The Studio Gallery at Artworks Around Town will offer a “two-fer” for its May show.  Visitors to the Gallery Hop, Friday evening, May 2nd from 5:00 to 8:00 PM will be treated to the oil paintings of Linda Schweitzer and the photography of Daniel Carom.  Though the two artists come from different backgrounds and life experiences they both express a deep feeling for and connection to the natural world and a philosophical approach to their chosen artistic media.

Ladies first:  Linda Schweitzer was born and grew up in Fairmont, WV.  She describes herself as, “A third generation artist”, and adds that her first teacher was her mother.  Linda minored in art in college, and subsequently was awarded a full scholarship to the Scottsdale Artists School where she studied with Gregg Kreutz.

Discussing her work, Linda explains that she hikes and kayaks into scenic areas in order to gather information for her paintings.  She does small studies which she then uses along with photographic reference material to create her work later in the studio.  She adds that she is always searching for the light effects and mood that grab her attention, and that her art reflects her strong attraction to the patterns created by light and the mystery of light and shadow.  It is not surprising that she draws her inspiration from the great art of the past, especially the 19th century luminist painters.

Reflecting on her relationship with her viewers, Linda says, “My paintings are silent.  They don’t come into your space.  Instead, they beckon you to come to them – to reflect, contemplate, remember – to walk in their fields, swim in their waters, sit in their cool forests, feel their sunlight on your face, to lose yourself in their silence.  They are more about what is not revealed than what is shown.  They are subtle, timeless, dreamlike – cool mist, sunlight on water, suspended moments, memories half forgotten.  I begin with reality as the jumping off point.  I build my paintings slowly, using multiple layers and glazes.  They grow, one idea on top of another, experiments tried and abandoned . . . each with its own history.  Each is an expression of gratitude for being here in this amazing and beautiful world”.

Linda is the recipient of many national and regional awards.  Her paintings have been selected for many juried exhibitions including:  Art for the Parks, The Watercolor USA National Exhibit, American Artists Professional League, Oil Painters of America, The Westmoreland Art Nationals, The Mid-Atlantic Regional Watercolor Exhibit, and the WV Juried Exhibit where she received the Award of Excellence.

Her work has been exhibited at the Salamagundi Club in New York City; the Springfield Art Museum, Springfield, MO; Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD; the Weatherburn Gallery in Naples, FL; The Cultural Center, Charleston, WV.  She has had one-person exhibits at Ohio University Eastern, St. Clairsville, OH and the Monongalia Arts Center in Morgantown, WV.

Daniel Coram grew up in Springfield, MA where his lifelong interest in photography began when he acquired a little 110 point and shoot camera when he was in high school.  This led to a class in black and white photography which involved developing and printing film and turned out to be a life changing experience as he describes it.  “If you have ever seen an image magically appear on paper in a darkroom developing tray then you understand how I could spend hours in a darkroom completely oblivious to the passing of time.  My love for photography has only developed further throughout the years.”

Daniel came to Wheeling to join the Administrative Staff of Wheeling Jesuit University where he worked for 12 years.  He is now a workshop facilitator and consultant working with people to improve their daily interactions for personal and professional development.  His work takes him across the country and occasionally abroad to work with a variety of groups and organizations.  He comments that his camera is always with him when he is traveling, and adds that he regularly uses his nature photographs as examples in his presentations and that there is always a reason to venture into a park or wilderness area following a presentation.

His photography explores some of the less common aspects of nature, as he enjoys underwater and aerial photography.  Recently he has begun to explore the realms of astral photography as a member of the Oglebay Institute Astronomy Club.

Expressing his feelings for the importance of photography in his life, Daniel explains, “Photography continually deepens my appreciation for nature and the outdoors.  There is always something to observe and experience.  Photography helps me develop a greater sense of patience.  For me, nature photography requires a calmness that I rarely see in our fast-paced society.  To photograph an image requires that I experience being in the moment.  In order to do this, I must become part of the landscape.  This is all very different from trying to capture the shot.  I’ve discovered this connection applies when photographing wintering manatees in Florida, following Swallowtail butterflies in my backyard or tracking the movement of Saturn through a telescope on a cold winter evening.  Patience is needed for each of these photographs.  Photography is not the reason I travel out into nature.  It is simply one way to take in its unending beauty and contact with the world around me.  My hope is that when people observe my photographs they will simply pause for a moment and reflect  on that beauty.”

Daniel’s photographs regularly appear in local photography shows and exhibits.  His images are also found in private collections in the United States, Europe and South Africa.  His photographs have appeared in the magazine, “Cowboys and Indians” in the annual, Photographing the West competition.

The Atrium Gallery of Artworks will host the artwork of Sherrard Middle School students.

Artworks Around Town is located in the North end of the historic Centre Market at 2200 Market Street in Wheeling, WV.  The Gallery Hop is free and open to all.  There will be refreshments and music.  For further information call 304-233-7540 or contact the Gallery website at http://www.artworksaroundtown.com.