Longtime local artists, James Beck Gucwa and Sandy Pendleton may not share a common medium in their artistry; Gucwa works with paint, and Pendleton with kiln-fired glass. However, the current exhibition of their work, “A Brush with Glass” at Northland Pioneer College’s Talon Gallery blends the two in a striking combination of color, depth, and a shared passion for creating art.
Gucwa, a full-time resident of Pinetop, AZ, has enjoyed a long career as a professional painter. He is well known for his photorealistic paintings of vintage neon signs and his work has been featured in fine art galleries nationwide. Creating pieces in high demand, Gucwa is represented by Leslie Levy Fine Art Online Gallery and Xanadu Gallery in Scottsdale, AZ. To view more of Gucwa’s artwork visit www.kingneonfineart.com
Pendelton, who also lives in Pinetop, “fell in love with glass” visiting famous cathedrals and art museums around the world. She found herself captivated by the work of Van Gogh and the stained-glass cathedrals of Europe. After a career in the corporate world, she took up kiln-firing glass as a way to explore her creative side. Her unique glass creations can currently be found at the Philabaum Glass Gallery in Tucson AZ, and the Xanadu Gallery in Scottsdale, AZ. Additional artwork of Pendelton’s can be viewed on her website www.sandypendletonglass.com.
At first glance, the two artists couldn’t seem more different. But in describing their collaboration for the “A Brush with Glass” exhibit Gucwa said, “We both love color and the energy it radiates. We share a passion for inventive thinking and for just letting the art flow.” Gucwa’s work is not limited to the popular vintage sign paintings he is renowned for. His recent work explores elements of realism and nature, combined with the abstract and a splash of pop art. He explained that he reached a point in his career where he needed to “break away,” from his norm. “I yearned to try something fresh; a subject or a style I’ve never attempted before,” he said. “Several paintings on the walls of the Talon Gallery represent subjects besides my roadside neon’s,” he explained. “At this point in my life… it’s more important for me to break away from my long-time signature style and paint whatever inspires me.” For Gucwa, that can be a moment in time, a place, a memory, a dream, or a person, and each piece tells a story of his artistic journey.
Pendelton finds her inspiration in nature and in the act of harnessing its beauty and energy through molten glass and a dimensional form. She said, “There is a magic to light passing through brilliantly colored glass. Add textured surfaces or bubbles and you get more sparkle. Add a reflective surface and you get shimmer and iridescence. Move the glass when it is molten, and you capture the energy of that motion. It is the possibilities of glass as an art medium that stimulates my curiosity and creativity.” She divulged, “One day I was sitting on my deck looking out at the forest early in the morning. It was very quiet and still, and yet I realized every plant and tree was moving and growing even if I couldn’t see it. I felt this tremendous energy in this very still morning.” She explained, “The movement and energy captured in the glass speaks to me of the energy of that quiet morning.” For Pendelton, experimentation plays a large role in her work. “Discovering a new texture, technique, or combination of processes will often suggest the next piece,” she said. “Resolving the challenges presented by these ‘adventures in glass’ is part of the excitement.”
For “A Brush with Glass,” both artists exhibit their artistic exploration through their work. According to the artists, the exhibit is a fusion of the creative journey albeit, through drastically different mediums.
“A Brush with Glass” can be viewed at the Talon Gallery located on NPC’s Show Low campus through September 13. The gallery is open to the general public Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Fridays, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information, visit www.npc.edu/talon-art-gallery or contact Gallery Director and NPC Art Faculty Magda Gluszek at magda.gluszek@npc.edu or call (800) 266-7845, ext. 6176.
