Shop Small!

There are so many reasons to shop locally this holiday season, skipping the malls and "big box" stores. Handmade art is an especially wonderful gift to give, and Gallery artist Norm Gitzen put it best, offering this insight, "When you buy a gift for a loved one from a local artist you are gifting two people at the same time!"

Supporting local art and artists has such a great impact on the arts community from the artists standpoint, as well as the galleries and shops offering locally made art. That is why we are encouraging all our friends and supporters to "Shop Small" this holiday season! This movement has become quite strong and Saturday, November 26th has been designated Small Business Saturday, dedicated to supporting small businesses on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year.

So please consider your locally owned and operated businesses when plannig your gift-giving this season, and support local arts and artists by shopping SMALL!!! See you in the Gallery...

Thanks go out to Chuck Weber and CBS12 News for featuring CGMS Gallery in a recent piece about the holiday econonomic forcast for Lake Worth. We look forward to a bright and successful holiday season, and hope to share it with all our friends and supporters!!

Oh, What a Night!

Last Friday's show, Contrasts - Studies in Black and White, was spectacular! Thanks to all that joined us, and for those who missed, well, you'll have to live vicariously through the photos! Special thanks to guest artist Georgette Pressler of Devious Body Art, who transformed Gallery artist Maria Hayden's black and white sculptural figure to LIFE, painting a model in the Gallery. The finished work was simply stunning. Thanks also to Too Jay's Gourmet Deli for their generous donation of delicious black and white cookies.

Gallery artists Karen McGovern, Maria Hayden, Tracy Rosof-Petersen and Kathleen Kirschner transformed the Gallery into a black and white haven, full of beautiful art and furnishings. The show will run until Thursday, October 6th, so stop by if you have the chance.

In the meantime, enjoy this slide show of photos, and please stay tuned for news of our upcoming events. The next show is Friday, October 7. All I'll say now is that it's going to be HOT!!

The ART of REVOLUTION!

The Gallery is getting ready to give art a voice, a LOUD voice! On Friday, September 2, CGMS Gallery will be celebrating Labor Day with an old-fashioned protest party complete with local labor leaders giving "soap box" speeches and a Woody Guthrie sing-along with Gallery artist and musician Rick Cohen. Gallery Director (and all-around activist) Joyce Brown will be hosting this event, and has created one-of-a-kind sculptures specifically for this event. The Raging Grannies will also join us to lend their voices and songs to our political and social commentary.

To get you in the mood, here's Lukas Nelson singing "Peaceful Solution".

So, dust off your picket signs and come join the fight for ART and SOCIAL JUSTICE!

Creating a Mermaid....From Cans!

Never let it be said that the Gallery is ever idle...To celebrate the Grand Opening of Lake Worth's brand new Publix Supermarket, Gallery artist Mary Ellen Dohrs was recruited to create a giant mermaid in the front of the Gallery made entirely of canned goods from Publix! Mary Ellen is an extraordinary sculptor and artist, and also an engineer, perfect for the job. Beginning on Monday, Gallery artists gathered to construct the mermaid under Mary Ellen's direction. The finished result is amazing! Be sure to stop by the Gallery to see her in all her canned wonder.

Wonderful Celebration of our EARTH!

Thanks to all that attended this past Friday's "Earth/Bowl ~ Sky/Basket" Gallery opening. It was a lovely evening, with representatives from Palm Beach County Reef Rescue, and guest pianist Nino DiSilva. We had a great time!

Now, get ready for a really FUN event next weekend. With Easter right around the corner, we decided to host a "Peeps Show" Friday, April 22 through Sunday, April 24. Gallery artists, and other local artists, have created 3-dimensional works of art using marshmallow Peeps! The works will be displayed in the front of the Gallery, including a special Peeps presentation with Norm Gitzen's famous "Siren" mermaid sculpture outside. Please stop by over the weekend to marvel at these silly, creative creations! Oh, and we will be serving the iconic marshmallow candy as well...Prepare to PEEP!

Spirit of the Earth!

First, thanks so much to all of you that came out for Saturday's Empty Bowl Fundraiser for Haiti. The bowls were lovely, and the food delicious! A round of applause for all the Lake Worth restaurants that generously donated scrumptious treats...you guys rock! While we're at it, thanks to the artists that donated the hand-made bowls. Every year these bowls are donated FOR FREE to the Gallery, each made by a local artist. Gorgeous works by generous artists...

Also, a HUGE thank you to Gallery Director, Joyce Brown, for her tireless efforts to coordinate this event. Joyce is the driving force behind CGMSG, and we could not continue without her. THANKS JOYCE!!!!

Now, on to the next event. This Friday, April 15th, we will be celebrating our planet with "Earth/Bowl ~ Sky/Basket". This is a Native American title, refering to the Earth as a bowl and the sky as a basket. Gallery aritst Tracy Rosof-Petersen is spearheading this event, and her Native American-inspired pottery will be on display, along with other nature-inspired works from Gallery artists. We will also be welcoming representatives from Palm Beach County Reef Rescue, a great organization dedicated to preserving our fragile ocean reefs. Musical guest Nino DeSilva will be performing, so please come support our Mother Earth! See you at 6:00...

Let the Music PLAY!

On Monday evening, March 28, Mel Healy and Vinnie Cerniglia of Spittoon Studios bring a screening of Broad Old River 2 to the Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery! The screening features the Hudson River Sloop Singers; Pete Seeger and his friends. The screening will begin at 7 PM followed by the singing of several of the Sloop Singers.

Pete Seeger, Folk Singer and long time activist for peace and social justice, took a look at his own back yard, noticed how polluted the Hudson River had become and decided to do something about it. He helped bring the sloop the Clearwater to the Hudson and sailing up and down the river with crews of singers and environmental activists brought about changes in communities along the banks of the Hudson that led to waters that now run clear. The fleet grew to three sloops as the Woody Guthrie and the SoJourner Truth were added. Mel Healy became the captain of the Sojourner. She now resides in Lake Worth Florida singing with her husband Vinnie Cerniglia at open mikes and spreading the word and the work of the Clearwater.

Back in November 2009, states Healy, “we were able to gather a whole batch of old Clearwater friends to do a concert together and do some interviews about the Sloop Clearwater and The Hudson River Sloop Singers. We were lucky that so many old friends came to join in the fun. Months later after lots of editing and with the combined energy of Koza Productions, Spittoon Studios & LCA TV - VCAM we put together a half hour video featuring Pete Seeger and friends.

The concert celebrates the release of the Broad Old River 2 CD. Four decades of sloop singers and family came together in Pete’s 90th year at the Clearwater Beacon sloop club to sing the songs together again. The video tells how a group of people can come together and make a dream come to life. Screening will be followed by music. CDs will be available for purchase. $15 from each CD sold benefits maintenance and restoration on the sloops Woody Guthrie and Clearwater.

Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, Inc. is a 501(c)3 tax exempt nonprofit, member-supported corporation whose mission is to preserve and protect the Hudson River. In 1966, folk music legend and environmental activist Pete Seeger, in despair over the pollution of his beloved Hudson River, announced plans to “build a boat to save the river”. At the time, the Hudson was rank with raw sewage, toxic chemicals and oil pollution; fish had disappeared over many miles of its length. Seeger believed a majestic replica of the sloops that sailed the Hudson in the 18th and 19th centuries would bring people to the river, where they could experience its beauty and be moved to preserve it. Inspired by that vision, the 106-feet-long tall ship Clearwater was built and launched in 1969. The sloop was among the first vessels in the U.S. to conduct science-based environmental education aboard a sailing ship, virtually creating the template by which such programs are conducted around the world today.

Mel and Vinnie are Spittoon Studios. Vincent Cerniglia plays old school blues guitar. Maryellen Healy sings from the heart. Together they sail, fundraise, compose, organize, educate and archive for Clearwater spreading a message you can sing and dance to.

Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery will host this eventm free to the public. CDs of Broad Old River 2 will be available for sale. 100% of the proceeds will go to the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater.

So, please join us and be sure to bring your dancing shoes!!!!

The ART of REVOLUTION!

Art has a voice, and that voice can be LOUD. This Friday we celebrate art with meaning and message. Throughout history art has been used to convey our thoughts feelings and beliefs. Political commentary, wars, peace, social and economic trials and triumphs have all been conveyed in art. From posters to sculptures, artists give meaning and message to our thoughts and emotions. Join us as we showcase three dimensional artwork with deep meaning. Learn the Siren's story, created by Norm Gitzen. Marvel at Linda Manganaro's mixed media creations full of story and message. Talk to Tracy Rosof-Petersen about her expressions of life and loss in clay, and feel the textures of Lois Herricks creations, born from her vivid imagination.

See you at 6:00....

Discovering Your MUSE...

Do you have a collection of old buttons, beads, scraps of fabric? How about old photos or magazine images? We all have an odd drawer or box filled with "treasure" we don't quite know what to do with. Well, this Friday, Feb 4, is for you! Come to the Gallery at 6:00 for The MUSE in YOU - Discovering Inspiration. Gallery artists Marsha Christo, Amelia Costa and Lorraine Bowe invite you to join them in the creation of a group mixed media wall project that will incorporate found objects galore! The finished wall hanging will be sold and the proceeds will be donated to local charities.

This will be a fun night, and offers the chance not only to express yourself, but to work with three talented fabric, mixed media and jewelry designers. I can't wait to see the finished work!

See you at 6:00!!

Winter Wonderland!

Please come see us this Friday, the 17th, for a Gallery celebration of the Winter Solstice. What a magical time of year. Even for us beach bums in Florida, winter has arrived and we are feeling the chill of the season! Our Gallery is transformed into a winter woodland, and we'll be offering seasonal delights, wine and hot coffee to warm your spirit. The walls and shelves are filled with amazing original art, and our member artists will be on hand to greet you. There is no better gift than original art, so come by and get those last minute treasures...see you at 6:00!

Calling all Beach Bums!

This Friday, Dec 10, CGMS Gallery will be hosting a book launch for CHart Magazine. Editor Casey Swan has created a lovely book, The Secrets of the Southern Shells. This is the second in a series of books Casey has written all about overcoming adversity and self-reflection and personal growth. This book is full of wise wisdom and glorious illustrations created by the artists of CHart, known affectionately as "CHartists". CGMS Gallery artist Tracy Rosof-Peterson is part of this wonderful collection of artists and her shell-themed potter will be on display, along with other original art used as illustrations for the book. This is a wonderful gift opportunity for yourself or someone special. 20% of sales proceed support CGMS Gallery, so come out and get your virtual toes in the sand! See you at 6:00!!

Show Your Support...

This Friday, Nov 12, will be very special at the Gallery. We will we be hosting a cocktail party for the Sister Cities Project of Lake Worth, featuring the wonderful art of the children of Jacmel, Haiti. Sales proceeds support Haitian relief efforts. Now, more than ever we need to support our Island friends, who are battling the devestating effects of the earthquake, followed by storm damage and cripling health issues. Please join us at 5:30 to support this worthy effort and to meet representatives from Lake Worth's Sister Cities Project. See you there!

Rev Them Engines!

Get your leather jackets ready and be at the Gallery on Friday November 5 for "Hot Bikes - Cold Beer"! This event will be featuring the motorcycle-inspired art of Gallery artist Joe Dwzill. Not only will motorcycle art be on display, we will also have a custom bike in the Gallery, courtesy of Harely Davidson of Palm Beach! We invite all our biker buddies to ride to the Gallery for a cold beer and some great, original art. We have tons of custom mugs available for purchase in the Gallery, pick one out and pour yourself a frosty one! See you at 6:00!

WAIT, THERE'S MORE!

Saturday, November 6, the Gallery will be part of the FIRST EVER Palm Beach Art and Music Festival, hosted by Art Nouveau Events. We will have a tent there, full of amazing hand-made original art from the Gallery. There will be tons of artists, vendors, music, performances, body painting, food, drink, and general mayhem all around! This will be so fun, and we are thrilled to be a part of this innagural event. Click on the image below for more information.

It's going to be a BUSY weekend!

Theatre of the Absurd was Absurdly FABULOUS!

What a great night! Thanks to all that joined us for our "unusual" art show--we had so much fun! First, thanks to Gallery artist Betty Wilson for the amazing spread of delicous treats. We ate like Kings and Queens! Special guests Georgette Pressler of Devious Body Art and Ryan David of Kiss My Glass really stole the show last night. Georgette painted a guest model, transforming him into our Ring Master for the night. Ryan worked hot glass out front, drawing quite a crowd as he melted and formed glass in a torch. Thank you Georgette and Ryan!

We had a great crowd, all enjoying the art and artists on display. A great night on the Avenue! More events on the way, so keep tuned and don't miss a thing!!

Out Side the Box...

This Friday will be a very unusual and amazing night at the Gallery. "Theatre of the Absurd - Beauty in Uncommon Forms" is all about alternative, mixed media, and "steampunk" art. The works of Gallery artists Linda and Kelly Dean Manganaro, Betty Wilson, Amelia Costa, Victoria Rose Martin and Karen McGovern will be featured. These artists create truly unique art from found objects, mixed metals, clay and glass. Three dimensional creations of truly uncommon beauty. Victoria is known for her whimsical and sometimes dark ceramic figures, often in costume. Karen creates dramatic jewelry, often using antique elements such as German doll bodies and optic lenses. Her pieces are narrative, and many come with an original short story inspired by elements in the design. Linda and her Husband Kelly create unbelievable furniture, installations and figures from all manner of material, antiquities and found objects. Betty is well known for her abstract glass creations, and amazing interpretive sculptures. Amelia blends text with clay to create scenes, figures and scenarios filled with meaning.

Special guest artist Georgette Pressler of Devious Body Art will use the human form as canvas, painting live in the Gallery. Her work is simply stunning. David Ryan of Kiss My Glass joins us out front, working with glass in flame to create all manner of amazing designs.

Simply put, you CANNOT MISS THIS SHOW! See you at 6:00!