Featured Exhibits: Gallery Blu

The Amazing Art work featured in Magnificent Minds Project’s first exhibit at Gallery Blu!

Contemplation


Artist: Irene Appleyard

Irene Appleyard attended Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii. She has a B.A. in English Literature from Chatham College in Pittsburgh, PA and a diploma in Fine Arts from the York Academy of Arts. She continued her portrait studies at the National Academy of Design and the Art Students’ League in New York City. She has taken intensive portraiture courses from Everett Raymond Kinstler, painter of several American Presidents, community and international leaders; Daniel Greene, prominent oil and pastel artist; Bettina Steinke, highly regarded Southwestern painter and Jack Callahan, Boston and Rockport portraitist. She has also has studied watercolor painting with Charles Reid, Lawrence Goldsmith and Betty Lou Schlemm. Ms. Appleyard was an award winner at the Washington Society of Portrait Artists in Washington, D. C. She has won many prestigious prizes including Louis La Beamme prize at the National Academy of Design; prizes at several “Figuratively Speaking” shows at the art association of Harrisburg; best in show at Harrisburg’s “Black History” exhibit and prizes in portraiture, watercolor, and pastel at the York Academy of Arts. Irene experiences depression.


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“Splatter Painting” and “Politically Correct”

Artist: Katherine Redick

Katie is a lovely artist who has major depression. She is inspired by Jackson Pollock and believes art is very therapeutic. Her “Politically Correct” painting was recently displayed in the offices of Senator Robert P. Casey.

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“This portrait is based on one of the two known photographs of Robert Johnson. I added the Mississippi moon and it’s silver light. Sharecroppers in Mississippi worked from “can’t to can’t”- from when you can’t see the sun in the morning until when you can’t see it at night. When could you play the blues? When the moon signaled your only time of freedom.”

Robert Johnson In The Mississippi Moon

Robert Johnson In The Mississippi Moon

The Two Jeffersons

The Two Jeffersons

“This double portrait started from a fanciful premise that American history and culture were profoundly affected by two men named Jefferson: Thomas and Blind Lemon. Blind Lemon Jefferson played a huge part in Blues history. The blues, and American invention, is to me an essential part of the dream of democracy imbedded in the Declaration of Independence. Of course, no historian of American history thinks that way-yet.”

National Blues Graphic

National Blues Graphic

Whales On Every Side

Whales On Every Side

“This is a portrait of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, who was known for singing rousing spirituals in a style that was much like up-tempo blues. One of her most famous songs was about Jonah.”

It has the following lyrics:

Some people don’t believe
That a whale could him receive,
But that does not make
My song at all untrue.
There are whales on every side
With their big mouths open wide
Just take care, my friend,
Or one may swallow you.


Artist: Steve Shaw
Steve Shaw is a librarian who worked for the state of New Hampshire for twenty years. He retired in 1994. Since his early retirement, Steve has written poetry and short stories, traveled, painted and played the blues guitar. He live abroad for four years and had art exhibitions in Prague and Cambridge, England. Steve has been hospitalized for depression a number of times. During his last stay, he wrote a book of poetry based on his bi-polar disorder.


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Artist: Nichole Pulisic


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Artist: Donald D.
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Anodos the Upward Path

Anodos: the Upward Path

“…Anodos. It is Greek for a path or way that leads upward, and it is often used to describe mythological pictures of Gods or Goddesses who arise from the earth or the sea. this Mandala is a juxtaposition of symboles that ll lead one to an upward path.”

B'reishit: In the Beginning

B'reishit: In the Beginning


“I entered a competition to make the curtain for the Ark in a Conservative (but very modern) synagogue. My design was not accepted, because it was a bit too progressive for some of the committee members, but I was still determined to make it as an art quilt.”

Spiral Motion

Spiral Motion


Artist: Patricia Ruth Hutchins

“The first time I was hospitalized for depression, I went home and started making mandalas, as a meditative and healing exercise. I made about 100 mandalas, and they joined Art Quilts as a favored medium. In the last few years, I have been concentrating on portraiture, but I was glad to find that when I sat down to make a mandala recently, my technique and style and knowledge came right back to me, and I was able to pick up the healing process once again.”


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Artist: Michael Greene
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Comic Book Figures

Comic Book Figures

Shay Bethune Figures2Shay Bethune Figures


Artist: Shay Bethune

Shay Bethune is a 25 year old male who was born and raised in Harrisburg, PA. He is a graduate of Harrisburg High School, and he would like to pursue a degree in graphic arts. Eventually he would like to obtain employment designing video games. Shay creates intricate figures out of everyday pipe cleaners. These designs are inspired by Shay’s favorite comic book and video game characters.


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Card  music pairCard orange pairCard Spider  pairMan holding dove
Artist: Robert Martin

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“The Natural Look”

Artist: Randall Dunbar

“My name is Randall Dunbar and I enjoy drawling people. I like to draw pictures as gifts for other people. My art is a gift from the Lord and I have been drawing since I realized that I could. I also enjoy playing pool and going for walks when it’s not too cold outside. I have a lot of fun at Aurora Club playing pool and spades.”


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Artist: Mark Ravago

Mark Ravago is a Christian fine artist in the field of mental health with displays at private galleries in Harrisburg and various Pennsylvania Art Shows. He is self taught with additional class work in a private art school in Hollywood California. Artists who have influenced Ravago are, Carrie Wisler Thomas, Frank Hummel, the late Charles Hidley and the late Leo Gilroy.


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Artist: Danielle Elizebeth Stehle

” Hello my name is Danielle Elizebeth Stehle. My middle name is important since my husband chose to name our first daughter Danielle also. I am an identical twin; Gaynell and I were the first set of twins to be born in The First Navy Hospital in Albany, Georgia in 1970 where my father was a drill instructor in the Marine Corps. I am happily married to Brian and have been for more than 20 years now. We share our lives with 2 wonderful sons and one beautiful daughter. I love art and music; drawing and painting are a passion for me. They are my escape from the real world and a place where I can find peace. ”

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BEAR

BEAR


Self Portrait

Self Portrait

Artist: Sara Raab

Sara Raab studied art at the Baum School of Art as a child. She graduated from Wyoming Seminary Preparatory School, the Art Institute of Philadelphia and Cedae Crest College in Allentown, PA. She specializes in large paintings and sculpture, as well as printmaking, metal smith work and whimsical ink drawings. She has been diagnosed with Bipolar and ADHD.
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Stop Running from the Rediculous

Artist: Mark Perry

“As my drawling depicts, for years and years I ran away from the ridiculous, the fear of recognizing and dealing with my mental illness, the fear of other people knowing I have a problem and the fear of change. Because of these fears my life stood at a standstill and I have caused many people, including myself, a great deal of harm. Because of my new found freedom and heightened awareness, my mental health is a top priority. Without the ability to think rationally and to be willing to face my fears head on, I will continue to be stu8ck in a state of stagnation. That is why awareness and exposure of mental illness is so very important. I am excited about my future because I am being responsible about my illness and taking the necessary steps to arrest it. I encourage others who have a fear of exposing their illness or even accepting the fact that they have one; to stop running from the ridiculous and love yourself today as well as others around you and to take a step in the right direction. Unity is the true way to break the yoke of bondage. We are in this together.”

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