FEBRUARY 2025

Judith Peck

The Gravitas of Old Trees

Judith Peck is a contemporary artist whose work is deeply inspired by nature, particularly an ancient sycamore tree near her home. Her paintings capture the dignity and resilience of this tree, which she views as a symbol of both Earth's ecosystem and human life.

Peck's unique approach often involves incorporating human figures interacting with the tree, creating a powerful visual dialogue between humanity and nature. Peck's work has received significant recognition in the art world. Her painting "Forager" was awarded Best in Show at the Washington County Museum of Art, as judged by Dr. Mary Morton, Curator of French Painting at the National Gallery of Art. Another piece from her tree series was featured in the Masterworks exhibition at 33 Contemporary gallery in Chicago and highlighted in American Art Collector magazine. "Call is Sleep," another notable work, earned Best in Show at the Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art's 2023 Sense of Place exhibition.
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​Through her art, Peck aims to inspire a deeper appreciation for nature, particularly trees, while offering viewers a unique perspective on the interconnectedness of all life. Her dedication to her craft extends to personally overseeing the transportation of her artworks, ensuring their safe arrival at exhibitions and galleries.

FEBRUARY 2025

Artist Needed

Title Needed

David Gootnick's collection features a variety of beautiful wooden artworks, including wall pieces and light displays of different sizes. Most pieces were created since 2022, with only three having been previously exhibited in group shows. His collection also includes unique casework, demonstrating the versatility of his artistic approach.

David is a Washington D.C.-based mixed media artist specializing in contemporary interpretations of kumiko, a traditional Japanese woodworking technique. 
His intricate designs, inspired by the ornamental shoji screens of the Asuka era (600-700 AD), seamlessly blend art and design. Each of David's compositions comprises hundreds, sometimes over a thousand, individual wood pieces, meticulously crafted to a precision of 0.05mm.
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David is passionate about introducing kumiko to a wider audience, recognizing its declining prevalence in modern Japan and its rarity in North America. Through his art, he aims to foster cross-cultural dialogue and preserve this exquisite craft.

​As an advocate for kumiko, David offers engaging talks on his artistic practice and the rich history of this art form. His presentations cover both traditional and modern techniques, highlighting the work of kumiko master practitioners in Japan and beyond.

​See David's work here

@davidbgootnick on Instagram

APRIL 2025

Terri Yacovelli

The Art of Color

Terri Yacovelli's artistic journey took an unexpected turn during the pandemic when mixing color swatches became a meditative studio practice. This experience reignited her passion for color theory, leading to a deep exploration of hues, values, and saturation. Her work evolved to include monochromatic paintings that explore the interplay of warm and cool tones, as well as more dramatic pieces juxtaposing saturated colors against muted backgrounds. Terri's fascination with the emotional impact of color has significantly enriched her artistic practice. She views color as a powerful communication tool, capable of influencing mood and evoking a range of emotions. This interest led her to pursue an Arts in Health certification through Penn State Geisinger, further deepening her understanding of Color Psychology, Art Wellness, Integrative Health, and Neuro Arts. 
​As an advocate for the healing power of art, Terri believes in its potential for exploration, self-expression, and wellness. Her colorful abstract works, primarily created using the encaustic medium, invite viewers to engage with and contemplate the profound effects of color. Through her art, Terri aims to share her passion and encourage a thoughtful consideration of color's role in our lives and well-being.

See Terri's work here

@tyacovelli on Instagram

APRIL 2025

Mia Cinelli

Title Needed

Mia Cinelli is an Associate Professor of Art Studio and Digital Design at the University of Kentucky. As a multidisciplinary artist, designer, and educator, her practice encompasses an eclectic span of poetic and pragmatic products, installations, and graphics which have been exhibited nationally and internationally.
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​Recently, her typographic works have been acknowledged with Best in Festival for New Work at DesignTO (2020), a Graphis Silver award for typeface design (2018), a Society of Typographic Arts “STA 100” award (2019), and a Communication Arts Typography award (2020). 
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She’s fascinated by language, longing, history, gesture, and corporeality. With an inquiry-driven practice, she is passionate about—and continually excited by— the many ways visual communication and human-centered design can engender meaningful interactions and discussions.

See Mia's work here

JUNE 2025

James Terrell

A Collide of Scope

James Stephen Terrell's art showcases advancements in color theory, influenced by his education at Howard University (BFA) and Parsons School of Design (MFA). His work draws inspiration from diverse sources, including quilt design, stained glass techniques, and Joseph Albers' color blocking. Terrell's vibrant, saturated paintings capture life's movement and energy. Blending abstraction with realism and employing electric color interactions and geometric patterns, Terrell aims to explore humanity and spirituality in these turbulent times. His art emotionally engages viewers through a kaleidoscope of illusions, telling multiple stories. In today's world, where many feel perplexed and anxious, Terrell's "A Collide of Scope" addresses universal feelings that transcend race, color, or creed.

@jtcolorofsound on Instagram

JUNE 2025

Jo-Ann Morgan

Fabric Memorials

Jo-Ann Morgan is a fabric artist and Professor Emeritus of African American Studies and Art History at Western Illinois University. Since 2020, she has dedicated herself full-time to creating stitched fabric wall hangings that address themes of social justice and gun violence⁠.
Morgan's artistic practice employs machine quilting with appliqué techniques to construct layered cotton fabric compositions. Her work often tackles provocative topics related to social justice and inequality, using the familiar medium of quilted comforters to make these subjects approachable⁠⁠.

Her artwork has been influenced by global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and national movements like Black Lives Matter. Morgan's pieces often feature a recurring character, "Nuestra Dama de la Corona" (Lady Corona), inspired by Mexican folk saints⁠.
Morgan's recent work includes a series memorializing the victims of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, as well as pieces commemorating individuals like Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Elijah McClain, and Ahmaud Arbery⁠.
Her accolades include a Not Real Art Award from Culver City Arts Foundation (2022) and a Cultural Commentary/Social Change Grant from Fiber Art Now (2021). Morgan has participated in over thirty juried shows and has held solo exhibitions across the United States⁠.
As an academic, Morgan authored "The Black Arts Movement and the Black Panther Party in American Visual Culture" (Routledge, 2019) and "Uncle Tom's Cabin as Visual Culture," which won the Seaborg Award for Civil War Scholarship in 2008⁠⁠.​

See Jo-Ann's work here

AUGUST 2025

Group Show

Title Needed

Thomas Annear, an accomplished landscape painter, celebrates America's parks through his art. With over 15 years of on-location painting, his work captures natural beauty while exploring themes of identity, democracy, and ecology.

His park-focused art began in 2008 during a family trip to Yellowstone. This evolved into a deeper exploration of parks' ecological, geological, and cultural significance. Thomas's observations, from microscopic organisms to vast vistas, inform his nuanced approach.

Thomas has visited numerous parks, expanding his vision and engaging with environmental and social issues. His work prompts consideration of preservation, public access, climate change impacts, and connecting youth with nature.
His scope includes local and state parks, particularly in New York. Paintings of Allegany State Park, Zoar Valley, and Chautauqua County sites highlight conservation issues closer to home.

Through his art, Thomas invites contemplation of natural heritage and participation in park future dialogues. His work serves as both a celebration of wilderness and a catalyst for preservation awareness and action. ​

OCTOBER 2025

Jane Deschner

Remember Me

Jane Deschner is a contemporary artist exploring memory and shared human experience through her project "Remember me," which began in 2015 as a response to social divisions. She hand-embroiders vintage photos with obituary anecdotes, transforming discarded memories into universal keepsakes.

Her work has been exhibited widely, including at the Yellowstone Art Museum (2022-2023), University of Montana (2023), and upcoming at WaterWorks Art Museum (2024). "Remember me" has been curated as a traveling show by MAGDA, showcasing its impact and relevance.

​Jane's process involves embroidery and repurposing found objects to create immersive installations. With over 1200 hand-stitched pieces, her work illustrates our collective narrative, aiming to remind viewers of our shared humanity in contentious times.

See Jane's work here

@janedeschner1 on Instagram

OCTOBER 2025

Laura Minor

Celestial Bodies

Laura Minor is a contemporary artist based in Western New York, whose work explores themes of motherhood, femininity, and the historical roles of women in society. With a background in traditional photography, Minor has recently expanded her artistic practice to include the historic cyanotype process, which she taught herself in 2019.

Minor's current series, "Celestial Bodies," represents a significant shift in both subject matter and technique from her earlier work. Previously focused on land use in Western New York, her artistic journey took a new direction following the birth of her child. This life-changing event inspired Minor to explore the complexities of motherhood and female identity through a unique blend of digital and analog photographic techniques.

In "Celestial Bodies," Minor combines archival images of women from the late 19th and early 20th centuries with celestial imagery, creating thought-provoking cyanotypes that challenge viewers to reconsider societal expectations placed on women and mothers. Her work has been exhibited in galleries such as the Crary Art Gallery, showcasing her ability to merge historical processes with contemporary themes.
​Minor's artistic process involves meticulous digital composition in Photoshop, followed by the creation of hand-crafted cyanotypes. This labor-intensive method results in striking Prussian blue prints that invite viewers to contemplate the often invisible yet profound influence of women throughout history.

​Through her art, Laura Minor continues to explore the intricate balance between personal identity, societal roles, and the universal human experience, contributing a unique voice to the contemporary art scene.

See Laura's work here

OCTOBER 2025

Mandy Kendall

Natural Immersion

A 3D Exploration in PA’s Natural Landscapes

Mandy Kendall, a Pennsylvania-based photographer and educator, blends her passion for nature with innovative stereo photography techniques. Her decade-long teaching career has fostered experimentation in both historical and modern photographic processes.

Inspired by childhood experiences in Pennsylvania's landscapes, Mandy's work focuses on stereo photography to capture the state's natural beauty. She often revisits historical stereoview locations, creating a dialogue between past and present environmental heritage.

​Mandy's exhibitions feature interactive elements, inviting viewers to experience her 3D images through various methods. Her art celebrates the intersection of photography, nature, and history, offering a unique perspective on Pennsylvania's landscapes.

See Mandy's work here

@​mkendallphoto on Instagram

DECEMBER 2025

Christian Rieben

Title Needed

Christian Reiben is a contemporary artist known for their whimsical yet thought-provoking paintings that explore complex narratives through personified animals and plants. With a unique artistic process that begins almost like a Rorschach test, Reiben creates mid-sized canvases that blend elements of illustration with deeper socio-political commentary.

Reiben's work is characterized by its ability to seduce viewers with playful imagery while addressing provocative or uncomfortable subjects. This approach encourages audiences to engage with important ideas and discussions they might otherwise avoid. The artist's technique involves pouring liquified paint, making gestural marks, and employing reductive wipes to discover venues for action and stories to pursue.
As a former professor of Art, Reiben brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to their practice. They are passionate about community engagement and education, often participating in gallery talks and critiquing sessions with local artists. This commitment to fostering artistic dialogue extends beyond the canvas, making Reiben a valued contributor to the broader art community.

Reiben's paintings, typically unframed with clean sides and occasional pour stains revealing the artistic process, have been exhibited in galleries across the country. Their work invites viewers to bring their own histories and interpretations, creating a synthesis between the artist's vision and the audience's reception.
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With a keen interest in both intimate, personal narratives and larger socio-political discourses, Christian Reiben continues to push the boundaries of contemporary painting, challenging viewers to look beyond the surface and engage with the complex stories woven into each canvas.

See Christian's work here

DECEMBER 2025

Tom Hubert

Title Needed

Tom Hubert, an accomplished ceramic artist with over 40 years of exhibition experience, is known for his innovative approach to traditional forms. As a retired Mercyhurst University ceramics professor and faculty emeritus, Hubert focuses on vessel-oriented ceramics that blur the line between functional and aesthetic objects.

His work, characterized by its unique blend of tradition and innovation, often incorporates wood elements. Hubert's pieces, while resembling functional ceramics, are primarily intended for display, showcasing their aesthetic value.
Throughout his career, Hubert has participated in various shows, demonstrating his evolving artistic vision. His collaboration with fellow artist Dan Burke, evidenced by their joint exhibition at Kada Gallery in Erie, PA, has further influenced his work.
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Hubert's dedication to his craft and ability to push boundaries have earned him recognition in the art world. His pieces continue to captivate audiences, inviting exploration of the intersection between form, function, and aesthetic beauty in ceramic art.

See Tom's work here