Artist of the Month: Claude Fourel

By Peter Laughlin

June's artist of the month, Claude Fourel, has worked over 35 years as one of the most productive and accomplished artists at Gateway Arts.  While creating high quality craft items and fine art she uses a variety of materials and techniques.  Her specialties include acrylic as well as watercolor paint on practically any surface imaginable.

Her patterned style, while often geometric, ranges in subject from flourished landscapes to animal groupings; and schools of tropical fish to her favorite people.  Any discussion of Fourel's art work must include color- lots of color!  She generously provides bright, bold colors often covering the entire surface area however large.

Fourel portrays a strong design sensibility through use of a wide range of color and line work. Fanciful groups of birds, fish, insects, other animals, flowers, people from her favorite subjects span the entire surface of her work.  Beautiful cloisonne lines define each form in harmonic repetition upon an invariably color-filled environment.  Like a stained glass window bathed in light, Fourel's work shimmers with colorful activity.

Fourel's fun and energetic personality is reflected in her expressive style.  She has a definite, distinctive style to her work, which can be recognized and distinguished from all others.  The naturally, has found many avid admirers and collectors over her career. Fourel produces highly desirable decorative, functional and fine art work for the Gateway Crafts Store, Gallery, and other venues.

Throughout her career Fourel has shown in a wide range of galleries and museums all over the North East such as the Very Special Arts Gallery in Washington DC and The Community Arts Center of Cambria County in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.  In Massachusetts Fourel has been featured at The Sherril House in Jamaica Plain, Boston College, Brandeis University, The DeCordova Museum, The Chestnut Hill Mall, The Copley Place Mall, and The Gateway Gallery.

Artist Spotlight: Joanne O'Connell

My Hip Life 

By Joanne O'Connell
(Originally published in On Our Own vol.6)

My sister and I had joined a boys' swimming club.  It was a really enjoyable for me to do on a hot day.   My sister and I had taken swim lessons before.  She was five and I was ten or eleven.  She knew most of the strokes, even how to dive.  I didn’t like diving because the metal steps of the ladder hurt my feet.  There was this one boy who was always teasing us.  It was usually fun and we would talk with this boy.  I felt so cool in the water. 

One day, he lured my sister into the deep end.  I guess she didn't know how to swim in the deep end, or she got scared.  She panicked and started to drown, so I jumped in to save her.  That's when she put her arm around my neck and pulled me under the water.  I saved my sister that day, but I drowned. 

After the accident, I was in a wheelchair.  I had lost the use of my arms and legs as well as my vision.  With the help of a physical therapist, I am now able to walk with a stick.  My vision has also come back, gradually, but not completely.  At first, I could see light, then colors.  Now I can see straight ahead. 

When I look back, I still get upset.  If I had that boy in front of me, I would slap him.  I cannot remember how everything happened.  It is hard for me to talk to my mother and sister about the accident.  I don’t want to bring them down.  I know my mom would just start crying.  Today, I try not to feel self pity.  I try to grow.  

My hip life- it mainly involves my job at Gateway Arts, which is for the most part, fun.  I practice skills of painting and drawing.  The program also gives a strong emphasis to writing.  At home, I share a room with my sister.  I have three windows to look out of.  We have both of our clothing in the same closet, but we don’t have any disputes.  I’m more comfortable in a T-shirt and a pair of jeans.  She likes to wear dresses.  Marie’s really smart and she tell me a lot of the things that happened in her day. 

The two most scary experiences I have had recently were with an escalator and a roller coaster.  During my first encounter with an escalator, I lost my balance.  This real nice guy grabbed me.  I had injured my ankle a little, but I had an encounter with a slick guy.  The time I rode on a roller coaster, it was during summer break with some friends.  I was holding on with two hands, making a desperate attempt not to swallow my gum.  It was really scary, but fun.  It is important for me to exercise and keep the blood flowing to my brain and through the arteries.  I also have a lot of fun with my dog, who sleeps on my bed.  I share most of my food with him, even my Mounds bar.  I like to take him on walks through the neighborhood. 

On occasion, I feel distraught about my "disability" and how it affects my life.  What really irks me is when I encounter people with prejudiced attitudes about my appearance.  I try to let it ride over my head.  If I acted as if I had a chip on my shoulder, it could become quite annoying.  I try to accept things as they are and move on from there.  I try to make positive change, but everything has its pros and cons.

You can’t be too shy.  If you are, things will pass you by.  People are more apt to converse with you if you’re cheerful.  My advice is give it your best shot, aim high, and don’t focus on negative vibes people give.  

Joanne's new work on fabric samples is currently on exhibit in the Front Gallery at Gateway Arts. 

Joanne O'Connell: Paintings on Fabric
June 3 - August 23, 2014
The Gateway Gallery
62 Harvard Street 2nd Floor
Brookline, MA 02445
Gallery Hours: Mon. - Fri. 9-4:30PM * Sat. Noon -5PM
Always Open Online

Staff Pick: A Series of Drawings by Abdel Michel

By Ashley Brown

Abdel at work in the studio. 

Rowes Wharf, graphite on paper, 2014 

Pencil poised, eyes frequently darting from drawing to resource material, Abdel Michel is Gateway’s rising star. He may be sitting in the studio at Gateway Arts, but his slightly chewed pencil is taking him into downtown Boston, Forest Hills, and Dudley Square. If you have a question about the MBTA, Abdel is the local guru. His drawings feature T-stations, bus terminals, landmarks, and Boston neighborhoods.

Fenway Park,graphite on paper, 2014

Abdel starts his drawings by mapping out the larger structures immediately creating depth. This foundational outline acts as a road map to Abdel when he is ready to give life to the windows, doors, and trees.  After the initial sketch, he uses a heavier hand to draw in the detail.  He has a natural ability for scale and proportion, so his eraser rarely gets a work out. Abdel’s attention to detail is remarkable.

The Old State House, graphite on paper, 2014

Interestingly, Abdel edits the resource material and removes some of the objects in the photo.  Upon closer look, this series of drawings is missing one key feature for any bustling city. The terminals are silent and picturesque. The busy streets are unusually empty and void of a single person. 

Kenmore Square, graphite on paper, 2014

There is an absence of people and cars in each of Abdel’s drawings. He chooses to draw the constant. Abdel focuses his effort on the stable structures that can’t be easily manipulated in the landscape such as sidewalks, buildings, and trees. The buildings are trustworthy and unchanging, therefore, equally recognizable.

Bunker Hill Monument, graphite on paper, 2014

Maverick Station, graphite on paper, 2014

This body of work is breathtaking when viewed as a series. One drawing may have a congested array of windows and buildings, while another gives the eye breathing room with gestural trees and inches of silence.

Forest Hills Station, graphite on paper, 2014

The drawings above are available for purchase priced at $100 each.  If you are interested please contact Gateway Arts today! 

Artist Spotlight: Ella Williams

By Tori Westcott

Don't Panic...We've got you covered this Father's Day

Stumped on what to get the man that's always there.....

Gateway Arts has a large selection of tee-shirts to suit every Dad's style and one-of- a- kind personality! Shop the Gateway Craft Store this Saturday to see all the different ways to Thank that special man in your life!             

                                                                                                                                                                       

Does Dad have a specific Sunday schedule?  Make sure to pick him up this NFL ceramic clock so he never misses kick-off. 

 Dad will also need something to drink his favorite beverage from, this oversized ceramic mug makes a great gift! 

Is baseball more Dad's speed?  Why not show gratitude for all of those years of him as your T-Ball coach with this one of a kind plaque! 

Does Dad always make Sunday morning pancakes just how you like 'em; a hand thrown mixing bowl and brand new apron will show him just how much you appreciate those home cooked meals.

And you can never go wrong, by suggesting he teaches you to cook! Try out any of our "Cook Your Arts Out"  recipes for some yummy quality time. 

Has Dad been toting around the same briefcase for the last 10 years?  Update him this Father's Day with the King of all messenger bags. He's sure to be the hot topic at the water cooler with this hand painted piece by Kathleen Wells.  

Shop the Gateway Craft store for more inspiration! 
Open M- F 11- 6 pm * Sat. 12- 5 pm