Island artists exhibit at NACC

Staff reports

Two Grand Island artists are exhibiting works at a show that opens this weekend in Niagara Falls. They are Karen McDonough and Michael Cancilla.

The Buffalo Society of Artists (BSA) is holding an opening reception for its show, “Collecting Conversations,” from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, April 6. The exhibition is at the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center, 1201 Pine Ave.

The show, in the first floor Townsend Gallery, runs through May 18. There are 51 artists represented in the show.

McDonough is a graduate of State University College at Buffalo with a degree in art. She said she is pleased to be included in the show: “Having seen BSA’s exhibitions, I have always respected their quality. It’s an honor to exhibit with this organization.”
She has selected her painting, “The Elm – 7:30 Contrast” to display at the NACC.

Cancilla is a board member and artist in The Roycrofters at Large Association, as well as a BSA member.

“The piece I am exhibiting is an 11-by-14-inch gouache on 140-pound watercolor paper,” Cancilla said. The title is "The Huron River." “Oil painting is my primary medium, though I also paint with gouache and work in pencil.”

Exhibition organizer Amy Hansen Dietrick said there’s a wide range of styles represented in the show.

“We have paintings of many mediums, sculpture, fiber and wood pieces,” she said. “Michael is an exhibiting member and board member for the Buffalo Society of Artists and a very talented painter. Karen is also a very talented painter with a beautiful acrylic painting submitted in the show, and is an associate member.”

“We’re really trying to work on awareness of the BSA in other groups outside of just the 300-plus members,” Dietrick added. “Collectors, for instance, or anyone who purchases art may not even be aware of the BSA, which is one of the oldest artist organizations (since 1891) in the country. We are also always looking for new members, and this is just a good way to make people aware of who we are.”

This is the BSA annual Open Members Exhibition, which means that both associate and exhibiting members can submit one piece of art, and the show is not juried.

“Our other two annual shows are juried and only exhibiting members can submit work to be juried by an outside juror,” Dietrick said.