“Pioneer Women” is a group show at the Tabla Rasa Gallery in Brooklyn showing work by women artists from the Pioneer Valley. From the press release:

More than 20 women who have settled upon the fertile ground of the Pioneer Valley (Connecticut River Valley) have created new artworks that will premiere in New York City at Tabla Rasa Gallery from April 18 – May 30. Many of these female artists are transplants from many parts the country, such as curator Brooklyn native Terry Rooney (whose mother was born on the same street as the gallery), who will bring her Statue of Liberty series to New York for the first time.

It’s curated by Terry Rooney, and features the work of:

• Anne Burton
• Liz Chalfin
• Cynthia Consentino
• Karen Dolmanisth
• Roz Driscoll
• Rachel Folsom
• Rita Edelman
• Oriole Farb Feshbach
• Alex Hegeler
• Mary Ann Kelly
• Deborah Kruger
• Lauren Mills
• Susan Montgomery
• Holly Murray
• Nancy Miller
• Elizabeth Pols
• Mo Ringey
• Terry Rooney
• Diane Savino
• Deidre Scherer
• Nanny Vonnegut
• Ruth West
• Erika Zekos
• Belinda Lyons-Zucker

Don’t miss this awesome amount of talent in one gallery. The show runs April 18 to May 30. Opening reception is this weekend, Saturday April 18, 3-6pm.

Daniel Kelm is a bookbinder, teacher, chemist, and fascinating story-teller. His talk was an autobiography of the influences throughout his life that have led him to this point, to the objects in this exhibition. The path from junk-collecting and science-kit experiments as a child, to a degree in chemistry, to a fascination with alchemy and old books, to his current vocation as book-binder was a compelling, and often very humorous story. The talk was in Stoddard Hall’s auditorium, the old science building at Smith.

Kelm gave a parting gift to everyone at the talk: a test tube with cork stopper, filled with a letterpressed card (printed by Art Larson), and a metal scrap from Kelm’s “Templum Elementorum.” We were delighted to collect one as we filed out of Stoddard Hall.

We wandered across the street to the Museum of Art to the reception, at Sam’s Cafe, to mingle and snack on some wine and cheese.

Then upstairs to the Poetic Science Exhibit. We had to wait in line to enter because the gallery was filled to capacity. We got in after a 10-minute wait.

The books were fascinating, innovative, beautiful. Kelm pushes the definition of book in any direction that strikes his imagination. Our favorite is the “Templum Elementorum,” (trans. “Sanctuary of the Elements”). Four glass cylinders corresponding to the four elements (earth, air, fire, water), each containing a book that Kelm says, “reveals the voice of the element.” We tried to slyly take a few photos, but were caught by an alert guard who politely asked up to stop.

“Mars” is another wonderful piece – an exploration of Mars as god of war. An “accordian” book in the shape of a dodecahedron (12-sides) in a display box with three metal pieces: a meteorite, a civil-war era shot, a steel ball-bearing; and two pamphlets. It’s thought-provoking, and beautiful and precious like a treasure box.

The exhibition is on view until February 10th. A companion website is filled with photos of his work, and videos of Kelm talking about his work. Especially fascinating is the video on the “Alchemical Furnace,” in which Kelm demonstrates the old alchemical secret of turning lead into gold in an alchemical furnace that he constructed.

An absolutely fascinating exhibit – very highly recommended.

Art note: This exhibition is part of Bookmarks: A Celebration of the Art of the Book by Museums10, a series of exhibits and events at various locations throughout the Valley.

The Ansel Adams exhibit was small, only 29 photographs, but these photographs are part of the museum’s permanent collection (nothing on loan from somewhere else). The first thing that strikes you about the images, is that they’re smaller than you would expect. Probably because we’re all so used to seeing his work on mass-produced posters. The thing that never reproduced well on those posters is the detail in the photographs – clouds, water droplets, rocks, tree bark, the detail is stunning.

Also on view are a few portraits by Adams (and one of Adams). He composed portraits as beautifully as he composed landscapes.

One thing that is really interesting to consider is the amount of equipment Adams would take with him to these sometimes remote locations – tripods, large-format cameras, etc.

Art trivia: Adams often used a microwave oven as part of his printing process.

Art tip: if you like Ansel Adams, you’ll also like the Italian photographer Vittorio Sella (1859-1943). Sella took stunning photographs of the Italian Alps. Black and white and the same sort of stunning detail, contrast, and gravity as Adams. Mt. Holyoke College Art Museum had a show of Sella’s work in 2000.

The Adams exhibit is on view until September 30th.

We also visited the Chace Galleries on the third floor, which contains 19th century American, early 20th-century American, and 19th-century French paintings.

Also on view on the third floor, in the tiny Ketcham Gallery, is the small exhibit about the restoration of the beautiful 16th-century German altarpiece, The Coronation of the Virgin, by Bartolomaus Bruyn, the Elder. This is a recent acquisition by the museum. The piece has recently undergone conservation which is detailed in the exhibit.

The Smith College Museum is really a gem, and features some really important and well-known pieces of art. It also has quite possibly the coolest restrooms in the area, works of art themselves (even the toilets are painted).

The museum admission is normally $5 per adult, but is free from 4pm-8pm on “Second Fridays.” Second Fridays also feature free lectures and other activites.

We’re looking forward the the next Second friday, October 12th, which features the opening reception for “Poetic Science: Bookworks by Daniel E. Kelm;” which will feature Kelm’s beautiful, innovative, and often wonderfully-unusual  books (he’s a book-binder by trade).

We started at The Blue Guitar Gallery on Northampton St. Not within walking distance of other ArtWalk venues, but worth the trip. It’s a nice clean gallery space which currently features printer Art Larson ’s exhibit “Geometria.” Art is a master of letterpress printing, and has printed beautiful books for Leonard Baskin, Barry Moser, and other book artists. It’s nice to see Art’s own work on display.

Hopped back in the car over to the Elusie Gallery at the old Town Hall. The gallery is part of the Eastmont Framing Shop. On exhibit are beautiful watercolors by Astrid Sheckels of landscapes and European street scenes. Go see these paintings, she’s a very talented artist.

Next we went over to Cottage Street, where most of the ArtWalk activity happens. First stop was the Awen Tree, a cool new-agey mystical shop. They featured black and white photography by Bruce Barone of cemetery monuments. Gothic-ly dreamily lovely. There was also performance art by the Silver Swimmers, which we missed. People are still talking about their silent performance which moved out onto the street and stopped traffic. Later in the evening we heard they swam on up to Mt. Tom’s Ice Cream Shop for another impromptu performance in the shop and in its large display windows. We hope they come back to the ArtWalk in the future!

Next stop Valley Art Supplies, a great art supply shop, to see a small exhibit of paintings by artist Paul Root. In his statement on the ArtWalk website he writes that he has reached, “a place where I can breathe and rest. This is what my work is really about.” We agree. His paintings are quiet and contemplative and we’d like to see more.

Next a quick pop in to Nashawannuck Gallery to have another look at the restored and decoratively painted furniture by Peggy Grose. We had seen her work at the opening reception at the last ArtWalk.

We walked up to the Historical Society on Holyoke Street. We were excited to hear they were open, because they’re normally open only on Mondays 1-4pm. We had a quick tour of the first floor by two Historical Society members and learned some interesting tidbits of town history (like Nashawannuck Pond is man-made and used to be a farm field). It was too hot to tour the second floor. We hope they will participate in future ArtWalks – it’s a lovely old house overflowing with history and artifacts.

Last stop at the Luthier’s Co-op to catch a few songs from Mark Nomad on acoustic guitar from his recent CD “Acoustic Land – Delta Blues & Spirituals.” A nice way to end the night.

This was the 12th ArtWalk and the best yet. We look forward to the next one on October 13th.