Lehigh Valley artists and teachers Jan Crooker and Kristine Miller-Siple will be exhibiting their still life paintings at the Bethlehem Town Hall Rotunda Gallery from August 12 to September 19, 2021. There will be an artist reception on Sunday, September 19 from 1:00 – 3:00 PM. The Rotunda Gallery is located at 10 E. Church Street. Gallery hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM.
Jan Crooker is both an artist and a teacher at Northampton Community College. As an artist, she sees her high contrast acrylic paintings as symbolic of a positive and bright attitude. As a teacher, she tries to set an example of positive ways to push and inspire her drawing students. Jan describes herself as one of those lucky people who discovered her passion for art at an early age. Color has always been the main focus of her artistic expression. My love of color harkens back to that early exposure to art. While some kids had favorite athletes, I had favorite artists, and still do today. El Greco was my first favorite artist, but today I love the color of Janet Fish’s work and the playfulness of Wayne Thiebaud. I want my work to show the joy of color and light that I discovered as a child. When I paint, I immerse myself in my work and just enjoy the process, what now some describe as flow.
Kristine Miller-Siple is a local artist and teacher. She taught art at all levels after graduating from Kutztown University. All her life she experimented with two-and-three-dimensional art forms and numerous media before discovering the beauty and luminescence of oil painting studying with Bruce Becker at the Warehouse Studio. Common and whimsical objects from sentimental experiences are the primary focus of her paintings. Kristine begins her process by taking her own photographs of the objects, strategically positioning them until the exact composition is achieved balancing the object and the shadow it casts. These still life objects take on their own persona standing alone in space. Then the object is drawn on canvas. The excitement of the push and pull of color and value is the true essence of her painting experience. Each painting represents a visual study taken one step further by exploring the intricacies of the shadow it casts. Emphasis on the play of light and color in the shadow is a metaphor for looking back in time. Kristine’s shadow play paintings are meant to inspire and reawaken pleasant memories for the viewer.
The exhibition is sponsored by the Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission.