Art Demos A Big Hit at Synchronicity Gallery

By Jane Greiner
Sun contributor
They had no idea when they started it how popular the weekly Gallery Talk series would become, but Marion and Dick DeVinney are glad they followed their hunch and began the new program at their gallery in Glen Arbor. Almost immediately the “talks” morphed into art demonstrations with featured artists presenting a hands-on experience to area residents and summer people. The free programs welcome artists and non-artists alike.

“You should have seen it the first night,” Dick said. Lynne O’Rourke gave a talk on torn paper collage, drawing 19 participants.
“I looked at my watch and they were still going strong, Marion said. I asked, “Does everyone know it’s 9 o’clock?”
There have been three demos to date: the torn paper collage, one on pastels, and one on colored pencil. Oil painting will be covered in the final program of the series.
“We really haven’t done much publicity for the demos,” Marion said, but the classes fill up quickly. People sign up for the classes when they are in the gallery or they call in. Dick has posted notices around the gallery next to the next visiting artist’s work. That way people in the gallery see what kind of art they will be learning about.
“I don’t exactly know why we are doing it,” Marion said. She and Dick seemed a little in awe of the popularity of the classes, which include about 15 students per class.
The DeVinneys are modifying the format as they go along. The first night they furnished quite a few refreshments but found that no one took time to eat. Now they provide light refreshments and concern themselves more with setting up workspaces and equipment. They have found space for five tables in several connected spaces in the gallery for maximum seating.
The interesting thing about the mini-classes, according to Dick, is that they change the feel of the gallery. “Somehow being forced to sit in their among all that art for an hour-and-a-half or two hours, seems to change the way they see the art,” Dick said.
Then he added an interesting observation. “You can’t make someone fall in love,” Dick said. “We can’t sell someone a piece of art, for example. They have to see it and fall in love with it on their own and then we are available to help them.” His point was that by providing the space for people to be around real art and artists, they had a chance to make their own personal connection to art. And that changes the way they feel about art in general, and Synchronicity Gallery.
“I think it makes them feel like they have an interest in the gallery,” Marion mused. The classes make the art, the artists, and the gallery more approachable.
Local artist Carolyn Hudson was the guest artist for the recent colored pencil class. She provided art materials for each participant to use, including a step by step instruction sheet, a piece of illustration board to draw on, plus colored pencils for participants to use during the demonstration.
She explained briefly the advances in colored pencil technology, and showed her electric pencil sharpener, colorless blender, a large piece she is currently working on and a book of prize-winning pieces published by the Colored Pencil Society of America.
After the short introduction she got the class started on their practice drawing of a red apple. She had provided each student with a pre-drawn apple outline so that they would not have to worry about the drawing and could concentrate on learning to use the colored pencils. Like the demos before it, this session went on past the scheduled ending time.
Afterwards Hudson said, “I was amazed at the willingness of the participants to just jump right in and work. It really gave people hands-on experience with the medium, and they realized the difficulties and joys of working with colored pencils. I was glad when it was over but only because I was nervous about it. I think it’s a great way to get people more involved with art, and therefore less intimidated by it.”
Marion DeVinney echoed her feelings. “I think it’s been a very positive experience. It’s fun to see the enthusiasm of all the participants. And the artists enjoy connecting with the people,” she said.
The series will conclude with the fourth session this week.