'Many Faces of Abstraction'

In abstract painting sometimes the work just naturally flows from the artist, while other pieces require agonizing hours of work, says Claire Giblin of Millersville.

Giblin was one of four abstract artists featured at the Anita Shapolsky Foundation open house art show Saturday titled "The Many Faces of Abstraction."

The artists featured in the 180-year-old former church-turned-gallery were on hand for the event.

Even though the paintings can be classified as abstraction, each style was unique.

Giblin calls her form of abstract color field work. Her displays captured relaxing tones and cool colors.

"The method varies, but expression is supposed to be as true to spontaneity as possible," she said.

Jim Thorpe resident Joel Le Bow had several paintings on display, ranging from his early work to his most recent. Le Bow has been painting for over 60 years.

Le Bow, who comes from a long line of doctors and dentists, had been a medical student at the University of Pennsylvania when he took a turn off the familiar path for something more creative. He took his university tuition check to the University of Art.

"I was never so happy, I was released," he said.

Le Bow's ideas come from his surroundings.

"I take things from my experiences; something strikes me. I start with something I enjoy looking at," he said. The hardest part, he said, is titling his work.

Ethereal Abstracts studio owner and painter Michelle Neifert loves to work with different types of media. Her featured art differed between acrylic panels and canvas. Neifert is heavily featured in many shows in the Lehigh Valley where her studio is located. Her style is in sync with the natural rhythms of the seasons. She uses earthy greens and calming blues for summer and spring.

Also featured was elementary school art teacher Ryan Hnat. He grew up in Coaldale, where he started his painting career early in childhood. He would often go with his father to paint houses. Hnat also helped in the restoration work of the gallery.

"Geometric Abstraction, hard edge," he calls his style.

The main subjects of his paintings are shapes and the way light is cast onto them. He works to create depth through capturing the light.

Hnat had always had an interest in drawing and painting, but didn't have formal art classes until he enrolled in college. It was his mother, however, who insisted he get a degree in teaching.

"Art is super-important in school," Hnat said. "Art gives students a chance to reinterpret the information learned in math and English classes."

The foundation's assistant, Elizabeth Johnson of Easton, agrees. Four art class sessions were held in the foundation in June. Johnson organized and directed the children's art sessions.

"The classes were a great success," she said. She was told by parents "the children would come home and want to create even more art."

The classes were held in the upstairs area of the building or sanctuary, where the children were surrounded by 100-year-old Tiffany stained glass windows and abstract sculptures and paintings by noted artist Ernest Briggs. In fact, it was a Briggs painting that served as inspiration for the first session.

Johnson had the children look at the abstract animals and then re-create an animal picture of their own.

The colors and images of the floor to ceiling stained glass windows also acted as inspiration for a session where the children drew their own mandalas.

Art sessions are already scheduled for next summer. Parents are encouraged to register their children by May of next year.

Foundation owner Anita Shapolsky also owns a gallery in New York, where she spends most of her time.

The gallery is open Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. A donation of $2 for adults is asked while children are free. All donations are put toward the cost of building renovations. The bell tower in particular is the next focus for restoration.