Contemporary Landscapes at TraillWorks

Contemporary Landscapes, a set on Flickr.

Our current exhibit speaks to the expanding importance of the landscape genre and the growing desire artists have to document the environment. Through unique, personal visions, ten artists bring the outside world into the gallery space. While many of the works are oil paintings, some explore bridging traditional media like combining watercolor, oil and collage in one work. Some of the works feature luminescent portrayals of Main Street America; some expressive depictions of urban cities; others explore wide vistas and dramatic storm systems. Artists from New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Texas and Massachusetts will have their work on display at TraillWorks through August 19th.
 

We'd like to thank all who attended our opening reception on July 14th. Special thanks to The Alternative Press for their coverage of the show and "Paint Newton", held on the same day. We'd also like to extend our gratitude to The Plaza Restaurant for their delicious sandwiches, cavatelli and broccoli, and paella they offered as "Art Partner" to the exhibit. The Mediterranean influenced restaurant is located at 118 Spring Street and offers breakfast, lunch and dinner.

For more information about the exhibit and the artists featured, visit the current events page of our web site. 

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Sterling Silver Jewelry Trunk Show at TraillWorks

In anticipation of our one-day trunk show on Saturday, featuring jewelry artist, Liesl Carlson, my associate, Corrie, spent some time getting to know Liesl a little bit better. Liesl has been selling her jewelry at TraillWorks since I opened last year. She and I met during my residency at Peters Valley in 2008. Soon after I left Peters Valley, I learned that she was pregnant, at the same time as me. But, I didn't get to know her very well until her husband, Steve Butler, exhibited his "Breadside Tables" at my old studio down the street, after we both had our sons.

At the time I learned I was relocating my studio to 214 Spring Street where I had more space and the capability to display jewelry, I contacted Liesl and invited her to sell her work. I immediately fell in love and have not only worn her pieces at a variety of functions, but also now own her jewelry. Liesl now lives in Massachusetts with Steve and their two-year old son, Quinn.

Liesl at work in her sunny studio in Massachusetts

So, without further adieu, here's a tid-bit more about Liesl and her jewelry-making. You can meet her in person on Saturday from 3 - 8pm at TraillWorks.

Q: How do you choose the stones used in your pieces, and do they “guide” the direction of the piece?

A:  Well let's see. Sometimes a stone or object do guide a piece, and sometimes a piece "asks" for a stone. On my bench I always have stones, pottery shards, beads, and some hollow form pieces waiting for the right time or the proper "magic" of the pieces to match up.

Q: What is your work process; how do you begin and how do you know when you are finished with a piece or a collection?

A: I really let the metal tell me what it would like to be. I am really drawn to circles. I also love texture and have a vast collection of hammers that I use to create texture. I also use a rolling mill to imprint texture. I love using all kinds of things from steel mesh to vintage lace ribbon. My recycled group is a freeing process because I really have no control of how it comes out, I can only guide the shape. But it is organic. I have yet to finish a collection, I take pauses.

Q: Where do you draw inspiration: artists, places, colors, sounds, etc? 

A: Inspiration. That is a tough one. New England winters is one - with its starkness and bare trees and the sparkle or reflection off the snow and ice. People is one -  everything has to feel good. Lately I have a love of medical prints from the late 1800's to the early 1900's. I find them fascinating, and I am working on how to incorporate that into a new collection. 

Q: Do you work in any other media?

A: I also do stained glass. I unfortunately have not had the space to set up since we moved back to Mass. I took my first class in 2003.

Q: What are your future goals/plans for your jewelry?

A: I plan on starting to show in the next year or two. Also I would like to teach. My husband, Steve Butler, and I have formed The Blackstone Valley School of Crafts, a multi-media craft school that is looking for a permanent home; we have several locations in mind. It is all very exciting. 

Corrie and I would like to thank Liesl for taking the time to let us know a little bit more about her work, and all the preparation she's done in travelling to New Jersey this weekend. TraillWorks would also like to thank "Art Partner", Trinity Restaurant, for providing refreshments.

If you're in the Northern NJ area this weekend, it's a great opportunity to plan to visit TraillWorks. And, if you want to make full day of your visit, there is a self-guided, free studio art tour in Sussex County earlier in the day, Common Thread Studios Art Tour.

I'll leave you with a preview of her display setup for Saturday, from Liesl's blog, along with the necklace Liesl has made that patrons can enter to win! Hope to see you on Saturday.

Liesl's mock setup in her home for Saturday's trunk show.

Sterling Silver Hollow Form Circle Pendant on 16" rubber cord by Liesl Carlson. Saturday's Trunk Show door prize.

ArtWorks Benefit Ovarian Cancer Awareness

TraillWorks, Tealed.

September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Three out of the past four years, I have held some type of event to benefit an Ovarian Cancer organization. The previous two benefited Kaleidoscope of Hope Foundation, and this year I have decided to work with Turn the Towns Teal, Inc. which used to be under Kaleidoscope of Hope's umbrella. Gail MacNeil (1943-2008) coined the phrase, Turn the Towns Teal and also helped to start Kaleidoscope of Hope.

Turn the Towns Teal, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit committed to the mission of raising awareness of symptoms of ovarian cancer. It's a strange disease, in that if treated early, over 90% of women will survive. However, due to symptoms that seem more related to general aging and the lack of early detection screening tests, most cases are not diagnosed until the cancer has progressed into later stages. Only about 19% of all ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed at this early stage and if found in later stages, three and higher, the survival rate is only about 30%. 

Turn the Towns Teal, Inc. is working in NJ and several other states to "teal" town centers with ribbons, lawn signs, and distribute symptom cards to raise awareness of the disease. This organization is special to me because it directly affected my family when my mom's college friend, Barbara Salamy, passed away from ovarian cancer several years ago. It was found too late and she fought for a little over a year. It was my first knowledge of the disease and since then several of my mom's close friends have been diagnosed. Fortunately, they were more aware of the disease's symptoms, following up early enough to be diagnosed sooner.  

Jenny Shotwell of Doggone Gorgeous and me tying teal ribbons.

Spring Street, Newton donned in teal ribbons.

Saturday, September 11th, coinciding with the opening reception of "Brenda Decker-New Acrylic Paintings and Recent Gelatin Monotypes" I'm hosting a benefit at TraillWorks for Turn the Towns Teal, Inc. From 5 - 8pm Brenda will be on hand to talk about her work and meet with visitors. Krave Cafe and Caterers has agreed to donate a spread of hors d' oeuvres and Frederick Wildman and Sons, Ltd. will donate Trapiche and Folonari wines for the cause. We will have symptom cards on hand so you can learn about ovarian cancer. Some of the jewelry artists have made teal jewelry and my work will be available in the lesson room. And, throughout the day, TraillWorks and its artists will donate 5% of all sales to Turn the Towns Teal, Inc. All customers will have the option to receive an additional 5% off or donate it to Turn the Towns Teal, Inc. 

Reclamation, 18" x 24", Acrylic on Panel, ©2010 Brenda Decker, $750

Brenda Decker of Stockholm, NJ, is a multi talented artist whose work for the show features both acrylics and gelatin monotypes. The pieces are rich in texture, spontaneity and strong in composition. Her work is loosely influenced by nature, but she tends to stay away from giving her work too much context, preferring the viewer to find their own meaning in the work. Strong at using both subtle tones and strong colors, several of the pieces feature the color teal.

I've known Brenda since exhibiting together at Art at the Mill in Lafayette, NJ and has always admired her work. It's an honor to be exhibiting it at my own gallery and to help support a very dear cause. I hope you'll join us for a special night. Learn more about the event here, or view a preview video of the exhibit.

Silver and Glass

I am pleased to announce the inclusion of jewelry to TraillWorks! I've always had an interest in unique, hand made jewelry, but never the space to sell it. With 1000 additional square feet and beautiful jewelry cases, I'm now able to do it. Meet my three jewelry artists below and stop in to see their gorgeous work in person!


Marty Traill Schaeffer, otherwise known as "mom" to me, graduated from the University of Toledo with a degree in art education with a focus in metalsmithing. After a thirty-year hiatus, the artist is making jewelry again, with her debut at TraillWorks. While she is still experimenting with techniques and materials her interest lies in textured spheres, whether bowls, rings, or organic drops of silver, that accentuate natural stones and beads where incorporated.
From $20 - $110


Bernadette Blaney, owner and designer of Glassical, has been working and growing with glass for over ten years. Her work fuses Dichroic glass into exquisite pendants, brooches, earrings, barrettes and cufflinks. If you visited 214 prior to TraillWorks, you may know of Bernadette's work. She is the former owner of Radiant Essentials which used to occupy my location. She's known around Newton as "The Glass Lady".

From $18 - $95



Liesl Carlson, of central Mass, took many classes in various forms of art and craft. She took her first jewelry making class in 2005 and then quickly joined the Professional Craft Studies Program at the Worcester Center for Crafts. Liesl then moved to Peters Valley Craft Center in Layton NJ, where she took jewelry workshops and worked for Judy Neugebauer. Liesl has been in many exhibitions including Craftforms and most recently New Jersey Arts Annual: Craft. She has appeared in many publications, most notably 30 Minute Earrings from Lark Books due out in July 2010. Her jewelry, influenced by the snow-covered New England landscape, focuses on the play of texture and reflection on the silver.
From $130 - $300