Gallery 5 Schenectady is hosting their second art exhibit and sale: Showcase No. 2 – Fall for Art – A Collection of Local Art on the weekend of Friday, October 27 through Sunday, October 29 at the Electric City Apartments retail storefront located at 236 State Street.
Gallery 5 Schenectady hosts its second pop-up art exhibit and sale the weekend of Oct. 27- Oct. 29. Photo provided by Gallery 5.
Gallery 5 is a Schenectady-focused, art forward and appreciating start-up company. With the mission to bring awareness and visibility to both local and regional artists by hosting pop-up events around the City of Schenectady, Gallery 5 is allowing artists a chance to showcase their creative talents while also building a network of potential buyers. The start-up previously held the first art exhibit and sale in June which sold $20,000 in local artwork to art lovers of the Capital Region.
According to Peter Gabak, one of the exhibition’s organizers, (who also serves as Vice President for Institutional Advancement and external relations at the Museum of Innovation and Science (miSci)), this exhibit and sale will feature artwork by 69 local and regional artists who will collectively display over 200 original works of art in a variety of artistic mediums including photography, oil painting, watercolors and acrylic painting.
In addition to the exhibit and sale, the exhibit will be hosting “Artist Talks,” an engaging interactive session where guests can learn what motivates and inspires each artist to create. A variety of artists will be highlighted including Erin Conner.
Conner is a student and emerging artist in Schenectady and being involved is very important to her.
“As a student and emerging artist, I can sometimes find it difficult to search for galleries which accept art like mine,” she said. “I saw that they had space for larger work and knew I had to apply.”
A piece titled “Unashamed” by Erin Conner will be part of the Gallery 5 pop-up show from Oct. 27-Oct. 29. Photo provided by Erin Conner.
According to Conner, her artwork is large narrative painting. The paintings represent her biography but also common social experiences from death to women’s rights to addiction.
“I make this work with a goal of creating and finding community,” she said. “I’m also participating in Artist Talks opening night!”
The pop-up gallery also features several artists and images. Which include:
Emily Bookmiller, Bad, Bad Stones, 2022 acrylic on cradled wood panel 20” x 20”
Febo Vebo, Confluence, photograph 24” x 16”
Irina Kaplan, 5. Lines, 2023 water color on aqua board 16” x 20”
Ken Wilson, Nocturn in Winter, painting 14” x 11”.
Bookmiller is also really excited for the show, as she recently relocated to Schenectady this past summer.
“I have been wanting to meet more creatives in the area,” Bookmiller said. “Being accepted into the art show has really made me feel like a member of the local community and has made me excited to continue my artistic career in the Capital Region.”
Her featured works were created in 2022 and focus on the relationships humans have with plants, specifically within the horticulture industry.
Emily Bookmiller specializes in painting, focusing on experimental abstraction. Part of her NATURE INC. exhibit, this piece of art will be featured in Gallery 5. Photo provided by Gallery 5 and Bookmiller.
“I have felt so motivated since moving to create more art and cannot wait to share more of it with the local community,” she said.
Gabak said the artwork featured is available for preview on Gallery 5’s Facebook and Instagram: @Gallery5Schenectady.
Showcase No. 2 – Fall for Art – A Collection of Local Art will be open Friday, October 27 from 5- 9:00 p.m., Saturday, October 28 from 11- 4:00 p.m. and again on Sunday, October 29 from 11- 4 p.m. The artwork available for purchase ranges from $50 to $5,000+ from artists who are both new, up-and-coming creators to seasoned artists with established careers. Artist Talks will be held multiple times while the gallery is open to the public. Friday’s Artist Talk hours will begin at 6:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday Artist Talks will begin at 12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
For more information on the pop-up or to purchase art, please contact the Gallery 5 team at Gallery5Schenectady@gmail.com.
