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Printmaker Stirling
Gorsuch chosen for
AVA artist residency
COURTESY ASTORIA VISUAL ARTS
Artist Stirling Gorsuch at work
ASTORIA — Astoria Visual Arts is
delighted to welcome artist Stirling
Gorsuch to work in its studio (80
11th St.) in Astoria, rent-free, as
part of the AVA artist-in-residence
(“AVA a-i-r”) program. The resi-
dency runs Jan. 1 through April 30.
Gorsuch, whose work is widely
known regionally, has worked
almost exclusively in the realm
of printmaking the last six years,
including mixed media, combining
prints with drawings, paintings and
collage.
He plans to use the AVA a-i-r
studio to work on larger-scale
paintings. The planned pieces will
be done on rag paper and panel
using oil paint. The format size
will be 18 inches by 24 inches and
larger. Gorsuch will be working
across media as well (monotype
and painting, linocut and watercol-
or, for example).
Gorsuch’s work is driven by
a curiosity about how the natural
COURTESY ASTORIA VISUAL ARTS
“Summer Ends” (2017), a 13-inch
by 19-inch linocut/monoprint by
Stirling Gorsuch
world develops. From memories
and drawings, he depicts places
he has visited as starting points to
build on. He focuses on these par-
ticular locales, contemplating their
history, while rediscovering them
through the creative process.
“As I spend more time revisit-
ing these places, I become more
enamored with their complex
natural history, and the rich visual
experience accompanying them,”
he said. “In consideration for new
images, I’m searching for a story
in the landscape that I can accentu-
ate through visual means. Signs of
geological activity, or indications
of how weather has shaped the
land are examples of what fasci-
nate me as an observer.”
During Astoria’s Second Satur-
day Art Walk in February, Gorsuch
will showcase completed works
and works in progress.
AVA a-i-r is designed to encour-
age the creative, intellectual and
professional growth of local artists.
The program is supported by mem-
bers of Astoria Visual Arts and the
generosity of Astoria Coffee House
& Bistro and Merry Time Bar and
Grill.
Artist Wendy Harmon holds her first Astoria show
ASTORIA — Wendy Harmon, a local al Artist Award, as well as a Gover-
nor’s Citation. She went on to do a
visual artist originally from New
yearlong residency at a Zen Buddhist
York City, will have her first show
monastery, where she studied brush
in Astoria at The Wake Gallery (160
work with Kazuaki Tanahashi, author
10th St.) in January 2018. The open-
ing reception will be held during As-
of “Brush Mind.”
toria’s Second Saturday
In 2001, Wendy en-
tered the MFA program
Art Walk on Jan. 13.
at Johnson State College
Harmon spent much
with the VT Studio Cen-
of her childhood at The
ter. There she received a
Metropolitan Museum
Partnership Award from
of Art and, later, at The
MICA and Pilchuck,
NJ Center for Visual Art
where she studied
every day after school.
glassblowing with Sonja
Summers were spent at Wendy Harmon
Blumdahl, who nomi-
art programs at Skid-
nated her for a Corning Award.
more and Carnegie Mellon.
Harmon has exhibited all over the
She received her BFA from Mary-
land Institute College of Art in 1995,
U.S. and is in various collections,
and in 1996 had four solo shows in
including that of Patrick MacDonnell,
one month, was awarded an Individu- author of the comic strip “Mutts.”
PHOTOS COURTESY WENDY HARMON
A piece by Wendy Harmon