Olive Free Library’s Exhibitions

From Soup to Nuts
An Exhibition focusing on Food in Art

The Olive Free Library Association is very pleased to present the exhibition From Soup to Nuts showcasing the works of 16 Hudson Valley artists featuring food in art and many ways food can be presented. The show, curated by Olive Library Exhibition Committee Member Elaine Ralston, will run from September 23 through November 5, 2023 with a number of exhibition related events: an opening reception on Saturday, September 23 from 3 – 5 pm; a talk by Wes Hannah from Solid Ground Farm on Thursday, September 28 at 5:30 pm; and an Artists Meet & Greet on the closing day, Sunday, November 5, 2:30 – 4 pm.

Elaine Ralston says about this exhibition, “In our society, food is a commonplace and pervasive commodity that we all interact with every day. Unless we are experiencing a lack of food – as many in the world do – most of us don’t focus on it much. It contributes to so many areas of our lives; whether we actively work with it through the growing process, transportation and preparation, or even use its nourishment to strengthen families and community; food has a way of connecting us with each other and to the whole of nature.”

Elaine continues, “Artists all through history have used food subjects with reverence and beauty, inspiring many avenues in the creative process. They have captured the subtle and the bold, displaying the connection and inseparability of culture, people, and landscape. This exhibition featuring various mediums such as oils, pastels, photography, and ceramics, honors and focuses on that tradition, reminding us of food’s ability to feed not only our body but our spirit.”

Food is Life and Life is Art
“All art is autobiographical; the pearl is the oyster’s autobiography” – Frederico Fellini

Participating artists in this show are: Carole Aoki, Brinton Baker, Mike Giuliano, Wendy Hollender, Sergey Jivetin, Phil Mansfield, Meredith Morabito, Jackie Oster, Thomas Sarrantonio, Kaete Brittin Shaw, Lora Shelley, Ann Marie Silvani, Anthony Silvani, Ruby Silvious, Pablo Weinschenk, and Dale Wolfield.

From Soup to Nuts, an exhibition focusing on food in art
Exhibition Dates: September 23 – November 5, 2023
Opening: Saturday, September 23, 2023, 3 – 5 pm
Talk by Wes Hannah from Solid Ground Farm: Thursday, September 28, 2023, 5:30 pm
Artists Meet & Greet: Sunday, November 5, 2023, 2:30 – 4 pm

During the exhibition opening, local artist-miniaturist Sergey Jivetin will be hand-engraving seeds with illustrations based on narratives about plants and their deep connection with farmers, seed savers, naturalists, and enthusiast gardeners who nurture and preserve them. If you would like to share your personal story of such a relationship between plants and people, bring a relevant seed and Sergey will illustrate your individual story into it.

Talk by Wes Hannah from Solid Ground Farm – Community-building through CSA and local food: We are a small, family-owned organic vegetable farm with a mission of feeding the local community and building a long-term harmony with our environment. CSA models and other local-food-focused initiatives are driving a local agricultural economy with benefits for eaters, farmers, and the environment. This presentation is about the growth of CSA farming, how it has helped build our farm, what the future of CSA and local food initiatives might look like, and how community members can get more involved.

OLIVE FREE LIBRARY'S EXHIBITION SCHEDULE 2024

January 20 – March 2, 2024: Now & Then, a show of works by Woodstock School of Art (WSA) students and alumni, juried by Jenne Currie and coordinated by WSA

March 16 – May 4, 2024: In Search of the Goddess, an exhibition focusing on idealized feminine iconography, both ancient and modern, curated by Kathy Yacoe and Sandra Scheuer

May 18 – July 6, 2024: Fabrication, fiber and textiles exhibition curated by Janette Kahil and Linda Schultz

July 20 – September 7, 2024: Monochromatic, 7th Annual Juried Summer Group Show juried by Melinda Stickney-Gibson and coordinated by Nathalie Andrews --> click here for the call for art!

September 21 – November 2, 2024: title TBD, an exhibition curated by Robert Langdon from the Emerge Gallery

November 16, 2024 – January 4, 2025: In the Still of the Night (working title), 7th Annual Small Works Show curated by Susan Shaftan Perrin and Jan Sosnowitz