The Delaware Valley Arts Alliance (DVAA) is excited to launch its 2022 exhibitions with, “Breathe,” featuring paintings by Tif Wolf, and “For the Love of Wood,” an expansive group show curated by Eric Baylin and Bo Stevens. These two exhibits each draw inspiration from nature and the natural resources of this region.

There will be an opening reception for both exhibitions on Saturday, February 12 from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. at DVAA located at 37 Main St, Narrowsburg. Advanced registration is required.

Additionally, a series of special events will be held in conjunction with the shows. They will be on view through March 27 and are free and open to the public, masks required.

TIF WOLF, "BREATHE"

The DVAA is honored to showcase the abstract painting of Tif Wolf. This show marks her first solo exhibition.

In speaking about her process, Wolf shares “Creating art is meditative for me. I start most of my pieces by applying dark colors in huge swathes until the canvas has a chaotic feeling to it. Then I work to clear the space, applying paler shades over the canvas to reveal a presence of calm. It’s a process that mirrors ‘decluttering’ the mind while also seeking an unbalanced balance.”

Based in Narrowsburg, Tif Wolf is a self-taught artist who comes from three generations of multi-media artists — and yet never made visual art until spring 2019.

Tif discovered painting “abstractly” as a form of meditation, without forcing an outcome. Even though the results are fluid forms, she only uses tools such as palette knives and scrapers, no brushes. Inspired by the process of creating a space for expansiveness within the self, Wolf’s paintings offer glimpses into how skies can provide such a space, whether viewed in highly populated cities or more rural and remote areas like here in Sullivan County.

“Although I am an abstract painter, some say my work looks like it draws on nature, such as an aerial, topographical view of a layered landscape with icy rivers and lakes, or it reminds them of the essence of clouds,” she observes.

WINTER LANDSCAPE

On Saturday, February 19, DVAA will host a guided walk through the winter landscape with Laura Chávez Silverman, founding naturalist of The Outside Institute, in conjunction with Wolf’s exhibition. The two-hour event will commence at 9 a.m. outside the DVAA and conclude with an artist talk and reception featuring warm wild-foraged beverages. The event is free but space is limited and advanced registration is required. Visit delawarevalleyartsalliance.org for more information.

“FOR THE LOVE OF WOOD” CURATED BY ERIC BAYLIN AND BO STEVENS

The DVAA invites you to immerse yourself in an exploration and celebration of wood and its many uses in art and functional objects.

This survey exhibition, curated by Sullivan County Poet Laureate and sculptor Eric Baylin and furniture maker Bo Stevens, focuses on wood’s inherent qualities of beauty and strength, and brings together in DVAA’s second-floor gallery, the many ways that wood provides inspiration and substance for area artists and craftspeople.

Included in the show will be sculpture, furniture, musical instruments, and functional objects, as well as photographic and video documentation of local boat builders, a working 19th century sawmill, and a nearby centuries-old stand of hemlocks. Also included will be works by ceramicists, painters, and printmakers who use wood imagery in a variety of ways. The ubiquitous everyday “sculpture” of firewood stacking will be represented through photographs from the surrounding area as well as an installation in the gallery. Interspersed among the physical works will be poetry and essays related to wood and several video monitors playing interviews about wood-related topics.

This exhibition will be featuring over 40 artists including Warren Pardi and Eric Cannazzaro (furniture makers); Tricia Adler, Richard Bottwin, Kevin Gref, Lucienne Weinberger, Nancy Lew Lee (sculpturers); Johan Sellenraad, Cindy Schecter, Joe Bilger (painters and photographers), and many more.

SPECIAL EVENTS

DVAA will host a series of events in conjunction with “For the Love of Wood.” Renowned performer and founder of PS122, Charles Dennis will perform “2x2x4” with live musical accompaniment by Sal Cataldi on Saturday, February 12th from 2-3pm. *This event will precede the opening reception for both exhibitions.

On Saturday February 26th starting at 2pm, “Words and Sounds of Wood” will take center stage, curated by Eric Baylin and featuring readings and musical performances by Rachel Baum, Pete Comstock, Mary Greene, Dan Brinkerhoff, Theresa Perez, and others.

Both events will take place in Krause Recital Hall, as part of our 2022 Salon Series.

For more information about this or other events, visit delawarevalleyartsalliance.org or call (845) 252-7576.