Studio B Fine Art Gallery, 39A East Philadelphia Ave., Boyertown, is pleased to announce the opening of “All Creatures Great and Small” on Friday, June 15, from 5 to 8 p.m. The exhibit is sponsored by BB&T bank and Cowpainters, LLC – fabricators of Boyertown’s Bear Fever bears. Cowpainters, LLC is located in Chicago, IL.
Sponsors for prize awards include GiGi’s at Home Pet Care; Art Plus Gallery, Reading; and Tammy Snyder Photo.
Prior to the formal opening, Studio B welcomes visitors to view the exhibit and cast a vote for their favorite pieces of art on Saturday, June 9, during Berks Mont Business Association’s Philadelphia Avenue Street Fair. The Street Fair runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Curator for the exhibit is Pamela Hodges, writer and artist, whose cat paintings and wooden cutouts are familiar features in Studio B’s exhibits. Hodges facilitates writing workshops at Studio B and has self-published several books including “The Artist’s Manifesto,” and “How to Be a Cat.” She describes herself as the typist for her cat Harper who blogs at TheCatWhoWrites.com. Pamela writes about art and creativity at pamelahodges.com.
“Animals are part of our lives,” explains Hodges. “Those we keep as pets love us unconditionally and help us navigate a world where we can sometimes feel isolated.”
“The untamed creatures of our lives remind us of the need to be aware of our place in the world of nature and our responsibility to be kind and careful to all those creatures-great and small,” added Jane Stahl, Director of Community Relations.
The title for the exhibit is taken from James Herriott’s book by the same name. Herriott was a British veterinary surgeon and writer who wrote a series of books consisting of short stories of animals and their owners. “All Creatures Great and Small” was taken from the second line of the hymn “All Things Bright and Beautiful” and inspired by Herriott’s daughter who suggested a more appropriate, and humorous, title for the veterinarian’s book would be “Ill Creatures Great and Small.” The books have been adapted for film and television.
Herriott is quoted, “If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans. I hope to make people realize how totally helpless animals are, how dependent on us, trusting as a child must that we will be kind and take care of their needs…[they] are an obligation put on us, a responsibility we have no right to neglect, nor to violate by cruelty.”
“We welcome BB&T and our long-time friends at Cowpainters, LLC to our community of patrons,” added Stahl. “As co-sponsors of this exhibit, BB&T and Cowpainters, LLC become members of our “Beamers Club.”
The studio acknowledges donors who offer $250 or more by placing their name(s) on a ceiling beam in the studio. The “Beamers Club” showcases individuals and organizations whose funding has been integral to the studio’s survival. To date, the names of 52 individuals or organizations are noted on a ceiling beam.
The exhibition is free and open to the public. Artists are invited to submit work in all media, any genre and any subject.
Studio B Art Gallery is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., during classes and workshops, by chance and by appointment.
