The Gathering Place Art Galleries

Boni Suzanne Gelfand

Passementerie

Boni Suzanne Gelfand Artist Statement and Bio:

First, I draw my design on paper and gather up all of my luscious fabrics from my cache. Materials come alive and speak to me. Sometimes I even rip apart a skirt, blouse, jacket, trousers, bathing suit, or a nightgown. Nothing but nothing is sacred in my creation of making art! 

After my beautiful pieces are chosen, I cut them all up in tiny pieces, carefully maneuvering each piece with tweezers and sticks and adhere them to their final resting place. Repetition and varying degrees of hue and texture, complete the mosaic. 

Ever since I can remember, I loved clothes and accessories and admired fine quality and recognized in all I saw and felt. Good quality encourages and begs to be touched. All of my boxes and collages are made from the finest quality vintage materials, and are from Design Showrooms that sell only to Interior Designers, of which I am. These were originally samples given on a special card for designers to show clientele, mostly from the 90’s perhaps some before. 

These exquisite textiles are Asian and European: embroidery threads, silk (Dupioni) passementerie, antique mirror, glass, beads, sequins, vintage pearls, mother-of -pearl, Swarovski Austrian crystals, suede, leather, rhinestones, bamboo, Christmas ornaments and artisan wall cover. 

Each of my original textile collages are professionally matted and framed locally with museum quality glass and UV protected. 

My travels to Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Canada, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico and the Middle East infuse my art and deep love for diverse cultures.

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I grew up in the 50’s in Shaker Heights, where I lived for the majority of my years. I have also lived in Toronto for all of the 70’s, and on Long Island for all of the 90’s. My father encouraged me at a young age to draw, paint, build models and to create pieces of stained glass. We would do this together, using Jon Nagy learn to draw booklets (I still have) and paint by numbers. My Aunt Shirley (his sister) lived in Phoenix, Arizona, working as an art teacher, while owning a gallery and learning from the local Navajo on the reservation. She would send me a big box of art supplies, including block printing implements that I still hold sacred. Always art was in my heart, my head, and my very soul. 

My innermost secret desire was to be an Artist! I never dreamed I would be called that or be labeled that, but once I was everything fell into place, the universe itself opened to me. At the age of 55, I went back to college to pursue a degree in Interior Design and Art. I lived and breathed art every day for many years. And then, it paid off all the discipline, and all the persistence. I was accepted in juried art exhibitions and won awards! As of this year I have been in over 45 juried exhibitions, and 8 solo shows. 

KINDERTOYS: The Courageous Children of the Holocaust, an installation won an award from The Ohio Humanities Council, and this was in conjunction with the Clara Fritzsche Library (Notre Dame College). 

JEWELS of the PACIFIC, an environmental installation made entirely of found plastic, won Best in Show at The Artists Archives of the Western Reserve, and Best Sculpture at Gallery East student shows. Going to school has been a big part of my life and I still go 1-2 semesters each year at Cleveland State University and Cuyahoga Community College taking drawing, ceramics, watercolor, painting, Arabic, and History. Learning keeps my mind untangled. 

I also volunteer at the Botanical Gardens with special events, garden projects, and helping children to create projects, as well as Heights Arts. I serve on their Exhibitions Committee, help with special events, the gift shop and the gallery. Memberships include Artists Archives of the Western Reserve (former executive board member), Heights Arts and Hillcrest Art Club. If only my father would have seen any of this, but he died of bladder cancer in 2002.

Facebook: Boni Suzanne Gelfand

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Please join us for an art reception at TGP East on Thursday, January 8th from 4:30pm-6:30pm.

50% of the proceeds from the sale of Boni's artwork will be donated to The Gathering Place.

Carolyn Frankel

Transformation More Beautiful Than Before

Carolyn Frankel Artist Statement and Bio:
 

Carolyn Frankel is an artist, author, and breast cancer survivor. Her first book was Be Like Rachel, Lessons Of Character From Women Of The Bible, followed by Poems From The Pandemic and Other Encounters. Her third book Spiritual Warrior, Painting A Path Through Cancer was completely written, painted, photographed, and published by cancer survivors. The book is available for purchase here for $25.00 with a portion of sales going to The Gathering Place. Carolyn's art is being sold at reduced prices strictly for The Gathering Place. 

I often paint from my imagination. I became aware that butterflies and other symbols of transformation were often included in my paintings, particularly since my 2017 cancer diagnosis. This seems to align with The Gathering Place symbol of a butterfly, and rightly so, as butterflies are a symbol of transformation, rebirth, and hope, as well as a visual metaphor for change and growth. As stated in my book Spiritual Warrior, Painting A Path Through Cancer, "Cancer is a powerful teacher." But having cancer is also a transformative journey, and with transformation we can often emerge better and more beautiful than before!

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Carolyn Frankel is a writer and an artist. She was an elementary school educator, teaching through the arts in Ohio public schools for 38 years. She holds an undergraduate degree in elementary education from Ohio State University and a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Cleveland State University. She is a Martha Holden Jennings Scholar and a recipient of an International Paper Company Award, a USA Today Award, as well as a BP America Award for her curricula. Carolyn has won numerous awards for her painting and poetry. She presently teaches art in her studios in Florida and Chagrin Falls, Ohio, where she lives with her husband, Kevin and cat Squeakers. She believes in living a creative and spiritual life and finds inspiration in her world travels and grand-children who are her best critics. Her first book was Be Like Rachel, Lessons of Character from Women of the Bible, followed by, Poems from the Pandemic and Other Encounters. 

Carolyn is a breast cancer survivor.

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Carolyn is donating 20% of her proceeds to TGP.