Earlville Opera House Art Galleries are proud to present Henry J. Drexler with his “Expressions” exhibit, Phoebe Rotter with her unique “Before and After (River Swimming)” exhibit, and Abrina Rogers exhibiting her work entitled “You are Enough” from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 20. (Submitted photo)

EARLVILLE - Earlville Opera House Art Galleries are proud to present the next round of visual artist exhibitions from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 20.

This series boasts the work of three incredibly talented artists representing diverse and unique forms of artistic media. Come join us in celebrating amazing original artwork, also browse in our Artisan Gift Shop and visit the 1892 National Landmark Theater. Gallery openings and visits are always free and open to the public.

Highlighted in our East Gallery is Henry J. Drexler with his “Expressions” exhibit. Henry was born in Chenango County and raised on a dairy farm in Smyrna, New York. Henry has been painting since he was nine years old. With little formal training, he taught himself to paint by studying art books, visiting art museums, and experimenting with various techniques to develop his eclectic approach to painting. He paints in acrylic because he likes its durability, versatility, and fast drying time, and he “uses Golden Artist Colors because he wants to use only the highest quality paint products in his work”.  

As stated by Henry, “Growing up on a farm connected me and my art practice to the land, nature and the rural environment. While I occasionally paint portraits and village scenes, I am primarily a painter of various aspects of the rural landscape, such as trees, streams, barns, cows and lakes. I love the landscape of central New York. It is the primary inspiration for my work and area lakes and streams, vistas, barns, and trees, especially elms, are the subject of most of my painting. That’s where my heart is and it’s the focus of my art.”

Henry and his wife now live and work in a house that Henry designed and built by himself, overlooking the beautiful upper Lyon Brook Valley, in Guilford, New York. He has also created gardens and planted thousands of trees on his property, completely transforming his 63-acre landscape.   This sculpted landscape, his house, his life and art practice are intertwined in one holistic art project. Henry’s work has been exhibited in galleries in Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and throughout central New York.   It can presently be seen in Norwich at the Norwich Tire Company on Hale Street; Guernsey Library and Hospice Chenango on Court Street; Wilson Funeral Home and Commerce Chenango on South Broad Street; Chenango County and Surrogate Courtroom on Eaton Avenue; and on-line at his website www.drexlerart.com, as well as at his home.

Our West Gallery boasts the talents of Phoebe Rotter with her unique “Before and After (River Swimming)” exhibit. Phoebe is a multidisciplinary artist living in Albany, NY. Her current visual work consists of translucent wall-hung drawings that investigate desire, personal mythology, and body politics. Phoebe also creates public art as a muralist in the Capitol Region and performs with the Bread & Puppet theater. 

Phoebe states, “I’m fascinated by movement as it’s frozen– reaching hands and gnarled branches, their momentum clear even when they’re drawn and pinned to a wall. I draw from shadow theater, art history, and personal video recordings to conjure large-shaped installations. Some compositions imitate cinematic conventions— a drawn “jump cut” jars the viewer— while wider, juicier collages overflow the edges of their mylar, brimming with desire, ferocity, and deeply personal mythology. I’m particularly interested in tales of transformation, and conventions of beauty and monstrousness. What of the spaces in between that false and centuries-old binary, and why not both at once? Deliberate mark making, flowing gestures, and the freedom to freehand are all vital to my final images. These pieces can be as huge as the space they occupy, or as delicate as the crescent of a bitten fingernail. From a distance, they strike; upon closer inspection, they sing.”

Phoebe received her MFA in painting and drawing from SUNY Albany where she received the Distinguished Thesis Award. She holds an MA in Studio Art from SUNY Albany, and a BA in Art History from Kenyon College. Selected shows include Lorraine at The Studio Troy, Before and After at Bread & Puppet’s Woodshed Gallery, Out of Office at Collar Works curated by Angelik Vizcarrondo-Laboy, and Here In Spirit at The Church in Hillsdale. For more information on this incredible artist, visit www.phoeberotter.com 

Showing in our Arts Café is Abrina Rogers exhibiting her work entitled “You are Enough”. Abrina created Beanz Creations Abstract Art which is a product of using art to process life. Four years ago, Abrina’s ex-husband left her over text the day covid hit NYS. Ever since then, she has been working through her pain and art is healing. 

Abrina says, “What inspires me and my art is helping others. Because of my past I see the world in a different way than many of the people I grew up with and family. I have been halfway across the world to China, I have lived in a separate state than where I grew up and I am a pastor’s kid. These experiences impacted my view of the world, and my view is that everyone is important. Everyone is enough and everyone should have the decision to decide how they want to live. I was born into a Christian family and was devout for 25 years until my ex-husband abandoned me and asked for a divorce. After I was forced to look at myself and be by myself for the first time and I didn’t like how uncomfortable, scared, anxious and suicidal I was. So, I decided to take faith and God out of my mental health recovery. I needed to know who I was before I could know who I am WITH Faith. That was four years ago, ever since I have been in therapy, and it has saved my life. I no longer want to unalive myself and self-harm has stopped completely for almost four years. My journey has taken me to places I avoided as a Christian, meeting new people, experiencing things I would never before and just living my best life to the fullest. Not for Anyone but ME because I have to live with me, and she has to be ok. I now sell my Art with affirmations as titles or messages for mental health awareness. If you are unhappy, you can be happy and it starts with you because YOU have the power. You are Loved, Wanted, Important and Always have been Enough. You have the power to be happy and it starts today. My Art can also be found at The Eclectic Chic in Oneida.”

Earlville Opera House annually presents 12-15 solo exhibitions of regional and national contemporary visual artists in all media. Galleries also feature annual group shows highlighting talents of regional artists as well as an annual exhibition of contemporary and traditional quilt artists. Curators may also propose group exhibitions. If you would like to submit your proposal, please follow the guidelines on our website.

This current round of exhibits is on display until May 25th. Gallery hours are Tuesday – Friday 10-4pm and Saturdays 12-2:30pm. We look forward to your visit.

Earlville Opera House Arts Center is located at 18 East Main Street in the charming Village of Earlville and is wheelchair accessible. The 1892 National Landmark Theater is equipped with a hearing loop provided by Hamilton Hearing LLC. Please check our website for information on our programs and services, also like us on Facebook and Instagram.

EOH events are made possible with support from the Office of the Governor and NYS Legislature, administered by the New York State Council on the Arts, and through the generosity of EOH members. Special thanks to Golden Artist Colors for their support of our Visual Artist Program, and to Jewett’s Cheese House for being our cheese sponsor.

- Information from the EOH