OBSERVER Staff Report

North Shore Arts Alliance works on behalf of artists in Chautauqua County. The organization is home to artists representing painting, photography, sculpture, pottery, jewelry, fiber arts, wood, and mixed media.

The organization’s signature event is the Chautauqua-Lake Erie Art Trail, though we help create and promote a variety of arts-related events. This year, the Hub Crawl will take place Saturday and Sunday, May 29 and 30.

Here are some of the artists:

Work by Denise Williams

Dr. Susan B. Barnes — Dr. Susan B. Barnes originally received a degree in art from the Pratt Institute and became a professional graphic designer in New York City. She later studied at New York University and obtained her PhD in the Media Ecology Department. As a communication professor, she taught at several universities, including the Rochester Institute of Technology and Fordham University. She is the author of nine books on the topics of internet relationships and visual communication. In 2019 she wrote her first mediumship book called: Unfolding Physical Mediumship. Her mediumship studies led her to become a spirit artist. Her artwork has been exhibited in New York City, Jamestown, San Antonio, Virginia, Rhode Island, Great Britain, and Switzerland. She opened the Spirit Art Gallery in Cassadaga, New York, to run classes and display spirit-inspired creative images. Currently Susan is the host of Spiritual Support with Dr. Sue, Tuesday nights on the Bold Brave Media Network, where she frequently discusses spirit art.

spiritartgallery@gmail.com

¯ Jill Mattson — Mattson’s creative spirit and her passion for deep spirituality define her artistic endeavors. Her award-winning books describe ancient mathematical color and design elements, which shine through her vivid and alluring works of art. She has an entire published book dedicated to the scientific, use of colors, lines, and shapes and their personal benefits. Mattson’s work graces the covers of numerous books and CDs; she is featured in hundreds of magazine articles and radio shows. With intriguing movement and composition, with bold but sublime colors, she creates magnetic pieces. Hypnotic images dance in and out of reality, making you a part of the painting.

https://www.jillswingsoflight.com/

¯ Marcia Merrins — Merrins sculpts a wonderful menagerie of wood fired and raku animal pieces, from hippos to elephants, that are fun and collectible. This Indian Rhino was accepted into the 2021 Spring Show at the Erie Art Museum. Marcia also creates signature pieces that are quirky themed, including bright and sassy “footed bowls”. She is drawn to whimsy and her work reflects what she finds in contemporary footwear and clothing. Fairy houses are new in the studio and adorable.

Work by Susan Gutierrez

mmerrins@hotmail.com , knitigritiworks,com, 716-672-4275,

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¯ Audrey Kay Dowling — Dowling uses her work to convey a deep appreciation of the natural world. Form is beautiful, color is exciting, movement is visually stimulating, and texture and patterns open inspire me to express myself. I enjoy using many different art mediums. She attended SUNY New Paltz where she received my BS in Art Education. She also has an MS degree from SUNY Fredonia. “I continue to expand my artistic education through several ceramic, painting and printmaking workshops. After teaching for 30 years, I am now a full time award winning artist and gallery owner of Portage Hill Gallery.”

www.portagehillgallery.com/

¯ Cynthia Norton — Norton grew up in Chautauqua and graduated from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1969, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with honors and a major in sculpture. Her career has included a range of artistic pursuits. Since 1987 she has headed her own company, Cynthia Norton Designs, producing hand-painted textiles and specializing in hand-painted clothing for sophisticated, artistically inclined women (and sometimes men). The mission is to help people look their best with beautiful clothing that reveals the artist’s hand, imparts vitality, is comfortable and easy to care for, suits the individual and allows her (or him) to shine.

Work by Jim and Pat Reno

cynthia@cynthianortondesigns.com

¯ Karen Glosser — A photographer, Glosser is inspired by the awe and wonder of nature, and spends much of her time exploring this wonder right here in her native Western New York State. Karen’s work centers on the idea of using her camera to create painterly images that capture the essence and emotion of these moments in the outdoors. She can often be found exploring her muses, the many lakeshores and woodlands of Chautauqua County. Karen’s most recent work has included creating fresh, new images for three of her long running series: Water, Woodlands and Wanderings, and Winter Dreams.

¯ Jim and Pat Reno — Jim and Pat Reno have been making pottery for over 40 years at their location at 6007 Centralia-Hartfield Road, Dewittville.

They are open daily by chance or appointment, and can be reached at 716-753-7551 or preno@fairpoint.net . Their website is www.renopottery.com . Stop by to see their new, highly decorated designs, which include Woodpeckers, Dragons and Rhinos.

Work by Karen Glosser

¯ Susan Gutierrez — Gutierrez is an artist living in Jamestown. “Chautauqua County has been my home for 41 years. Through my art I try to capture the life and energy that surrounds us. I use mostly a palette knife to pay tribute to the beauty that encompasses this region. My paintings are a way to share an experience; a recollection; a moment. I hope that my paintings can be a conduit for viewers to recall a memory, stir an emotion, or transport them somewhere familiar.”

susanjgutierrez@outlook.com

¯ Denise Williams — The Living Glass Gallery is now located at 71 E. Main St., in the beautiful historic downtown of Westfield NY. Living Glass Gallery is a proud sponsor of the Chautauqua-Lake Erie Art Trail and features original glass work by artist and owner Williams, along with displays of work by several local artists working in pottery, sea glass jewelry, photography, painting, soft sculpture and ceramic sculpture.

DeniseWilliams2@mac.ocm ,

¯ Kirsten Engstrom — Evidence of Kirsten Engstrom’s sculptural work can be seen on the grounds of Chautauqua Institution and throughout the area. Stop by her studio in Mayville to meet Kirsten and ask about her creative process.

Cynthia Norton

I tell my sculptures as I create them, that they are not finished until they stimulate joy, hope and community in myself and all who observe them.

Kirsten4art@gmail.com

Audrey Dowling

Work by Marcia Merrins

Work by Jill Mattson

Susan Barnes