|
From ConnecticutPlus.com Arts
A closing reception on Saturday, October 24th from 2 to 5 pm will feature a “dance play” by performance artists, Katherine Adamenko and the Adamenko Group, who will wear masks and portray the characters in the Minotaur Story, including the deceitful King Minos, The Queen , their beautiful daughter Ariadne and Brave Theseus who escapes the labyrinth and slews the Minotaur or great white bull. Axleroad likes to engage not just perennial art lovers but also people who normally don’t go to galleries, including children. At his show’s opening reception in September, people strolling past the Blue Door Gallery entrance were greeted by “The Minotaur”, a young man with head mask who cavorted on the street and encouraged many children and their parents to enter the gallery. Inside was the promise of a mysterious labyrinth for children to explore, reinforcing the story of Axleroad’s award winning print on exhibit, ‘The Minatour Escaping the Labyrinth’. “We got lots of people in from the street who probably had no intention of entering a gallery that day,” said Axleroad. Prizes were awarded to all children who wandered through the five by eight foot labyrinth, and live music and hearty refreshments added another dimension to the event. Among the gallery visitors were eight year old Paula Ramieriz, who pronounced the labyrinth “fun” and her mother Maria, who praised the Blue Door Gallery, saying, “There is nothing else like this in the neighborhood.” Also present was Tracie Clockwell, who works in design and marketing for fashion designer Gretchen Scott and volunteers weekly at the gallery. She said, “I was just walking by, saw the Blue Door art gallery and was elated. I knew I had to be a part of the growth and the keeping of this gallery. I enjoy varied roles, including helping with special events and the Clay Program for children.” Another attendee, Yonkers City Council President Chuck Lesnick said, “I am so happy to see that the Blue Door Gallery is drawing creative and talented artists to downtown Yonkers including the wonderful Don Axleroad. The Blue Door Gallery is both a great civic attraction and a boom for economic development. It incorporates interesting events for school children and sophisticated artwork for their parents.” At an earlier Blue Door group exhibition, Axleroad set up a printing press out on the sidewalk in front of the entrance, inviting all children passing by to try their hand at running off a print which they could personalize with their autograph. “We drew quite a crowd,” said Axleroad, who has been fascinated by Greek mythology since his own childhood. He believes that the epic mythical figures represent the capriciousness of man and nature and relate to the challenges we face today, ranging from war and vengeance to diseases such as Alzheimers – bad things happening to good people, events over which they have no control. In addition to his mythological subjects, he is also exhibiting some of his recent works which focus on the human condition of aging, role reversal (when parents become like children to their own offspring), and the identity theft that Alzheimers victims experience. A resident of Stamford, CT, Axleroad has won both regional and national awards from prestigious organizations including the Salmagundi Club, the National Arts Club of NY and the Allied Artists of America. The Blue Door Gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday, 12 – 5 p.m. with extended hours on Friday to 7 p.m. at 13 Riverdale Avenue, Yonkers. For further information visit www.bluedoorgallery.org, (914)-375-5100 or www.donaxleroad.com © Copyright by ConnecticutPlus.com |
