Cannon Hersey

"H-Town Sky Scrapin"*

New York Open Center Gallery is pleased to present 1 World, 1 Future, a solo exhibition of selected works by Cannon Hersey. As an experienced long-term world traveler and living abroad for a period of time, Cannon has always found it easy to amalgamate with varying cultures and societies. Through his photography and printmaking artwork, he acquaints the viewer to the vibrancy, spirituality and soul of the places he has visited and inhabited.

In 1 World, 1 Future, Cannon asserts his belief in the actualization of a unified global community that encourages support in aligning societal, cultural and religious differences to create a positive co-dependency. This exhibition includes selected photography from the Silk Road series and silk screen prints from the Kokasi and Electric Organic series. www.cannonhersey.com

A GALLERY OPENING
Exhibit runs June 10–July 15
Opening Reception accompanied by
indigenous music: Sunday, June 10, 5–7pm
Art talk: Sunday, June 10, 7–7:30pm

* Silkscreen inks on handmade banana pulp; paper with oil pigment pastel, 20.5" X 31"

**Please note this program has been canceled.**

Lynda Greenberg, MFA

To develop a deeper understanding of value and color in our work, we will begin with a review of basic drawing skills and then advance to the use of graphite, as we observe and record lights and shadows. Our investigations will concentrate on learning to see the lightness or darkness of a color, and exploring the use of color harmony in the work. Media such as charcoal, colored pencil and pastel will be introduced, as we focus on subjects such as still life, gesture drawing, portrait and architecture. Tuesday we will venture to the historic Cloisters, at Fort Tryon, drawing from the art and architecture of the Middle Ages. Back in the studio on Friday, our subject matter will be beautiful summer flowers.

Note: Please register early; enrollment is limited to 20. Students of all levels are welcome, including those who may have completed only the first week of a drawing course. This course is designed to help students brush up on their drawing skills, or continue in practice, while offering a variety of drawing experiences.

A FIVE-DAY WORKSHOP
Monday–Friday, July 16–20, 9am–5pm
12SAV20S
Members $600/ Nonmembers $650

**Please note this program has been canceled.**

Lynda Greenberg, MFA

For many of us, drawing seems to be a mysterious process, reserved for the few who are “talented,” but the work of Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain has debunked this myth. This workshop, an intensive combination of lectures and studio exercises packing a semester-long art course into five days, is designed to develop the perceptual skills necessary for drawing with confidence and has proven valuable both for people who feel they have little talent for drawing and for those wishing to expand their abilities. It explores the relationship of drawing skills to the specialized functions of the right- and left-brain hemispheres, based on the pioneering work of Dr. Betty Edwards. Neither previous training in art nor manual dexterity is necessary. In a carefully sequenced process, we will learn the basic strategies of “seeing” that will enable us to draw with a high degree of skill and produce finished drawings of high quality (as well as develop new thinking strategies that greatly enhance our general problem-solving capacity).

Note: Please register early; enrollment is limited to 20. A materials list will be forwarded upon registration. All exercises will be preceded by demonstrations and followed by assessments of individual progress.

A FIVE-DAY WORKSHOP
Monday–Friday, July 9–13, 9am–5pm
12SAD05S
Members: $600 / Nonmembers: $650

Kaaren Lewis

Kaaren Lewis Watercolor

In this class we will start to paint immediately, practicing the basics of watercolor to gain confidence with the medium. There will be ample demonstration and individualized assistance, as we each paint a beautiful watercolor at every session and learn how to express our personal vision on the canvas. The material covered will include how to control the watercolor medium; master brush strokes; create luminous grays and subtle blushes of white; create flowing, vibrant color mixtures; set up a color palette; understand which colors are the most transparent, the most staining, the most intense, etc.; use the “wet-on-wet” for a striking affect or the new “lift off” technique; and much, much more.

Note: Materials fee of $45 is payable directly to the instructor. This course is recommended for beginners to intermediate levels.

A WEEKLY COURSE
(5 sessions) Thursdays, July 12–August 9, 8–10pm
12SAV26T
Members: $150 / Nonmembers: $165
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Robert Regis Dvorak

Watercolor painting can be learned by anyone. Even if you have no experience whatsoever, this class with a highly experienced teacher and artist with 30 years’ experience will teach you a sequence of easy exercises that will get you painting quickly and joyfully, and give you the skills you need to confidently continue on your own for years to come. Come learn the one big secret of spontaneous watercolor painting, brush techniques for quickly painting any subject, and how to paint both abstract watercolors and figurative subjects, such as people, still lifes, and landscapes. This class will have you painting watercolors and loving it in a matter of minutes.

Note: All materials (watercolor paper block, brush, portable watercolor palette, 16-page handout, etc.) will be furnished for $30 payable to the instructor. Please bring a water container and a cotton rag.

A ONE-DAY WORKSHOP
Sunday, July 1, 10am–5pm
12SAV09S
Members: $120 / Nonmembers: $130
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Tom Lynch

Today, in a workshop for beginners, intermediates and advanced painters, an  award-winning watercolorist with 35 years’ teaching experience will show us how to “think like an artist” in our understanding and use of color, brush strokes, contrast and design, as well as in how we put our emotions and conviction into our painting. You do not have to “think”, take notes, or do it a certain way. Tom Lynch puts fun into the process of painting along with enthusiasm, new techniques, detailed explanations of the “hows” and “whys” and accumulate the knowledge you can use for a lifetime.

Note: There is a $32 materials fee payable to the instructor (for brushes, paints, watercolor paper, palette, pencil, and a lesson plan). Each student will also receive a signed print (value $65).

A ONE-DAY WORKSHOP
Sunday, June 3, 10am–5:30pm
12SAV39S
Members $120/ Nonmembers $130
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Mindy Véissid

"Dog Joy" by Mindy Véissid

New York is full of history, architecture, landscapes, emotions, extreme contrasts, and people in motion on every corner. How to capture that in a photograph? In this unique digital photography workshop we'll discover how to focus and tap into our intuition, learn to see differently, improve composition, and cultivate a natural way of shooting with a clear, free mind that lets us sense where the photos are that want to be taken and guides us there. We will practice exercises that help us see what is in front and all around us, to see the city in a new way as well as receive personal guidance on how to improve the composition of our images. Get ready for a fun and exciting way to improve your photography!

Note: Open to all levels/all digital cameras. Two sessions will meet at outdoor locations. Instructions/locations will be given upon registration.

Weekly Course
Mondays (4 Sessions)
June  4-25, 6-8pm
12SAV70T
Members: $130/ Nonmembers: $140
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Patricia Butynski

In its purest form, abstract art doesn’t seek to create pieces that “look like” something; instead, a work’s color, form and inner feeling are its subjects. A central focus of this class is the harnessing of contrasts (rough vs. smooth, direction vs. shape, organic vs. geometric, etc.) to create striking paintings. We will engage in a range of skill-building exercises to learn how to make choices, recognize what is dominant in a painting, resolve problems, and develop foundational skills in design, the underpinning of all painting, looking at the work of such masters as Kandinsky and Pollack. This course will give you the tools to communicate how you feel on a canvas and rekindle your passion for the pure love of the process of painting.

Not: We will be using DaVinci watercolors. A materials list will be supplied upon registration.  Approximate cost is $45 for required supplies.

A WEEKLY COURSE
(5 sessions) Tuesdays, April 17–May 15, 8–10pm
12WAV37T
Members: $150 / Nonmembers: $160
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Judith Farber

Judith Farber Photograph

In this class, renowned photographer Judith Farber will show us how to make our images truly distinctive. In a dynamic, fun-filled atmosphere, we will head out into the streets to acquire superior photo compositional skills, learning how to: frame a scene; know what to shoot before clicking the shutter; use shadows/lines/patterns and backgrounds; capture a whole story in one shot; and understand the laws governing street photography.

Note: This class is excellent for beginners but will benefit people at all photographic levels. Point-and-shoot to DSLRs are welcome (LCD screen necessary), but no tripods or flash. The 4 sessions include 2 at outdoor locations. Educational materials and meeting instructions for outdoor locations provided on registration.

A WEEKLY COURSE
(4 sessions, meeting twice a week)
Saturdays, April 14, 3-5pm (Bethesda Fountain), and April 21, 3-5pm (Chinatown) Mondays at the Open Center, April 16 & 23, 8–10pm
12WAV28T
Members: $130 / Nonmembers: $140
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by Judith Farber

My passion is photographing split second moments. Just from holding a camera and being a devout people watcher, the challenge of being quick on the shutter and creating well-framed images keeps my creativity flowing and my eyes and my heart open.

I learned not to be afraid to photograph on the streets. I just picked up my camera and forced myself to photograph strangers, quickly and discreetly.

We have an instinctual awareness of who we should be afraid of, who likes us, who doesn't, etc. Tapping into that part of ourselves is a virtue, a valuable tool when shooting on the streets. It’s knowing who to approach and who not to. Subjects are more themselves when they do not feel threatened, and tend to calm down if you honor and respect them, look them in the eye and are kind.

I might ask...."do you mind if I take your photo? I think you are very appealing, look great, interesting, and this inspires me." A compliment draws them in closer.

And of course a smile goes a long way.

I do not ask them to do something FOR my camera. I keep it natural, working around them, letting them be who they are, and always showing gratitude. Sometimes I get their number/email, send a photo, if that feels right.

Three Ways To Shoot Street Photos

1. Communicate with your subject
If you honor them, they will rarely be upset. If you take their photo and they see you shooting and then you just turn and walk away, it might feel to them like you've taken a piece of their soul.

Perfectly stated by my NY Open Center participant, Gabriella,"...I was reminded, from the man in Harlem, who shouted at us to stop taking pictures, of the personal struggles we each have to deal with and how, sometimes, we don't want anyone coming into our space, to take one more thing, after so much has already been taken."

2. Photographing a moment without them knowing
Telling a story, a quick interaction, being discreet, a Henri Cartier-Bresson moment.

3. Photographing people in hard times
Photographing people in hardship, suffering, a dynamic that feels unfair or unjust. Some people do NOT want their life to be a secret, desiring others to be aware of their plight. Even in the hardest of times, with the right approach of calmness, quiet and respect, there could appear a visual exchange of understanding which honors them and their situation.

Remember it’s the people, the subjects who are most important. The camera is only a tool to communicate. When I am refused a photo I might discuss it, but always with an apology. Other times I just talk, keeping my camera hidden. Those moments are cherished too.

Because of photography, I have been given extraordinary moments, a mix of friends from around the world and a purpose in life. I share emotions from my perspective. It's all there with every step.

I teach street photography in NYC. You can check out my teaching schedule on my website: http://SundaysInNY.com

Hope to see you in class!
Judith
http://judithfarber.com
©judith farber

Judith Farber will be teaching Street Photography: The Art of Seeing at the Open Center beginning on Sunday, October 16th.  For complete details click here.