Editor's pick: Partying with paintings and playable sculpture

Friday, June 9, 12:00 noon to 12:00 midnight. Saturday, June 10, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight. Sunday, June 11, 11:00 a.m. to mid afternoon. The Artery Gallery, corner of Broad and Harford Street, Milford, PA. 845/856-3373.

In conjunction with this weekend’s Milford Music Festival, the Artery Gallery in Milford is throwing a party, all weekend long, that should provide a feast for the senses. Not only does it feature both sculpture and painting, but the sculpture can be played to produce music. During the days visitors can both view and play the art, as well as meet the artists. Friday and Saturday will conclude with partying: Friday’s party is billed as an “Interactive performance dance party,” while Saturday’s fling is called an “Interactive techno-percussion and costume dance party.”

The featured painter is Al Bialos, whose paintings in acrylics and mixed media have been exhibited in Florida, Israel and Italy. The subject of many of Bialos’ paintings is the human figure, simplified into flat shapes of vivid color, conveying an earthy sense of gravity and dignity to the figures portrayed. The Delaware Water Gap Art Festival awarded Bialos’s work Best of Show in 2001, and First Place in 2002.

Tom Holmes is a veteran gallery member who will display sculpture in wood, steel, stone and papier mache. Holmes has installed an acoustic and electronic interactive sound sculpture at the Artery. He and other musicians will perform on metal, stone, wood and water-constructed sculptural instruments, as well as an electronic drum kit, and synthesizer, combining live performance with pre-recorded material. The show will explore a range of styles from pure percussion to techno-dance, with invitations for the public to participate.

Holmes’ “Wright” bird house was chosen to represent and tour with the “Out of the Nest Artists’ Birdhouses” traveling exhibit, which is on a four-year tour of American museums. He is represented by the Amsterdam Whitney Gallery in Chelsea, NYC, as well as being affiliated with the Artery.

Art works by the Artery’s other 20 member-artists also will be on display at the gallery. Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Monday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The gallery is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Schedule:

Friday, June 9

12:00 noon to 6:45 p.m. — Meet the artists

9:30 p.m. to 12:00 midnight — Interactive performance and dance party

Saturday, June 10

10:00 a.m. on — Play the sculpture

2:30 to 3:30 p.m. — Interactive performance

9:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight — Interactive techno-percussion and costume dance party

Sunday, June 11

11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon — Free coffee, meet the artists.

12:00 noon to 12:50 p.m. — World premiere, “What Were You Thinking”