Summer 2022 Exhibit | bethelphotoworks

BETHEL PHOTOWORKS JULY 24th ART SHOW

HIGHLIGHTS.

Bethel Photoworks wants to thank all the participating artists who took the time to submit their works to be a part of what we hope is the first of many shows to come. This being the first art exhibit since the covid lockdown, we couldn't have asked for a better turnout filled with art, food and music, with a total of six works of art being sold and great interest shown in all the pieces. This was a fantastic opportunity to meet new artists and get an insight into their creative process, as well as meet art lovers from all over. We want to thank you and hope to see you at future exhibits.

(scroll down for images)

PAM ACKLEY

Pam Ackley received a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Marymount Manhattan College and a Masters in Clinical Social Work from New York University.

In September 2006, Pam began her artistic journey at Silvermine School of Art where she studied still life for eight years with Kirill Doron of the Art Institute of Moscow.

Pam's primary focus was portraiture and her interest was geared towards classical portrait paintings since those paintings use the light so effectively.

Towards that goal, Pam was classically trained in the academic tradition for seven years. Her training was furnished by several instructors from the Florence Academy of Art.

“My paintings are the poetry of my interpretations of reality."

"After my years of formal academic training, I often take my work toward the more contemporary, non-classical style. This is accomplished by combining structure of form along with an organic, reactive approach to color and value. While my still life’s and portraits adhere to the traditional, I often incorporate contemporary design.

“Objects in Space” are a departure from reality in that I allow my reactions to take the painting to places I cannot preconceive as I focus only on the essentials.”

Pam is co-founder and model coordinator for the New Street Guild of Artists in Bridgeport, CT.

NSGA is a private Guild of representational women artists who paint/draw the model from life twice weekly, year-round in their Bridgeport, Connecticut studio.

The Guild Has been in operation since 2009.

Pam also co-founded North Light Studio in Bridgeport, CT where she paints still life and non model related work with her colleagues.

Pam has had several solo and group shows in Connecticut including Wilton, Greenwich, Westport, Norwalk, Stamford, Darien, Ridgefield and New Canaan.

Her work is in several private collections.

Pam is an elected member of Silvermine Guild of Art as well as Connecticut Women Artists.

Pam Ackley was born and raised in New York City and currently lives in Killingworth, Connecticut.

Pam Ackley is represented by the Silvermine Art Guild in New Canaan and
the Geary Gallery in Darien.

Her work is also exhibited by Axel Interiors of Norwalk, Connecticut

(scroll down for images)

ROSES IN A TUMBLER
Oil 12"x16"

CRIMSON AND SCARLET
Oil 20"x20"

LEMONS (SOLD)
Oil 14"x15"

GLASS AND HYDRANGEAS
Oil 20"x24"

RED AND SILVER (SOLD)
Oil 10"x10"

BEGONIA
Oil 9"x11"

BLUE HYDRANGEA (SOLD)
Oil 9"x11"

METAL CUP
Oil 20x24

ROSES AND CLEMATIS
Oil 11"x9"

BUTTERFLY BUSH
Oil 10"x10"

PETE BERGERON

Connecticut artist Pete Bergeron has been painting since early childhood, inspired by the classic television instruction series “You Are an Artist” hosted by Jon Gnagy.

Pete’s formal art training began at Paier School of Art in Hamden, CT, studying illustration. Eventually he turned to large scale painting and like artist James Rosenquist before him he worked as a billboard painter creating giant images of hamburgers, beer bottles, cars and other colorful oversized advertisements.

In 1990 he studied with Frank Covino of Waitsfield, VT, learning the Classical Academic approach to painting; a systematic method that begins with a detailed monochromatic under painting superimposed with many layers of thinly applied colored glazes. The resulting effect gives an overall luminous quality to the finished painting. His commitment to fine art was a natural direction that led to a consuming full time passion for creating lasting and timeless works of art.

Pete’s current landscape paintings are reminiscent of the late nineteenth century American landscape painters of the Hudson River School, including John Frederick Kensett, Sanford Robinson Gifford and William Trost Richards, and of the Tonalist painters of that period. His work hangs in many collections throughout New England and other areas of the U.S. He currently resides in Redding with his family.

(scroll down for images)

JAMESTOWN LIGHT
Oil 8"x9"

YELLOW BARN
Oil 12"x15"

SUMMER VIEW FROM CHARLES ISLAND
Oil 10"x20"

MONHEGAN SURF
Oil 7.5"x15"

RIVER WOOD
Oil 9.5"x7"

JOHN FORGIONE

John Forgione’s artistic passion and influence started as a young boy when he was introduced to painting and sculpture by his uncle, mentor, and namesake John Forgione senior.

John went on to major in art and painting at the University of Connecticut, where he graduated with a BFA. His lifelong love of nature, and a strong influence of the French and American Impressionists drive his passion for “Plein Air” painting. He enjoys the emotional and physical challenges of painting outdoors, working quickly and fervently to capture the effects of light, weather, form, architecture, and nature in his work.

John’s paintings have been on display and sold through a variety of Connecticut shows and galleries, and out of his home studio and gallery in Easton, CT. John is also a successful entrepreneur, and is a founding partner at SFA Marketing, a Connecticut based marketing agency.

(scroll down for images)

BROOKLYN BRIDGE
Oil 16"x26"

OCEAN MIST
Oil 13"x21"

ORCHARD THAW
Oil 7"x11"

MORNING MIST
Oil 9"x14"

CHRISTINE O'KEEFE

I am a classically trained figurative artist, having studied drawing and oil painting at Silvermine School of Art in New Canaan, CT over a period of about 6 years, and over the years since then have regularly taken private workshops with talented artists such as Mark Boedges, Steven Assael, as well as Florence Academy trained artists Jennifer Gennari and Jesus Villarreal. I am a member of The New Street Guild of Artists, a group of women artists who paint portrait and figure from live models weekly. I also paint in a weekly workshop with artist Justin Wiest in Wilton CT painting live models, portrait and figure in oil.

Over the past several years I have devoted more and more of my work to painting animals, especially dogs, horses and wildlife. I am a lifetime lover of all animals, a big animal rights advocate, and served on the board of the Humane Society for about 20 years in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. I do commissions of pets and also have worked on a series I call "Dogs in Cars" of silly dogs I find in parking lots at the grocery store, parks and anywhere they think they can be mistaken for a human passenger....

My studio is located in Georgetown, CT at the G&B Community Culture Center and I can be reached by text at 203-788-3197.

(scroll down for images)