Roost Studios Breaks Up Winter with Diverse Art

Three pieces by Kevin Kelly featured in the Winter Round Up Exhibit. Painting featured right: Xylophone Manicure (outta the box) by Kevin Kelly, painted on canvas with sprayed paint.

In the midst of a grayscale winter, Roost Art Studios brought New Paltz some color with their annual Winter Roundup members’ group exhibition.

The 23 members of the cooperative gallery and nonprofit organization are currently displaying a collection of diverse artwork to represent themselves in a theme-free show.

“There are lots of different mediums,” said president and gallery director Marcy Bernstein. “There are oil painters, people that paint in acrylics, watercolor color, printmaking, collage, encaustics and photography on all sorts of services.”

Among the photographers is Lauree Feldman, who is resurfacing three black and white film photographs she took during the 1977 Hudson Valley winter. Although she still admires the Ansel Adams style that inspired these photographs, Feldman now shoots in color and digitally abstracts her pictures.

“Roost is wonderful because it gives me a venue to explore and try out new things,” Feldman said. “My personal artwork has evolved, and I’m just having a blast.”

In addition to making visual art, most of the members are also involved in many different artistic areas such as dance, tai chi and teaching.

“They’re multi-disciplinary, multi-talented people,” Bernstein said. “But mostly our members join to take advantage of showing art in the gallery and having a space to teach their workshops, classes and come connect with other artists.”

Roost Studios prides itself on the variety and versatility of its members and artwork.

“Our members range from age 24 to 76. We’re very diverse in where we are in our careers and in our experiences,” Feldman said. “No one’s work steps on each others.”

In efforts to build a community through art, Roost Studios also holds many shows that are open to public submissions. Within the next couple of weeks, Roost Studios is sending out an open call for protest and political art.

Member Maura Omeara was inspired by the artwork seen during the “Peace Train” women’s march in the Mid-Hudson Valley area from this past January. Omeara and Bernstein highly recommend students send in submissions once they make the call for artists.

  The goal of Roost Studios is to give local artists an outlet for their creativity where they can feel safe to explore and expand on their craft.
  According to their website Roostcoop.org, their mission is to “offer thoughtful contemporary art programming of all disciplines, present the work of both renowned and emerging local artists, provide exhibition, educational and networking opportunities for local artists and actively seek unique voices and new audiences.”

Roost Art Studios’ Winter Roundup group show is open Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8p.m., and running from Jan. 18 through Feb. 25.