Ruth Wetzel, April 2008 at Aroma Thyme

Hudson Valley Artist & Restaurant Bring Awareness to Local Lake Preservation

Ruth Wetzel is exhibiting selections of recent work that show different states of water at the Aroma Thyme Bistro in Ellenville, NY. Proceeds from the exhibition will be donated to Save the Lakes, a non-profit organization that educates the public about the environmental and economic issues related to the development of the Williams Lake property in Rosendale, NY. Her art will be on display for the entire month April at the Aroma Thyme Bistro in Ellenville.

The art depicts water in three physical states. The churning water originates from a video of wildly frothing ocean water, presented in a scroll of three carborundum aquatint prints. Stilled water sits as a glassy plane in swamps of dark reflecting branches. Frozen water hangs as icicles in the cave and as snow on a creak bed taking on colors of its surroundings. Primarily works on paper, this show consists of drawings, hand pulled prints and oil paintings. A hand pulled carborundum print, mounted on acid free foamcore, of the cave at Williams Lake, will be available as a take away item from the opening for $90.

Wetzel’s solo exhibitions include The Ashawagh Hall in Springs, NY, The Firehouse Gallery in Newburyport, MA, and Columbia-Greene Community College in Hudson, NY. In the northeast, she has shown at BEGallery in High Falls, Sarah Nightingale Gallery in Watermill, NY, The Kingston Museum of Contemporary Art, Nan Mulford Gallery in Rockland, ME, and the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art in New Paltz, NY to name a few. She has been a resident artist at the Women's Studio Workshop in Rosendale, NY, the Vermont Studio Center and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. Further information and images of the artist work can be viewed at http://www.ruthwetzel.com/ .

Save the Lakes opposes the over-development of 750 acres around Williams Lake and Fourth Lake. They have created a forum for raising awareness and sharing information with the public through their website and public meetings. On the site, the Canopy Development proposes 160 dwellings and no public access to Williams Lake, the cave and trails. A 900% increase to water usage from the lake and negative effects on the habitat of the endangered Indiana bats are a few of the environmental concerns. More information on the organization’s goals and research is available at www.savethelakes.us/. Save the Lakes is a member of the Shawangunk Ridge Coalition.

Images:

"Cave at Williams Lake" 8" x 10.75"
Carborundum Aquatint Print (Take Away Item for Opening)
"SparkleTrail" 11.5" x 20", Solarplate Etching

Artist Contact:

Ruth Wetzel
(845)332-3104 or (845)687-2106
Email Ruth Wetzel
www.ruthwetzel.com

Exhibit Location:

Aroma Thyme Bistro
165 Canal Street, PO Box 731
Ellenville, NY 12428
http://www.aromathymebistro.com/

Venue Contact:

Jamie and Marcus Guiliano
(845) 647-3000
Email Jamie

Nonprofit Organization:

www.savethelakes.us/
Email Noelle Damon
(845) 658-8919