Please visit our Flickr photo page, click here, for images of all works in the exhibition

The Ann Street Gallery is pleased to present its newest exhibition Woven Stories: Contemporary Tapestries, featuring hand-woven works by a group of select artists. The Ann Street Gallery invites you to the Artist Reception on Saturday, December 10 from 6-9 pm. With this exhibition we hope to give visitors an opportunity to experience a unique style of contemporary art, stunning works by twenty artists from the across the country and Canada.

The artistry of tapestry weaving in a long and continuous one, ancient tapestry specimens can be found in the works of ancient Greeks, Egyptians, and Peruvians, early European, and Native Americans. Even in our age of a twenty first century world dominated by technology, this ancient art form is thriving and just as relevant today as in past millenniums.

In Woven Stories, contemporary artist-weavers approaches to the medium are highlighted, and we see a broad range of works, each rich in imagery. Viewers will see weavings that convey challenging messages, explorations of space and form, painterly abstractions, landscapes, and portraits. These diverse tapestries also range in size, from large scale hangings to smaller sized works, three dimensional and mixed media pieces. As a group, the work is thought-provoking with each artist using their own unique visual language to address modern day issues such as gender, politics, and the environment. While the exhibition Woven Stories is only a snapshot view of current tapestry weavings, our aim in showcasing these works is to promote public awareness of the art of tapestry. We hope this exhibition encourages further interest in the medium, while raising the profile of tapestry as a mainstream art form.

Artist featured in the exhibition are:  Kate Anderson, Janet Austin. George-Ann Bowers, Barbara Burns, Betty Ferguson, Louise Halsey, Susan Iverson, Tari Kerss, Mary Kester, Lialia KuchmaSusan McGehee, Margo MacDonald, Pavlos Mayakis, John Paul Morabito, Sue Pretty, Erin M. Riley, Sarah Salin, Cameron Taylor-Brown, Betty Vera, Linda Wallace, Sherri Woodard Coffey, and Marzena Ziejka.

The exhibition is on view through Saturday, January 28, 2012. The exhibition was curated by Virginia Walsh, Director of the Ann Street Gallery.

The artist reception for the exhibit will coincide with the next guitar concert at the Ritz Theater! The Ritz Theater and La Bella Strings, in association with the Bardavon, are pleased to announce the third concert of the 2011-12 Tom Humphrey Guitar Series. On Saturday, December 10 at 8 PM, Frank Vignola’s Hot Club, is back by popular demand! In celebration of Django Reinhardt, guitar virtuoso Frank Vignola, a leading proponent of Reinhardt’s gypsy jazz style of playing, has assembled a topnotch trio for a searing tribute to one of his earliest musical influences. Frank is one of the most accomplished, multi-dimensional players walking the planet today. Monster player, composer and improviser, Frank plays proficiently in every genre, from jazz to bluegrass, and has recorded and toured with the liked of Madonna, Leon Redbone, and Ringo Starr. After last year’s 3 encores to his one standing room only performance, our audience demanded we bring Frank Vignola’s Hot Club back to the Ritz!

The concert will be held in the Ritz Theater Lobby at 107 Broadway in Newburgh. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased through TicketWeb at (866) 468-7619, www.ticketweb.com, via our website at www.ritztheaternewburgh.org, or by calling the Ritz Theater Box Office at (845) 784-1199. All tickets are general admission and include a reception with the musicians immediately following the concert. Seating is limited.

The Ann Street Gallery is a nonprofit art gallery specializing in contemporary emerging and established artists. The gallery is located at 104 Ann Street in Newburgh, and hours are Monday through Thursday 9:00 am-5:00 pm and Friday through Saturday 11:00 am-5:00 pm.

For more information regarding Woven Stories and the Ann Street Gallery, contact Virginia Walsh, Director at (845) 784-1146 or