On Saturday, April 11 at 7 p.m. people of all ages went to NP (New Paltz) Rock Yoga at 125 Main St. for the studio’s first art show, which displayed works from various local artists.
“All of the artists were our students and members of the New Paltz community,” NP Rock Yoga manager Amanda Blair said. “We really wanted the focus to be local because it is important to us to be creating a space that benefits the community around us.”
Standing true to the studio’s rules, it was required that people take off their shoes immediately before entering the studio where the art was displayed. This set the mood of the show immediately – a warm and cozy place to enjoy art.
“We wanted people to come to the art show to see beautiful art, mingle with like minded souls and make real life connections,” Blair said. “It was a night surrounded by beauty and love.”
According to Blair, the inspiration behind holding this event was to highlight the talented souls they run across everyday. NP Rock Yoga wanted to provide a space for the community to talk.
“We thought a night of art, community and a little wine was a recipe for a good time,” Blair said.
Jorge Rodas, 57, of Gardiner, heard about the show from his girlfriend who lives in New Paltz and used to be an artist. He said that he particularly enjoyed the variety of artwork the show displayed.
The show featured works of Julia Murray, Mary Leary, Les Castellanos, The Kunz Family, Paul Coughlin, Ryan Murray, Patty Tyrol, Kraig with K and Karen Abramson.
Abramson had a unique and fun take on her work. At the show, she had a stand where children and adults could step into her shoes and try what she masters, called Zentangle.
Abramson is a certified Zentangle teacher. She became interested in Zentangle when she was at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and saw a drawing on a pharaoh’s tomb as well as on the tomb walls. She was fascinated to learn that what looked like a complex drawing was actually just a configuration of straight lines.
She was in love with this type of art and wanted to not only learn it, but teach it as well.
According to Abramson, the Zentangle method is a meditative drawing technique that uses repetitive pattern to create a beautiful design. Tangle patterns are simply a combination of five elemental strokes. If you can draw a stick figure, you’re on your way to succeed with Zentangle, Abramson said.
Zentangle simply requires a black pen and paper. Pen is the preferred tool rather than pencil because there is no eraser, just as there is no eraser in life.
“You can only move forward from where you are,” Abramson said. “All that matters is the stroke you are making. The stroke before it can only guide you to where you will go next.”
The evening was the first of its kind for the studio and according to Blair, will certainly not be the last.
“We had such a great turnout and support. We cannot wait to host another night like it,” Blair said.