Interview with Keith Jones Pomeroy

New at the Yellow Wall Gallery!

I'll be posting interviews with our current gallery artists on this blog.
It's my hope that from these interviews you'll learn more about the artist's artwork in the gallery, their practices and philosophies on art, and maybe what they like to do in their spare time...
an opportunity for you to learn about the artist beyond the gallery walls.

Here is the first interview with artist Keith Jones Pomeroy.
His collection of paintings, "Communion", will be in the gallery until January 16, 2011.

* When did you first discover that art would be important part of your life?
I have always enjoyed art and started drawing and coloring as soon as I could hold crayons. As a kid, I always wanted to be an artist when I grew up. It wasn't a very original idea, but it has been a passion that has remained constant throughout my life.

* How long does it take you to create a painting?
It depends completely on each piece and the time I have to commit to it. If I'm working consistently (3-4 days a week), it probably takes between 2 weeks- 2 months/painting.

* How do you get motivated to make artwork?
I just enjoy the creative process, I like seeing forms take shape and get refined on a blank canvas. I get excited to see subject matter that I care about come to life through painting.

* What music are you listening to these days? Reading any books?
Christmas music! I tend to listen to Xmas music from Nov.-Jan. and love the whole genre, from Bing Crosby to current artists redoing old favorites. I'm currently reading "A Theology of Liberation" by Gustavo Guitierrez.

* What or who are your influences to paint? (artists, philosophers, scientists, etc)
Michelangelo (for pure ingenuity, structure, beauty of the human body), Rembrandt (his use of light and dark), Van Gogh (for blending emotion with texture, color, and depth), Monet (color).

* How do you go about choosing a subject for your portraits?
Choosing the subject is a mixture of personal connection and aesthetic appeal. All of the people I've painted have touched me in some way, and I feel connected to them. But I also think that all of them have strong character that is very visible in their appearance. It sounds somewhat cliche, but it is as if their "inner beauty" is manifested in their bodies.

* Discuss one of your pieces that is currently in the gallery. What were you thinking when you created it?
The piece of the water with the sunset in the background was an incredible challenge. At the time I painted that, most of my paintings were portraits and I wanted a change of pace and something more difficult. The depth of water and fading into the light was quite challenging, but something that was really enjoyable. I spent a lot of time re-evaluating the piece and redoing large sections until it got to a place where I felt content with it. Though this wasn't a person I was painting, I still felt connected to the water, to the colors in a very different ways than a portrait.

* Why do you create art?
I paint because it gives me energy, it rejuvenates and refreshes me, it connects me to other people. I enjoy the whole process, the creation and end of a painting.

* How long did it take you to grow your mustache so you can wax it like that?
The current stache is about 2 months old.

* What inspired you to grow a mustache that you could eventually wax?
Facial hair is under-utilized much of the time. It's a shame that people are content with just carefully trimmed goatees. Be creative, man!

* Do politics, religion and/or faith play a part in your artwork or art-making process?
I love the idea of art being something that communicates a variety of things. I place a lot of importance on aesthetics, on having feeling communicated through the art, but I also love the idea of symbolism being strong. As of now, I haven't incorporated too much of that in my paintings. I think spirituality has strong threads within my work, partly because that is an integral part of who I am, but also because I feel connected on a deeper level with my subjects.

* What took you to the places that you have depicted in your paintings?
Most of my portraits are from people that I met in Thailand (in Chiang Mai, in a refugee camp in Mae Sot, and at a tribal village in Musekee) while working there with a study abroad program during 2008-09. There is also a portrait from Honduras, where I worked at an orphanage for a summer in 2004. The water paintings are from Lion's Head, Ontario, where my family has vacationed my whole life.

* Did you receive a degree in art? What is your day job now?
I would have loved to have majored in art, but at the time the art program at Messiah College (my alma mater) was not flexible and I wouldn't have been able to study abroad. So I studied Sociology and took a lot of art electives.
Currently I work as a Program Manager for the Agape Center at Messiah College. In brief, I connect students with service-learning (volunteer/reflection) opportunities.

* What do you hope your audience will gain from viewing your paintings?
I like the idea that people can feel like they "know" the person portrayed in the painting, that something of their character would be communicated in the painting.

* If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
Salzburg, Austria. They have awesome Christmas celebrations, have a bit of snow now, and great food. I love those things at this time of year!

* Anything else you would like to say about yourself or your artwork?
I love painting. Thanks for the opportunity to share a little about that love!

Now Available!

Special order custom-made prints (canvas or paper) from any of Keith Jones Pomeroy's paintings in the gallery. A variety of sizes and prices are available. Give the gift of art to your loved ones AND support a local artist this holiday season!! See a cafe manager or email yellowwallgallery@gmail.com for more details.

"Communion" paintings by Keith Jones Pomeroy

"Communion" paintings by local artist Keith Jones Pomeroy.

Keith presents works inspired by the individuals he has connected with throughout his travels to Central America, Southeast Asia and Europe.

December 1, 2010 - January 16, 2011.

Reception for the artist December 17, 2010 6-9pm.

TONIGHT!!! Reception for "Perspective: Seeing Through Design".

TONIGHT!!! Reception for "Perspective: Seeing Through Design". Graphic design artists Allison Coleman and Cristina Ortiz.

Allison creates mixed media pieces that humanize the Jonestown incident. Cristina flaunts her mastery of design elements.

FREE! 6-9pm. Refreshments will be served.

Perspective: Seeing Through Design ....Artist Statements

Artist Statements available on our Facebook page!

Cristina Ortiz and Allison Coleman's statements

Now on Exhibit through November 28, 2010

"Perspective: Seeing Through Design" featuring design work by Allison Coleman and Cristina Ortiz in conjunction with the Messiah College Art League.
November 2 - 28, 2010.
Reception November 19, 6-9pm.











image by Cristina Ortiz.

NEW EXHIBIT!!!

Motley: A Collection of Drawings and Paintings by Three Well-Behaved Women.

by Kelly Carmack, Shauna Myers, Melanie Walters.

September 27 - October 31. Reception October 15, 6-9pm. Come see this show!

by Shauna Myers

Tara Chicky Q&A at the gallery from 7pm-8pm TONIGHT!

TONIGHT! 6-9pm. Join us for Third in the Burg! Tara Chickey, our exhibiting artist, will be in the gallery from 7-8pm for an Artist Q&A session. Hope to see you there! This exhibit will be in the gallery until September 26th.

New Exhibit: Tara Chickey's "They Speak With Tiny Voices"

We have a new show up! Tara Chickey of the Mantis Collective Gallery is displaying her monotoypes, drawings and paintings August 11 through September 26. A reception for the artist will be held on Friday, August 20, 2010 from 6-9pm. On Friday, September 17, 2010 there will be another artist reception from 6-9pm with a Q&A session with the artist starting at 7pm in the gallery.

Utilizing painting and drawing, the depicted scenes in Tara's work float between memory and actual experience. Specifically, her work is influenced by her travels to Iceland. She extracts segments of these memories of glaciers, fjords, volcanoes, geysers, waterfalls and sparse vegetation to create a new and enhanced memory for viewers to soak in.

Tara currently resides in Harrisburg , PA. She attended Millersville University where she received her BSE in art education. She had also studied at the Burren College of Art in Ireland . She has been in both solo and collective shows in Pennsylvania , Washington D.C. , Maryland , and Ireland . Her work is also in private collections throughout the nation. Chickey is a member of Moviate ( Harrisburg ’s film co-op), and is co-director/owner of The Mantis Collective. She is also an art instructor at Central Dauphin High School where she teaches Drawing and Painting courses.

DC artist Benjamin Thorpe presents: "Remnant" July 7- August 8

The Yellow Wall Gallery at the Midtown Scholar Bookstore is pleased to present the artwork of Benjamin J. Thorpe. Benjamin will present a collection of graphite drawings, oil paintings and photography at the gallery from July 7 to August 8, 2010. A reception for the artist will be held on Friday, July 16, 2010 from 6-9pm.

The subjects selected for "Remnant" are each intended to offer a visual history or glancing memoir of their own. Benjamin Thorpe appreciates the capacity of art to capture snapshots of personal, physical, and social trajectories and, more importantly, to provide the language for a free exchange of ideas.

Ben enjoys a wide range of artistic styles but is most inspired by modern and contemporary realists like Andrew Wyeth and John Whalley. He sometimes departs from realism in favor of abstract elements that emphasize a quality, such as the fracture of storm clouds or the
subplots of a leaf. Aesthetically, he is drawn to hard texture, high contrast, and sharp detail, and, as someone who also loves to write, places importance on the dimension that a title adds to each piece.

Ben is a DC-based artist, working full time in development at a national not-for-profit. An alumni of Messiah College (Grantham, PA), he has also lived in Bangladesh, Maine, and Chile, and plans tocontinue practicing art alongside other interests like writing, music, and dance. You may visit his website at benjaminthorpe.com.

Tonight! Friday June 18, 2010 6-9pm Reception for "Danzante Presents: The Eco-Arts Initiative"

TONIGHT! Reception for "Danzante Presents: The Eco-Arts Initiative"! Come out and see this fantastic photography exhibit by local students from the Danzante Community Arts Center! 6-9pm FREE EVENT (food and drinks too!)

Danzante Presents: The Eco-Arts Initiative June 9 - July 3, 2010

Danzante Presents: The Eco-Arts Initiative
Photographs by students at the Danzante Community Arts Center
under the instruction of photographer Matthew Murray

Melody Aleman, Gustavo Crist, Rosa Goicoechea, Nytae Lane, Tiffany Zoe

June 9 - July 3, 2010
Reception: Friday, June 18, 2010 6-9pm

Danzante's youth photographers will be leading an Eco-Arts Summer Camp
at Danzante Community Art Center, 200 Crescent St. Harrisburg, PA from June 21 - August 6th, 2010

Activites will include visual and performing arts and will include day trips to riverfront park, city island, the Whitaker Center, the State Museum and Camp Reily Pool. Ages 6-16. Discount for HSD students!

Visit danzante.org for more information

"Light and Dark" reception - TONIGHT! 6-9pm

TONIGHT!!! Reception for "Light and Dark" artwork by the Central Dauphin High School advanced painting students (Janelle Britton, Alyssa DeFalco, Elizabeth Kramer, Cecilia Peters), 6-9pm. Come out and see these wonderful paintings!! Music by gypsy jazz band Hot Club du Jour!

"Light and Dark" reception - FRIDAY May 21, 2010 from 6-9pm

Light and Dark

Janelle Britton
Alyssa DeFalco
Elizabeth Kramer
Cecilia Peters

May 5 - June 6, 2010
Reception: Friday, May 21, 2010 6-9pm

The students in advanced painting at Central Dauphin High School have been given the assignment to collaborate as a class on a theme and find a venue to display their body of work in the community. The students have chosen to work with the theme of Light and Dark. Each student has taken this theme and represented it in several different ways. Whether it is literally the concept of light and shadow or symbolically representing an emotional balance or imbalance within their lives, each student allowed their personal experiences to inspire their work.

"Light and Dark" paintings by Central Dauphin High School students May 5 - June 6, 2010

Light and Dark
Janelle Britton
Alyssa DeFalco
Elizabeth Kramer
Cecilia Peters

May 5 - June 6, 2010
Reception: Friday, May 21, 2010 6-9pm 

The students in advanced painting at Central Dauphin High School have been given the assignment to collaborate as a class on a theme and find a venue to display their body of work in the community. The students have chosen to work with the theme of Light and Dark. Each student has taken this theme and represented it in several different ways. Whether it is literally the concept of light and shadow or symbolically representing an emotional balance or imbalance within their lives, each student allowed their personal experiences to inspire their work.

Janelle Britton:
For my series “Light and Dark,” my intention was to shed light on the people in our society who are abandoned and forgotten. They, in a sense, live in “darkness” and long for “light.” These people are the ones who live in the shadows of others, the ones who endure pain each and every day. I know that I have and believe that we have all been in this type of situation at some point or another in our lives, and we need to remember what that feels like and therefore, show compassion for those who live lives like this on a daily basis. The literal aspect of “Light and Dark” is the fact that in the various faces in my pieces, I used high contrast in utilizing the ink. I hope that through this series, I have been successful in helping people to remember that there are people who do not enjoy the lives that so many of us are privileged to live.

Alyssa DeFalco:
Horror of our Love
My inspiration for this series was a song that I was introduced to by a person I wish I never let into my life. I was dating this person, and we had a relationship I will never be able to understand or explain. Although there were true feelings between us, I was chased away by his forms of abuse and psychotic antics. He would dress me in baggy clothes to hide my body and face, because I was not worthy to be seen with him. He broke into my house twice, once to sneak into my bed, and once to sleep in my bed when I wasn't home. When I was finally strong enough to let it all go, he would call me for hours straight and send me pictures as he sliced his arms wide open.
Many of my friends know what he has put me through, but don't really understand how much it has affected me as a person. He made me feel completely worthless. I felt like I had to hide my face from the world; although, I had no true reason to be ashamed of myself. For the longest time I'd be terrified to be home alone, knowing he could come over, or already be in my house at anytime. Up until recently, he would text me, telling me he was in town, because he enjoyed knowing how terrified I was. I would hide in the bathroom with a knife, and be on the verge of a panic attack whenever he said he was in town.
The title of the song, which is also the title of my series, basically sums up the entire relationship. Love is meant to be beautiful, light, and enjoyable. But horror is dark, evil, disturbing, and demented. The relationship between us had love, but a horrible, controlling, abusive and obsessive love. The song reminds me of our relationship. When listening to it, the song sounds so mysterious, captivating, and beautiful. Love is meant to be beautiful and captivating. If you actually listen to the lyrics, it is gruesome, horrible, and incredibly disturbing which is how my relationship was.
My series represents an emotional light and dark that is portrayed in the lyrics of this song. Each painting portrays what I personally imagine when listening to the song. Each painting also reminds me that I was strong enough to overcome this pain. Creating this body of work is my way of saying, “I'm not afraid of you.” I am an extremely beautiful person, inside and out. Nothing he has done to me will hold me back anymore.

Cecilia Peters:
There's always going to be bad stuff out there. But here's the amazing thing -- light trumps darkness, every time. You stick a candle into the dark, but you can't stick the dark into the light.

Elizabeth Kramer:
           The idea for this series was decided in our painting class. Deciding on a theme to encompass the work of four very different art students can be challenging; in that, you do not want to restrict them with specifics. We felt that Light/Dark was a theme anyone could relate to and a theme that is truly subjective and has many plausible solutions to it. Choosing Light/Dark seemed right because of its freeing quality as well as how interesting it will be to see and compare the many interpretations it can take on.
For my series of Light/Dark, I wanted to primarily take on a simple concept. I wanted my work to be straight forward and visual. I wanted the paintings to hit the eye with contrast.  I would achieve this by using saturated colors against tints and shades. The idea of contrast is a factor of the theme Light/Dark in that essentially Light/Dark is just a contrast, a comparison of two opposites.
Though contrast was my primary goal in achieving Light/Dark, I also wanted to portray Light/Dark in other aspects of my paintings. The subject matter of my series is people. I often find myself drawn to people when painting and I keep trying to reinvent the ways I can portray them. I wanted to incorporate the idea of Light/Dark with my depiction of the people. Light/Dark relates to facial composition and how a face has so many angles and points of contrast. This idea of relates back to the idea of viewing Light/Dark as purely a visual contrast.  With my subject of people I tried to incorporate another interpretation of Light/Dark.  With this interpretation I tried to create people who have an appearance of something behind their eyes; in that, I wanted to create people with the look of real emotions, and real life behind them. The attempted animation of my people shows further assimilation of Light/Dark; in that, I am trying to convey the true complexities of real people. Those complexities that are found in every person are not so easily seen or judged. When one first encounters another person, you are able to figure out the knowns and unknowns of that person. When you first see and judge a person, you feel you can make conclusions about that person with certainty and other conclusions with uncertainty. My attempted portrayal of trying to draw people with a genuine quality and trying to express a personality behind them relates to Light/Dark in viewing Light/Dark as what is known and what is unknown.

Art After Hours exhibit dates extended !!!

"Art After Hours" exhibit will not end today! the exhibit has been extended to Sunday May 2!!! SEE THIS SHOW! TONIGHT! Be in the gallery and rub elbows with PA State Representatives before they debate! or SUNDAY hobnob in the gallery with Senatorial and Gubernatorial candidates! Ask what they will do to support the arts!!!!

"Art After Hours" opening reception Friday April 16, 6-9pm

THIS FRIDAY! April 16 - Art After Hours opening reception 6-9pm. We'll have donuts and orange juice! Come out and see this wonderful, diverse collection of artwork by the creative employees of the Midtown Scholar Bookstore!

There will be a shuttle, sponsored by Chevrolet, taking art supporters to all participating Third... in the Burg galleries on this evening! Ride the shuttle for a chance to win up to $200 in gift cards to area businesses!

Be sure to visit the new MANTIS GALLERY and MOVIATE space next door at 1306 N 3rd Street.

Hope to see you! Come out and support the local arts!!

Art After Hours: A group exhibition by Midtown Scholar Bookstore employees April 1 - 30, 2010

Come out and see this wonderful, diverse collection of artwork by our creative employees!

Opening reception is April 16, 2010 from 6pm - 9pm. We will have donuts and coffee for refreshments!

Summer in Winter: A Visual Escape reception March 19, 6-9pm

photo by James Lentz


Come out and meet the artists! We'll have wine, fruit and cheese...and the inflatable palm trees! FREE! 6-9pm

Exhibit ends March 26, 2010.

Hope to see you there!

Summer in Winter: A Visual Escape

Summer in Winter: A Visual Escape
February 5 - March 26, 2010

Opening Reception & Luau Party: February 19, 2010 6pm - 10pm


Ringing Rocks, 2009 by Jenelle Rittenhouse

The Yellow Wall Gallery at the Midtown Scholar Bookstore is pleased to present “Summer in Winter: A Visual Escape, a group exhibition of photographs and paintings. The opening reception and Luau party will be on February 19, 2010 from 6pm – 9pm.

In the dead of winter, our minds start to wander to thoughts of warmer and brighter days. We close our eyes and imagine the days when we could bask in the hot sun and the nights we could drive on a moonlit country road with all the windows down. We say to ourselves that we would gladly welcome a sun-induced sweat over the chill of cold air on our necks. Some are able to travel to a tropical getaway, but the majority of us rely on our recollections and imagination to get us through the bitter cold months.

For this exhibit, artists submitted images that evoke a desire for an escape from the cold, dark and dull days of winter. The imagery in the gallery will allow the viewer to imagine warmer, brighter and summery days.

Exhibiting artists are: Alyx Bowen, Tara Chickey, Karen Commings, Barbara Dugan, Gary Edmiston, Stephanie Fisher, Susan Glessner, Andrew Guth, Al Holliday, Marvin Israel, David Kern, Susan Kramer, Liz Laribee, James Lentz, Kathy Martin, Laura Mathews, Jennifer D. Nardis, Michael Pasqua, Jenelle Rittenhouse, Tom Sanfilippo, Marchelle Shelton, Sean Simmers, Donald K. Uvick, Paul Vasiliades, Cindy Ward, Kyle Williamson

Tonight! January 15th. 7-9pm "Third in the 'Burg"

Tonight! 7-9pm

As part of Harrisburg's first "Third in the 'Burg" event, Matthew Murray will be at the gallery from 7-9pm. Stop by and meet Matthew, have him sign a copy of his limited edition book, ask him about his artwork, or just come by and have a glass of wine!

I hope you will join us!

Also - today is the LAST DAY to submit your entries for the "Summer in Winter: A Visual Escape" exhibit. Artists will be notified of their accepted images on Monday, January 18! Thank you for submitting! Details about submitting to this exhibition are below.

TONIGHT!! January 14th. Matthew Murray Artist Lecture

TONIGHT!!! Matthew Murray will be at the bookstore to give a lecture on his photography exhibit "Abandoned America". Free!!! 7-9pm.

Check out this article from the Carlisle Sentinel by Lisa Clarke on Matthew's photos: http://www.cumberlink.com/articles/2010/01/14/a_e/arts/doc4b4f34b1cda32617612106.txt