Staff Pick: Painting by Molly Piper

By Courtney McKenna

Molly Piper is a self educated woman who stays abreast of current events and political agendas. "Molly goes to heaven, the building blows up, and Timothy McVeigh goes to hell" is the telling title of a painting completed in 2002. The reactive statement immediately addresses Piper's unique understanding of the events that took place in Oklahoma City.

The full, yet deliberate composition allows the viewer to observe the events as understood by the artist. Piper's frankly, playful, line use is informative.  She illustrates a mass of people seemingly floating in air, surrounded by shapes reminiscent of pieces of the building or bodies.  Piper creates a sense of depth by varying the sizes of the bodies, some with smiles, some with no faces at all.  Her select use of color, applied in forceful marks, provides insight to her emotions tied to the events.  

Acrylic paint marker on canvas, 32 x 20 inches, 2002. 

For Piper, understanding the specifics of the event is difficult.  She gives these bodies anonymity and smiles; who these people are is a mystery to her.   The setting is hinted at in the title, and there is one rectangle, perhaps the top of a building, on the right hand side. The lighthearted execution of the painting presents the event in a honest, unfamiliar way.

Over the last nineteen years, Piper has developed a strong artistic voice that addresses social and political events with a touch of humor and an obvious desire to understand.  Learn more about Molly Piper and her art work at her artist page!

Farewell, Elaine!

By River Cortes

Elaine whoops it up at her retirement party. 

Elaine Abboud, one of Gateway Arts’ longest-standing artists, has retired after thirty-seven years of wonderful artwork and unflagging enthusiasm.

Elaine has explored nearly all that Gateway has to offer since she first came in 1976. She worked in ceramics, made countless drawings and paintings (often featuring her distinctive, elflike figures), developed her impressive knowledge of embroidery, and wove many unique scarves. Elaine also participated in the drama group and performed in numerous plays, and she impressively bolstered her reading and writing skills in the Adult Education group. She exhibited her artwork in many venues.

On February 20, Gateway celebrated Elaine’s career. Gateway artists, staff, Elaine’s good friend and fellow Gateway artist Nancy Cunningham, and Nancy’s brother Jack and his wife Judy attended the festivities. Elaine was sent off with love, gifts, and songs. We will miss Elaine’s beautiful artwork, her enthusiasm, her joyful and resilient spirit.

Elaine with her quilt, which took several years to complete. 

One of Elaine's whimsical drawings.

Emmanuel Preston croons at Elaine's send-off party, with Peter on guitar. 

Elaine with her dear friend, Gateway artist Nancy Cunningham.

Thanks for your dedication, Elaine! We will miss you. 

Staff Pick: Card by Susan Shepp

By Stephanie Schmidt

Susan Shepp created this beautiful 5”x 7” drawing of a special animal in my life- my cat Scottie. I commissioned Shepp to make the card, giving her a photograph I had taken of Scottie when he was just a kitten, relaxing in his circle bed. After a few weeks, Shepp presented me with this expertly rendered drawing. She managed to capture his unique characteristics: white fluffy collar, stripe pattern, stretchy back leg, and relaxed overall look.

I'm very pleased with this card, and I have enjoyed looking at it as a special work of original art. Shepp first drew the image with a pencil to map it out; then, she filled in the outlines with black Sharpie, and finally used colored pencil to give the black pen more depth. Notice the pink shadow underneath his body, which delineates the soft pillow receding below his fur. The toothy paper adds texture to the fur and fluff. Her final gesture on the page is her signature, a trademark of all her drawings.

Shepp was one of the first artists to attend Gateway’s studio “58 A”, now called Studio A, where she expresses her artistic voice through drawing. Shepp draws all types of animals, usually working from a photograph for reference; she is inspired by her own pets, those of her neighbors, and wild animals she observes while on vacation.

Shepp also finds inspiration in popular culture, and stays updated on the trendy fashions of famous mainstream women. She loves to design stylish outfits. Shepp is an accomplished photographer; she has combined her photography and drawings to produce unique environments, which have been made into distinctive calendars. Work by Susan Shepp, including a 2014 calendar, is currently for sale in the Gateway Crafts Store and Gallery.