A funky artist-run cooperative focused on culture, outreach & conversation in an invitingly offbeat space

Dates: August 1, 2008 - Sylvia Kania Gallery Grand Opening 5pm-8pm

Details on viewing the gallery prior to our grand opening are below in Sneak Preview

Venue: Sylvia Kania Gallery is located at 148 High Street, Portland, ME 04101

Directly across from the Eastland Park Hotel in the State Theater Building

Hours: Thursdays - Sundays 11am-7pm

Phone: 207-615-6019

For More Information: Email Jessica Lauren Lipton at jessica@jessicalaurenlipton.com

Skinny: Sylvia Kania Gallery is cooperative journey featuring a diverse group of twelve local artists. The creators behind SKG, Cat McKenna and Jessica Lauren Lipton are realizing their vision of a community-based gallery. Make NO Mistake. This is not just another Portland Art Gallery. Our aim is to set up an organization that gives a mix of artists an opportunity to earn all or part of their living. In the spirit of fostering unity and working together, we will reach out to local businesses to develop partnerships through cross-promotions. Our business model includes becoming a viable part of the Art and Downtown District and a Resource for the Community in which we operate. Come on in to hang out on our couches, listen to some music, check out the artwork, and read and write messages about art our art conversation black board wall.

Artists: Artists include: Cat McKenna, Jessica Lauren Lipton, Jonathan M. Dunitz, Lori Rae Curole, Kelly Donahue, Gregor Arturo, Jen Joaquin, Linsday Torrey, Felicia Teach, Elizabeth Sherman, Vicky Lloyd & Susan Hazzard

First Friday/Special Events: First Friday Art Walk ? SKG will be the must stop place to go to on the art walk, with special events including live music, non-alcoholic beverages and guest artists. Our opening event on August 1, 2008 will be the first of many First Fridays and enticing themed openings to come.

Sneak Preview:

Come on in while we put the finishing touch on our gallery on or after Saturday July 19th and during our hours: Thurs-Sun 11am - 7pm. Works for sale include a broad range of prices from $5.00 and up.

Moving Forward: In the near future, SKG will coordinate special events, host a coffee bar, and extend our hours to include additional evenings as we grow. Our community outreach will provide information on organic farmers, food co-ops, promoting community barter, and living green resources. Sylvia Kania will join Portland?s locally owned business campaign to promote the Buy Local way of life. SKG plans to increase their unique art talent to include new genres, as well as a total of twenty-five permanent artists by the end of 2008.

About us: Want to get to know this creative group? Stop by to meet us, in the meantime here is some information about a few! Cat McKenna, has a passion for art and a fondness for late Aunt Sylvia Kania a feisty woman with enough class to spare, who is the namesake of the gallery. Cat creates Celtic Art. Jessica Lauren Lipton is the Gallery Manager and is a talented Installation artist using the juxtaposition of objects to question the relationship of an individual to a larger society and the reciprocity of that relationship. Felicia Teach is a Plein air oil painter who works in the realist tradition. Jonathan M. Dunitz, Photographer, captures unique perspectives of architecture & decaying vehicles. Elizabeth Sherman creates ceramic, glass and metal work. Jen Joaquin, a painter feeds her addiction for color by oil painting. Lindsay Torrey, pottery and jewelry, uses vibrant colors to make one-of-a-kind pieces. Lori Rae, Painter, shows diverse vibrant colors in offbeat subject matter. Gregor Arturo is a wildlife photographer who also dabbles in sculpture and calligraphy. Vicky Lloyd who creates pottery has recently discovered her passion for sculpting.

Interviews: available by contacting Jessica Lauren Lipton at jessica@jessicalaurenlipton.com

Labels: Sylvia Kania Gallery