A couple of dozen artists exhibited their work—including paintings, drawings, photography, ceramics, and stained glass—at the 67th annual Arts Project of Cherry Grove (APCG) Art Show at the historic Community House on August 1 and 2, with Homecoming Queen Demi-Tasse cutting the ribbon to open it officially shortly after noon on the 1st.
A highlight of the show is always the awarding of the President’s and Queen’s Choice Ribbons, by APCG President Thom “Panzi” Hansen and Queen Demi-Tasse respectively, to deserving artists whose work they admire. Panzi presented the President’s Choice ribbon to Cherry Grove’s own Jack Dowling for his “Joseph’s Hand,” in acrylic on canvas. Demi’s selection was Devan Shimoyama’s “Howling to the Moon,” incorporating acrylic paint, glitter, holographic tape, and rhinestones, in honor of this full, blue moon weekend.
Devan, from Philadelphia, is a participant in this year’s Fire Island Artist Residency (FIAR), coordinated by Chris Bogia and Maya Suess. The other FIAR artists are Hannah Barrett, from Brooklyn; Leilah Babirye, from Kampala, Uganda; Dominic Nurre, from Manhattan; and Joe Sinness, from Minneapolis, several of whom also had work in the show.
John Mansueto; Larry Crawford from Texas; Cathy Eckdahl; Paulo Freitas originally from Brazil; Neil Gilks, originally from Staffordshire, England, whose work is on paper bags; Janice Marie Gabriel; APCG’s Dennis McConkey; and Sharon Way-Howard were painters who exhibited work here. Photographers included Lorraine Michels, Warren Boyd Wexler, Circe, and Mike Fisher. Michael Abdis brought his stained glass; Lloyd L. DesBrisay displayed his functional ceramics; and Dean Sidaway and Nate Bozeman were others who participated.