Starting Saturday, June 1st the Crary Art Gallery, located at 511 Market St., Warren, PA, will be displaying two new exhibitions. These exhibitions will spotlight the works of the Warren Camera Club, and of former Warren resident, Jessica DeStefano. The Warren Camera Club is a group of local amateur photographers who meet monthly to share images, techniques, ideas, and some friendly competition.
Numbering 15-20 members, the club is a diverse group of people with a wide variety of skill levels, professions, and areas of interest. Also, sculptor Jessica DeStefano will take viewers on a journey off the canvas and into the three-dimensional by displaying 19 figurines which can range in size from a few inches to 18 inches. Her work is described as evoking both tears and laughter, sometimes at the same time.
The Warren Camera Club is an informal group of people who enjoy each other’s company while learning about new techniques and equipment. Current president, Don Reed, has been a member for 35 years. His favorite thing about the Warren Camera Club is that it encourages people to get outside and take photos as well as getting them out of their comfort zones.
Photographs in the exhibit are some of the best images from the Warren Camera Club, that are taken by men and women who call Warren County home. Don is excited about the opportunity for the Warren Camera Club to share their work with the community.
Currently a resident of update New York, former Warren resident Jessica DeStefano is renowned for her small sculptures and theme-based chess sets. She began her career in art when she was in high school, sketching portraits. She soon moved into the three-dimensional realm of sculpting. “I believed art that was small offered a unique perspective and encouraged a more intimate way of seeing,” she said. Art helped Jessica pay her way through college in the mid-60’s when she started making head-shaped beads. Working on the beads helped Jessica perfect her technique in small-scale sculpting, especially when it came to facial expressions.
Jessica’s sculptures are inspired by her time in California. Her figurines of fairies and mermaids gained recognition with collectors in the early 1980’s. Her work is collected by institutions including the National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C. and the World Chess Hall of Fame in St. Louis, MO, and has been displayed in prestigious art exhibits across the country, including the National Sculpture Society in New York City and the Sawdust Festival and Festival of the Arts in Laguna Beach, California.
Come support local artists by attending the opening reception for these two fine exhibitions on Saturday, June 1st from 5:00pm-7:00pm at the Crary Art Gallery. Additionally, these exhibitions will be available for viewing on Fridays and Saturdays from 12pm-6pm and Sundays from 12pm-4pm through June 30th.
The Crary Art Gallery is a non-profit private art museum located at the corner of Market Street and Sixth Avenue in Warren. In addition to displaying its permanent collection, temporary exhibitions are held every other month throughout the year, beginning in February. Hours are Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 6pm and Sundays from noon to 4pm. Admission is free.
For more information, visit craryartgallery.org
