07/19/2007-08/19/2007
From July 19 through August 19, the Allegany Arts Council’s Saville Gallery will present an exhibition featuring Photography by David Romero and Glass Beads by Matt Stoffolano.
David Romero is in equal measure artist and technician. His unique vision, attention to detail and openness to new technologies and techniques serves as his creative tonic. Though the majority of his adult life was spent as an electrical engineer and strategic marketing executive in the semiconductor industry, his camera was never far from reach especially during his travels abroad. His photography during this phase of his life was primarily “street” and “travel” photography; discovering and “stopping in time” the people and sights he encountered. In 1999 David “tested the waters” as a commercial studio photographer and designer servicing the photographic and marketing needs of professional artists. It soon became clear that this “other job” could be nurtured and transformed into a full time pursuit. As David’s client list has grown to include small businesses as well as artists, his commercial portfolio has expanded to include portraiture, architecture, culinary arts, technology and consumer products. Lately David has also been working outside his studio “on assignment” for Maryland Life magazine covering feature stories for this fine publication. As is often the case with commercial photographers, David spends a tremendous amount of time shooting and designing for clients and not for his own artistic gratification. Although each new job offers exciting creative possibilities, that artistic potential exists within a framework of commercial viability. David’s upcoming show of new personal works at the Saville Gallery is being created completely outside of those boundary conditions. “It is very exciting to bring to the public forum a body of work that has existed only in my minds-eye until now.”
Matt Stoffolano was born and raised in Western Massachusetts, which is in many way like Western MD. He began working full time for the National Park Service and has, over the course of a 15-year career, had the opportunity to live in many beautiful places, which has had a profound influence on his artwork. In 1997, while living in Cumberland, MD, Matt started making glass beads in his basement after receiving a glass bead making kit from Lark books. Always fascinated by glass blowing but unable to afford a full studio and not wanting to live a semi-nomadic lifestyle, Matt knew that full scale glass blowing wasn’t for him. “Lampworking seemed to fit the niche; it all takes a much smaller scale. Today I consider myself more of an alchemist than artist as many of my beads rely upon chemical reactions” say Matt. His beads are created by lampworking, melting glass with a propane and oxygen torch. The glass is formed, shaped, patterned all in the flame. The finished beads are then kiln annealed in a computer controlled kiln, to bring them back down to room temperature and eliminating the stress as the glass cools. “My two favorite bead styles are the organics and warring states styles. I owe many thanks to Tom and Sage Holland for their assistance in teaching me make quality beads. Tom and Sage are the ‘Mother and Father’ of contemporary bead-making in the USA.” Matt currently lives in Ajo, Arizona, and his work has been published in Cindy Jenkin’s “Beads of Glass” book, the 2006 Glass Bead Calendar, and the Double Rainbow show in Portland, Oregon. His work is also carried by many galleries and bead shops, including the Bead Museum in Glendale AZ.
The Opening Reception for this exhibition will be held on Saturday, July 21, from 5-8PM, in conjunction with the Saturday Arts Walk in Downtown Cumberland's Arts & Entertainment District. The Opening Reception and is free and open to the public, and light refreshments will be served.
