On the Verge Art Exhibition at Bushel Collective

Kailey Maher with her astonishing ceramic piece ‘Like Calls to Like’ 

Zachary Cummings reveals his unique process of creating his ‘Tree Backwards’ work of art

Gayle Brown discussing her mixed media artwork ‘The 4th Law’ with William Duke 

DELHI — As described by the Bushel Collective, ‘On the Verge’ was an open call exhibition loosely themed by concepts of time. At this closing reception, artists mingled with a decent turnout of supporting artists and people from the community out to support the arts in Delhi. 

The body of work was an impressive mix of mediums and all very gifted artists. Kailey Maher currently resides in Rouses Point, New York, a tripoint, where New York, Vermont and Canada all converge on the shore of Lake Champlain. In 2022 she received her BFA from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh with a focus on sculpture and ceramics. Maher’s ‘Silence of Time’ was an astonishing ceramic piece towering in the gallery space that immediately caught the eye with great craftsmanship that bubbles up from the floor in geometric cutouts, Maher talks about her work, “My artwork reflects the effects of time—shaping and reshaping, not in minutes and seconds, but a living lifetime of transformative movements of contractions and expansions intertwined in the nature of self and medium. My interpretation of the natural world is explored through the language of exchange between nature and my part in it. Right now, I find myself fascinated with non-linear concepts of time and the rhythmic patterns mimicked in nature, which is not about the allocation of time, but the experience of it”. 

GG Stankiewicz is a Delaware County artist who is often out each Saturday frequenting and supporting other artists in galleries throughout the county. Her contribution to this exhibition was a series of three beautiful red and pink displays in her watercolor paintings of barberries titled ‘Winter Berry I, II, and III’. As each artist took turns explaining their artwork, Stankeiwicz explained how her works related to a certain season in time. As a new member of the Bushel Collective, Stankeiwicz expressed how grateful she is to be a part of this great group of artists and wellness practitioners. 

Gayle Brown created a mixed media piece from found pieces including a bicycle wheel with metal spokes that spins and clicks cards. On the circular panel, it read, ‘Time and Space Don’t Exist but the Experience Is Real’. This was such a clever work of art by Brown it sold to her friend, and member of the Andes Academy of Art, William Duke on this final day of the exhibition. Gayle kindly explains her contribution to the exhibition, “I really enjoyed creating this piece. Because Bushel asked for works about Time, I started with a premise that states “time and space don’t exist as we experience them, but the experience is still real”. Then I found a way to illustrate this rather heady concept in a playful way, by using the sound of Joker cards clicking on the spokes of a turning wheel. This sound instantly transports me to a childhood time and place where I made that sound while riding my bike.
When I turned the wheel during the closing presentation at the gallery, there were lots of smiles of recognition from many faces.  I’d like to think they too were transported back to a time when their bikes made that sound.  I am glad people liked the piece and I loved being part of Bushel’s provocative show.”

Mark Strodl put together a fascinating digital art piece called ‘Meditation 2’ that attracted a lot of attention from visitors and fellow artists. Strodl is a photographer who is also known for his landscape photos that he frequently edits through filters to create an alternative perspective. Zachary Cummings ‘Tree Backwards’ is of a canvas stretched over tree branches that shows the unique texture of the nubs of broken-off branches which makes for an interesting frame. Cummings also has an interesting approach by painting on the back of the canvas allowing the primary image of the art as the bleed-through impression. It’s an approach that takes great courage in daring to be different and innovative. The signature piece was a large gelatin silver series of the sea with a neon light that read, ‘On the Verge’ by Jeri Coppola. 

It was great to see the crowd that came out to support the Bushel Collective open call artists which ranged from artist Peter Mayer to fine art painters, to (Stamford) Mayor Bob Schneider and wife Susan Schneider, and photographer Mark Zilberman, all in the mix on this chilly winter Saturday with blustery snow showers. The event was a significant sign that the art community is thriving even during the waning days of winter. 

For more information on upcoming events including yoga sessions, naturally grown agriculture produce and dairy products made locally, and civic minded events: See www.buhelcollective.org and on Instagram @bushelcollective