MOUNT MORRIS— Livonia artist Gloria Betlem will conclude her solo art show “The Finger Lakes: Above and Below” on Saturday, October 27 with a closing reception from 12:00PM to 3:00PM.
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Her work is currently being displayed at Livingston Arts, on Murray Hill Drive in Mount Morris, and feature “paintings of the Finger Lakes and fracking pathways beneath our feet.” All are welcome to attend the show, which will also feature “Poetic Encounters,” an interactive circle of some of Western New York’s most well known poets.
Betlem’s pastel paintings series shows a strong influence honoring and celebrating the unique qualities of the Finger Lakes, and reflect her passion for preserving the lakes and its surrounding land. The threat of hydrofracking, she states, has inspired the “below” aspect of the show, “Fracking the Shale,” which can be seen beneath the 11 paintings displayed.
In creating her work, Betlem mentored with geologists and other specialists to ensure she had the science correct in her artistic rendering. Her concept creates a unique exhibit, which is not only a show of art, but an informative experience on an issue which is at the forefront of local news and current events.
Prior to this series, Betlem has published a book of her paintings and as well as photographs made by her husband, Kent Divers. The book featured images of Hemlock and Canadice Lakes at a time when they were at risk of being sold to developers who could jeopardize the pristine qualities of the lakes.
In recent years, the controversial technique called hydraulic fracturing has brought forth the attention of the media and protest groups, in which a massive amount of water, sand and chemicals are injected into the ground to break up rock formations, allowing natural gas to flow up the well. The future of this technique in New York State is currently awaiting a decision from Governor Cuomo.
The “Poetic Encounters” of the reception will begin at 1:30PM. The featured writers, who are also concerned with preserving the region and exploring their relationship with the land around them, include John Roche and Paulette Swartzfager, professors of Literature at RIT; Michael Czarnecki, publisher at Foothills Press; Steve Coffman, author and poet; Dwain Wilder, poet; Kathryn Jospe, poet and teacher; and Gretchen Schultz, poet; among others. Attendees are invited to participate.
For more information, visit the Livingston Arts webpage, here.