West End Gallery
12 West Market Street
Corning, NY 14830
Enjoy online:
Exhibit will debut online by 11am on Opening Day
West End Gallery is excited to announce the opening of its latest exhibit, “A Collection of New Artwork by Brian S. Keeler and Treacy Ziegler.” The exhibit features new work by two regional artists working in a variety of mediums. Keeler has done a series of paintings of the Finger Lakes region, featuring Keuka and Seneca Lakes. Ziegler will be exhibiting landscapes and interiors in oil as well as sculpture work done in bronze, concrete, and paper castings of animals and birds.
Brian Keeler lives in Ithaca, NY and has a studio in Wyalusing, PA. Keeler has established himself as one of the preeminent realist painters working in the Northeast today. His distinctive use of color, fine draftsmanship, attention to proportional harmony and compositional relationships have made his work easily recognizable. His love of painting landscapes on location in the direct manner of the impressionists and others provides a certain immediacy and authenticity to his paintings. He then combines the plein air work with more ambitious studio paintings. The paintings of Brian Keeler have received a host of awards and acclaim during a career that spans over 30 years. His subjects and sources of inspiration are of the landscapes of Pennsylvania and the Finger Lakes Region of New York State, portraiture, the figure, still life and works from Italy where he teaches painting workshops in Umbria and Tuscany. His paintings have been collected by many individuals, corporations, and museums and feature articles have appeared in American Artist Magazine and in Pastelogram, a journal for pastel artists. Two books have been illustrated by Keeler in collaboration with their authors, one a children’s book and the other a treatise on a mystical theme.
In his artist’s statement, Keeler says, “The portrayal of light as seen directly on the topography of the Finger Lakes area is the unifying theme of this group of paintings. Many of them are plein air works, which means that they were composed and painted on location with completions made in the studio. The paintings of Corot, or more precisely his approach rather than style have often served as an inspiration, as he was the ‘proto impressionist,’ meaning that he was one of the first to take an easel outside to paint. As I often do the out-of-doors painting late in the day because of my attraction to the heightened drama of raking light, a number of these works show the sun glinting on the lakes or glowing through trees etc. Others in the show are entirely painted in the studio but certainly based on impressions and studies from the motif. The play of light as it describes the form and character of the land or figure and brings out various qualities has long been of interest to me, and this show continues with that exploration.”
Brian Keeler has released a new book on figure painting titled "Light on the Figure - Aspects of Painting People." This 172-page hardcover is a beautiful compilation of over four decades of painting people. It includes chapters on street scenes, genre subjects, allegory, portraits, Italy, and the Nude. This is not just another beautiful coffee table book as it is content-rich with plenty of explanatory text. There is a unique feature to the book that may very well be the first of its kind in publishing. There are links to dozens of the paintings and demos to YouTube tutorials where the artist demonstrates the process. Nothing quite like it ever. In short, the book is a unique functionality between text, image, and video! There are plans to have a digital version available, too. The book sells for $54.50 and will be available for sale at West End Gallery in a few weeks.
In advance praise for the book, John O'Hern, former director of the Arnot Art Museum in Elmira, NY and current Santa Fe Editor of International Artist Publishing, states “Brian Keeler is a man literally of many hats, equally at home and accomplished in painting landscapes, portraits, and the figure as well as in writing and teaching. I have admired his work for over 30 years. It’s a pleasure to see so many paintings and to read his thoughts on painting the figure in this enlightening book.” Keeler was recently featured in the April 2022 issue of American Art Collector Magazine in an article written by John O’Hern.
Treacy Ziegler of Newfield, NY
In her artist’s statement, Ziegler says “My intention in creating art is irrelevant. I like to believe that art exists in a state of ‘without why’ and ‘just because.’ Not in the sense that the art speaks for itself as this suggests that the art has to fit into the conceptual space of language. And not in the sense of art for art’s sake as this alternatively suggests that art exists outside the unity of living experience. Art needs no language; it is tacit. Call it unvoiced; or better, pre-voice. However, having said that, in developing art, I must begin at some reference point of experience. I begin with specific space, form, light and shadow in which these elements are evocative and, again, without voice, without a why. I follow this initial reference point, a place, a room, in a certain mood following an aesthetic path rather than a thinking one. My guides along the way are color harmony, composition and light and shadow. The residual narrative is a trace of the original reference point.”
Treacy’s work was featured recently in the April 2023 American Art Collector Magazine in an article which was also written by John O’Hern.
Upstairs Gallery: In addition to the new exhibition at West End Gallery, there will be artwork by more than 30 exceptional artists on display in the Upstairs Gallery on the second floor.
Exhibit on view: Friday, May 12th – Thursday, June 8th
Enjoy In person and Online: In person at West End Gallery - 12 West Market St. in Corning, NY and online at www.WestEndGallery.net. Exhibit will debut online by 11am on Opening Day.
Pre-sales: Pre-sales are permitted.
Special Previews: Please call to inquire about exclusive in-person and online previews. Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook facebook.com/WestEndGalleryCorning to get a sneak peek!
Admission: The event is FREE and open to the public. Families are encouraged to visit.
Accessibility: Main exhibits are wheelchair accessible, and our website has AudioEye Accessibility Certification.
NEW! Extended Gallery Hours: The Gallery is open Tues-Sat from 10:30am-5:30pm. Private appointments are available additional days/hours. Please call in advance to schedule a private appointment: 607.936.2011
Images: Images attached may be used for PR purposes. Please give Artist credit when possible.
