The O-town Scene

July 03, 2013

The O-town Scene - Oneonta, NY

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Artist of the month: Amy Cannon About the Artist: Amy Cannon Amy Cannon, originally from Connecticut, is a longtime resident of the Cooperstown area. She invented the term "Chromatones" to describe the carefully-constructed mesmerizing collages, each a two-dimensional jewel, according to Sydney Waller, who organized the show. Cannon, a graduate of the Parsons School of Art, is also known for her exquisitely designed and crafted precious metal jewelry. The collages represent a totally new body of work for Cannon, who has exhibited her work locally, regionally and nationally, including at the Georgia Museum of Art in Athens, Ga.; Silvermine Guild in New Canaan, Conn.; and The Views in Bala Cynwyd, Pa. About her influences, Cannon said the following: "I have long admired Joseph Cornell's assemblage boxes, the collage-like imagery in works by Magritte, Dali, de Chirico and Carrington, and the photographs of Claude Cahun and Man Ray — and other Surrealist artists working in a similar vein from the early 1900s to the 1960s." 'Vi et Animo' 'Optimum' About the Art "Chromatones," works on paper by Amy Cannon of Fly Creek, is on display at The Garage at 689 Beaver Meadow Road in Cooperstown through Aug. 5. Cannon's work grew out of an interest in collage that included curating a show for the Cooperstown Art Association in 2002, "Collage as Metaphor," featuring six artists whose work explored different means to stretch artistic and conceptual boundaries within the realm of collage. Her own work in the medium was, in part, inspired by this exhibit, as she explained: "I began to experiment with my own approach to collage — collage as metaphor; collage as painting. Though conceptually different from the Surrealists and the six artists (included in the 2002 CAA show), I employed similar processes, such as automation and stream of consciousness. The result was an emphasis on texture and color juxtaposition rather than primarily on the traditional rearrangement of recognizable images. I started making 'Chromatones.' "My palette comprises magazine rippings arranged by hue. Tearing rather than carefully cutting facilitates a frenetic tactile approach to finding a resonance with the colors and textured patterns selected in the moment. The finished pieces also suggest memories from my past. The textured patterns allude to things somewhat recognizable; they trigger memories while creating depth of field and movement. These 'paper paintings' highlight the magic qualities of texture and color – with an approach different from using paint. "A colorful sense of order amidst chaos reflects the abstract but similar daily experiences we have deciphering visual stimulation. However these collages are perceived, whether purely mood lifting or to revel in the creation of a new way of experiencing energy and light through color, the end results always surprise in unexpected ways. "The colors we surround our selves with in our everyday lives influence our thoughts, feelings and behavior to an extraordinary degree. Our relationship to color reflects an endless array of unspoken moods and awareness. I explore my relationship to colors and their relationship to each other when arranged in unpredictable ways in these paper canvases. I juxtapose colored 'strokes of paper,' intuitively chosen, altered, and applied in a painterly manner, to harness energy through the power of color." The Garage is open daily by appointment; noon to 4 p.m. Fridays; and 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays for a weekly Meet the Artist open house. There is no admission charge. For information, email 689thegarage@gmail.com or call 547-5327. 'Alis Grave Nil' July 3, 2013 O-Town Scene 5

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