Genevan’s artwork in MAG show
By TEAGANNE FINN
GENEVA — For the second time, Kevin Schoonover has made his way into the Rochester-Finger Lakes Exhibition.
Schoonover’s photographic triptych, which is titled “A Fair and Stately Palace,” was chosen from hundreds of artists. It’s part of an exhibit that opens to the public July 26 at the Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester. This is the 65th R-FL Exhibition.
“It feels amazing,” Schoonover said.
Schoonover’s piece is a series of three, sepia-toned prints of an old finishing school in the Hudson Valley.
“The building was stunning, and a beautiful place,” remarked Schoonover, who said he chose the old finishing school because of its fantastic history.
He created the photograph in the digital medium and refined it on his computer. The image is seven feet long; Schoonover said it’s the largest he has done yet.
GENEVA — For the second time, Kevin Schoonover has made his way into the Rochester-Finger Lakes Exhibition.
Schoonover’s photographic triptych, which is titled “A Fair and Stately Palace,” was chosen from hundreds of artists. It’s part of an exhibit that opens to the public July 26 at the Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester. This is the 65th R-FL Exhibition.
“It feels amazing,” Schoonover said.
Schoonover’s piece is a series of three, sepia-toned prints of an old finishing school in the Hudson Valley.
“The building was stunning, and a beautiful place,” remarked Schoonover, who said he chose the old finishing school because of its fantastic history.
He created the photograph in the digital medium and refined it on his computer. The image is seven feet long; Schoonover said it’s the largest he has done yet.
“A Fair and Stately Palace,” created by Kevin Schoonover, will be part of the 65th Rochester-Finger Lakes Exhibition
at the Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester. It opens July 26 and runs through Sept. 13.
Schoonover said he is “drawn to things that age” and has the fondest memories of his childhood at his grandmother’s house in the countryside, where the fields in late autumn and winter were the same desaturated browns he still responds to. That sense of age and time passing infuses his artwork today and informs his photographic eye.
“A Fair and Stately Palace” will be one of 68 works featuring 46 artists. The biennial Rochester-Finger Lakes Exhibition is the oldest and longest-running event of its kind in Rochester. It encompasses 27 counties.
“It’s a fantastic feeling and a much smaller field of artists,” Schoonover said.
Other local artists whose works were selected for the biennial exhibit include Sheldon Berlyn of Penn Yan and Phillia C. Yi of Geneva.
There were 920 entries by 330 artists who were juried by Michael Rooks, Wieland Family Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at Atlanta’s High Museum of Art. Schoonover and the other artists are eligible for cash awards. There are nine in total, one of them being a $1,500 award from the Memorial Art Gallery.
In addition to Schoonover’s work being featured at the Memorial Art Gallery, he has a piece hanging in the new R Dixon Gallery in Seneca Falls. The Regional Artists Summer Invitational runs through Aug. 22.
Schoonover and his wife, Mary, have owned Flying Whale Studios, an arts business specializing in fine arts, photography and graphic design, since 2009.
Following an opening party for Memorial Art Gallery members July 25, the Rochester-Finger Lakes Exhibition opens July 26 and continues until Sept. 13.
Schoonover said he’s exploring using a darkroom developing system.
“I love creating on my computer, but digital printing feels very impersonal and isn’t the same,” he said.
Schoonover added that the imperfect look that results from developing images on stone tiles and other organic surfaces adds to the textures of his subjects.
“It creates a dynamic image,” he said.
(Finger Lakes Times, July 20, 2015)
“A Fair and Stately Palace” will be one of 68 works featuring 46 artists. The biennial Rochester-Finger Lakes Exhibition is the oldest and longest-running event of its kind in Rochester. It encompasses 27 counties.
“It’s a fantastic feeling and a much smaller field of artists,” Schoonover said.
Other local artists whose works were selected for the biennial exhibit include Sheldon Berlyn of Penn Yan and Phillia C. Yi of Geneva.
There were 920 entries by 330 artists who were juried by Michael Rooks, Wieland Family Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at Atlanta’s High Museum of Art. Schoonover and the other artists are eligible for cash awards. There are nine in total, one of them being a $1,500 award from the Memorial Art Gallery.
In addition to Schoonover’s work being featured at the Memorial Art Gallery, he has a piece hanging in the new R Dixon Gallery in Seneca Falls. The Regional Artists Summer Invitational runs through Aug. 22.
Schoonover and his wife, Mary, have owned Flying Whale Studios, an arts business specializing in fine arts, photography and graphic design, since 2009.
Following an opening party for Memorial Art Gallery members July 25, the Rochester-Finger Lakes Exhibition opens July 26 and continues until Sept. 13.
Schoonover said he’s exploring using a darkroom developing system.
“I love creating on my computer, but digital printing feels very impersonal and isn’t the same,” he said.
Schoonover added that the imperfect look that results from developing images on stone tiles and other organic surfaces adds to the textures of his subjects.
“It creates a dynamic image,” he said.
(Finger Lakes Times, July 20, 2015)
Artist wins first place in Hammondsport
GENEVA, N.Y. — Artist Kevin Schoonover earned first place in the photography category at the 49th annual Keuka Lake Art Show this past weekend in Hammondsport.
This is the second year in a row he was honored with the Myrna Marshall Memorial award at the show, which is sponsored by the Keuka Lake Art Association.
Starting July 26, Schoonover’s photographic triptych titled “A Fair and Stately Palace” — a series of three, sepia-toned chromogenic prints of a former girls’ finishing school in the Hudson valley — can be viewed as part of the 65th Rochester-Finger Lakes Exhibition at the Memorial Art Gallery, 500 University Ave., Rochester. The exhibit will run through Sept. 13.
His "The Waste of Pleasure” piece was included in the 64th exhibition, in 2013. The Memorial Art Gallery’s showcase of emerging and established artists from a 27-county region is Rochester’s oldest and longest running juried exhibition.
For more information or to see examples of Schoonover’s work, visit www.FlyingWhaleStudios.com.
(Finger Lakes Times, July 16, 2015)
GENEVA, N.Y. — Artist Kevin Schoonover earned first place in the photography category at the 49th annual Keuka Lake Art Show this past weekend in Hammondsport.
This is the second year in a row he was honored with the Myrna Marshall Memorial award at the show, which is sponsored by the Keuka Lake Art Association.
Starting July 26, Schoonover’s photographic triptych titled “A Fair and Stately Palace” — a series of three, sepia-toned chromogenic prints of a former girls’ finishing school in the Hudson valley — can be viewed as part of the 65th Rochester-Finger Lakes Exhibition at the Memorial Art Gallery, 500 University Ave., Rochester. The exhibit will run through Sept. 13.
His "The Waste of Pleasure” piece was included in the 64th exhibition, in 2013. The Memorial Art Gallery’s showcase of emerging and established artists from a 27-county region is Rochester’s oldest and longest running juried exhibition.
For more information or to see examples of Schoonover’s work, visit www.FlyingWhaleStudios.com.
(Finger Lakes Times, July 16, 2015)
"When the Road Darkens" was one of three images selected for exhibition in the NYS Fair in August.
Local photographer wins top prize at Clothesline Art Festival
GENEVA, N.Y. — Local artist Kevin Schoonover won one of eleven "Best in Show" merit awards at the M&T Bank Clothesline Festival held Sept. 7 and 8 at the Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester. This is the first time a photographer has won the award since 2011.
Award-winners were chosen from more than 430 New York state artists at the 57th annual fine art and crafts festival, which also featured live entertainment, food from favorite area vendors and family art activities. The awards recognize outstanding creativity and quality of execution.
Schoonover also had three photographs accepted in the New York State Fair last month in Syracuse.
"It's been an exciting summer," noted Schoonover. "The Clothesline award was completely unexpected and a real honor. And getting into the Fair was a thrill."
For the past four years, Schoonover’s Flying Whale Studios has been specializing in the creation of photography and fine art & crafts, graphic design and publicity for non-profit organizations.
Schoonover will be exhibiting his photographic work at the Harvest Festival on Oct. 5 and 6 in King Ferry, NY and at the Canandaigua Christkindl Market at the Granger Homestead on Nov. 8, 9 and 10.
Schoonover and his wife, Mary, will also be exhibiting their Christmas sculptural decorations at the 3rd Annual Maplewood Y Craft Show on Oct. 12 in Rochester.
A graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology’s graphic design program, Schoonover served as executive director of Finger Lakes Regional Arts Council/Smith Opera House for 10 years and Wayne County Council for the Arts for five. He and Mary opened Flying Whale Studios in 2009. He is also Creative Director and a Producer for "Prove Your World," a new not-for-profit organization and science television show for children in grades 5-8.
For more information or to see examples of Schoonover’s work, visit www.FlyingWhaleStudios.com.
(Finger Lakes Times, Sept. 26, 2013)
Genevan's photo in MAG show
GENEVA, NY -- Kevin Schoonover of Flying Whale Studios in Geneva has had his photograph titled “The Waste of Pleasure” selected for the 64th Rochester-Finger Lakes exhibition opening this weekend at the Memorial Art Gallery, 500 University Ave., Rochester.
This year, Rochester’s longest-running juried exhibition is showcasing 100 works by 81 artists from Western and Central New York. After an opening party for MAG members this Saturday, it will be open to the public from July 14 to Sept. 8. Guided tours will be offered at 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday, July 14.
Works were selected from a field of 623 entries by 230 artists by juror Alex Nyerges, director of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. The show is particularly strong in painting and photography, but also includes prints, ceramics, sculpture, mixed media works, metalwork and furniture.
Schoonover’s “The Waste of Pleasure,” a chromogenic print of a weeping angel statue, was photographed in Rochester.
“I’m proud to have had a piece selected for this regionally prestigious exhibition,” Schoonover said.
“This image is a personal favorite, and I’m excited to have it reach a larger audience.”
Schoonover owns and operates Flying Whale Studios with his wife, Mary, specializing in the creation of fine art photographic images, uniquely crafted holiday decorations, Finger Lakes specialty sculptures, graphic design, and grant writing and publicity for nonprofit arts organizations.
A graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology’s graphic design program, Schoonover previously served as executive director of the Finger Lakes Regional Arts Council/ Smith Opera House and Wayne County Council for the Arts.
Also selected for the exhibition from the Times’ readership area are Jeanne Beck and Thomas Insalaco, both of Canandaigua; Dewey Fladd of Rushville; and Stefan Zoller of Watkins Glen.
This year’s artists are eligible for seven cash prizes including the $1,000 Memorial Art Gallery Award, selected by the juror, and the $500 Harris Popular Vote award, chosen by visitors during the first two weeks of the show. One artist will also be selected by the Gallery for the 6th Rochester Biennial, an invitational opening in summer 2014.
Past award winners, many of whom have gone on to establish national reputations, have included Wendell Castle, Albert Paley, Honoré Sharrer, Hans Christensen, Bill Stewart, Graham Marks and Kathy Calderwood.
Accompanying lectures by three Finger Lakes artists have been scheduled for July 18, Aug. 22 and Aug. 29. For details, visit www.mag.rochester.edu.
To hear commentary by many of the artists, including Schoonover, call (585) 627-4132. The service is free, but regular cell phone charges apply.
The Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday and until 9 p.m. Thursday. It’s closed Monday and Tuesday.
The exhibition is sponsored by Burke Group, M&T Bank, and the Elaine P. & Richard U. Wilson Foundation. Additional support is provided by the Rubens Family Foundation.
Admission is $12; senior citizens, $8; college students with ID and children 6 to 18, $5. Admission is free to members, UR students, and children 5 and under. Half-price general admission, from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, is made possible in part by Monroe County.
For more information, visit mag.rochester.edu.
(Finger Lakes Times, July 9, 2013)
This year, Rochester’s longest-running juried exhibition is showcasing 100 works by 81 artists from Western and Central New York. After an opening party for MAG members this Saturday, it will be open to the public from July 14 to Sept. 8. Guided tours will be offered at 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday, July 14.
Works were selected from a field of 623 entries by 230 artists by juror Alex Nyerges, director of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. The show is particularly strong in painting and photography, but also includes prints, ceramics, sculpture, mixed media works, metalwork and furniture.
Schoonover’s “The Waste of Pleasure,” a chromogenic print of a weeping angel statue, was photographed in Rochester.
“I’m proud to have had a piece selected for this regionally prestigious exhibition,” Schoonover said.
“This image is a personal favorite, and I’m excited to have it reach a larger audience.”
Schoonover owns and operates Flying Whale Studios with his wife, Mary, specializing in the creation of fine art photographic images, uniquely crafted holiday decorations, Finger Lakes specialty sculptures, graphic design, and grant writing and publicity for nonprofit arts organizations.
A graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology’s graphic design program, Schoonover previously served as executive director of the Finger Lakes Regional Arts Council/ Smith Opera House and Wayne County Council for the Arts.
Also selected for the exhibition from the Times’ readership area are Jeanne Beck and Thomas Insalaco, both of Canandaigua; Dewey Fladd of Rushville; and Stefan Zoller of Watkins Glen.
This year’s artists are eligible for seven cash prizes including the $1,000 Memorial Art Gallery Award, selected by the juror, and the $500 Harris Popular Vote award, chosen by visitors during the first two weeks of the show. One artist will also be selected by the Gallery for the 6th Rochester Biennial, an invitational opening in summer 2014.
Past award winners, many of whom have gone on to establish national reputations, have included Wendell Castle, Albert Paley, Honoré Sharrer, Hans Christensen, Bill Stewart, Graham Marks and Kathy Calderwood.
Accompanying lectures by three Finger Lakes artists have been scheduled for July 18, Aug. 22 and Aug. 29. For details, visit www.mag.rochester.edu.
To hear commentary by many of the artists, including Schoonover, call (585) 627-4132. The service is free, but regular cell phone charges apply.
The Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday and until 9 p.m. Thursday. It’s closed Monday and Tuesday.
The exhibition is sponsored by Burke Group, M&T Bank, and the Elaine P. & Richard U. Wilson Foundation. Additional support is provided by the Rubens Family Foundation.
Admission is $12; senior citizens, $8; college students with ID and children 6 to 18, $5. Admission is free to members, UR students, and children 5 and under. Half-price general admission, from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, is made possible in part by Monroe County.
For more information, visit mag.rochester.edu.
(Finger Lakes Times, July 9, 2013)
Artist's photo in NJ gallery show
GENEVA, N.Y. -- A photograph by local artist Kevin Schoonover has been selected as part of a new exhibition — Dwell (a state of habitation) — at the Hamilton Street Gallery, 6 Hamilton St., Bound Brook, N.J.
For this exhibition, seventeen artists define what makes or breaks a home, by focusing on the diversity and individuality of the places in which people live.
"The events we experience whether social, financial, environmental, joyful, or tragic, all characterize who we are, and with the passage of time leave a definitive mark on the structures we inhabit," said gallery owner Joan Sonnenfeld.
Schoonover's sepia-toned picture, titled An Unpainted House on an Unused Road, was taken last year in Prattsburgh and features an old and empty clapboard farmhouse in shallow focus.
"I find hints and echoes of lives past in decayed architecture and neglected abodes," noted Schoonover. "These forgotten monuments, built to endure, whisper to me of life’s struggles and sadnesses. Triumphs and laughter. Such sorrowful relics are bursting with historical memories that connect us to those who’ve gone before."
Hamilton Street Gallery is an exhibition space for contemporary visual art. Its owners welcome both emerging and established artists residing in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. All media is considered and they encourage work that is new and experimental. They host six group exhibits annually, some of which are juried and curated by gallery staff, and others by guest curators. They are thematic and versatile in nature, ranging from whimsical to the audacious, providing artists with the means to articulate their ideas about the world. They also hope to stimulate the creative pulse of the community by conveying an atmosphere in which to experience a focused, personal and enriching engagement with art.
For the past three years, Schoonover and his Flying Whale Studios have been specializing in the creation of photography and fine art & crafts, graphic design and publicity for non-profit organizations.
Forthcoming festivals where he will exhibit photographic work include the 14th Annual Athens ArtFest (May 4 & 5), Fairport Canal Days (June 1 & 2), and the 56th Annual Allentown Art Festival (June 8 & 9). He is also Creative Director and Executive Producer for "Prove Your World," a forthcoming science television show for children in grades 5-8.
Dwell will be up from March 10 until April 18. An opening reception is scheduled for March 10 from 2 - 6 p.m. Regular gallery hours are Thursdays 12 to 5 p.m., Fridays 5:30 to 8 and Saturdays 1 to 5.
(March 6, 2013)
For this exhibition, seventeen artists define what makes or breaks a home, by focusing on the diversity and individuality of the places in which people live.
"The events we experience whether social, financial, environmental, joyful, or tragic, all characterize who we are, and with the passage of time leave a definitive mark on the structures we inhabit," said gallery owner Joan Sonnenfeld.
Schoonover's sepia-toned picture, titled An Unpainted House on an Unused Road, was taken last year in Prattsburgh and features an old and empty clapboard farmhouse in shallow focus.
"I find hints and echoes of lives past in decayed architecture and neglected abodes," noted Schoonover. "These forgotten monuments, built to endure, whisper to me of life’s struggles and sadnesses. Triumphs and laughter. Such sorrowful relics are bursting with historical memories that connect us to those who’ve gone before."
Hamilton Street Gallery is an exhibition space for contemporary visual art. Its owners welcome both emerging and established artists residing in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. All media is considered and they encourage work that is new and experimental. They host six group exhibits annually, some of which are juried and curated by gallery staff, and others by guest curators. They are thematic and versatile in nature, ranging from whimsical to the audacious, providing artists with the means to articulate their ideas about the world. They also hope to stimulate the creative pulse of the community by conveying an atmosphere in which to experience a focused, personal and enriching engagement with art.
For the past three years, Schoonover and his Flying Whale Studios have been specializing in the creation of photography and fine art & crafts, graphic design and publicity for non-profit organizations.
Forthcoming festivals where he will exhibit photographic work include the 14th Annual Athens ArtFest (May 4 & 5), Fairport Canal Days (June 1 & 2), and the 56th Annual Allentown Art Festival (June 8 & 9). He is also Creative Director and Executive Producer for "Prove Your World," a forthcoming science television show for children in grades 5-8.
Dwell will be up from March 10 until April 18. An opening reception is scheduled for March 10 from 2 - 6 p.m. Regular gallery hours are Thursdays 12 to 5 p.m., Fridays 5:30 to 8 and Saturdays 1 to 5.
(March 6, 2013)
Raffle winners announced from artist open house
GENEVA, NY -- Eighteen people won raffle items at Flying Whale Studios & Friends' inaugural Artist Open House and Holiday Sale this past weekend.
The winners included Pat Guard, a Victorian photo album from Vintage Albums; Fran Wenderlich, a plaster assemblage from Studio Moon NY; Fran Klupinski, a set of ceramic bud vases from Woods Edge Studio; Paul Savastano, sterling silver earrings from Beachcomber Jewelry; Terese Norton, a beaded bracelet from Honey Bee Creations; Stacy Gilson, a woven, textile bowl from Reflections in Color; Pat Crosby, sterling silver earrings from Swirling Sterling; Jim Amrose, two sets of barrettes from Casey Was Here; Don Katz, a gift pack of honey from Waid's Honey & Candles; Merri Burnett, a Ukrainian Easter egg from Pysanky by Mia; Kelly Brady, a paper Christmas tree ornament from Pine Tree Designs; Nancy Galleher, wool mittens from Envirocrafter, Vicki George, a cloth tote bag from ArtSnack; Donna Sarastano, a cloth doll from Chancery Lane Primitives; Jean Goodwin, a brown bear puppet from Stage Struck Puppets; Nate Schoonover, a glass Christmas tree ornament from Tom Zachman Fused Glass; Ulla Billings, an art block and coaster from PS Enjoy Your Life; and Pat Certo, a framed photograph from Kevin Schoonover and Flying Whale Studios.
The event featured the work of 25 regional artists and craftspeople offered in an intimate, relaxed shopping atmosphere.
The 2013 Artist Open House and Holiday Sale will be Nov. 29 to Dec. 1 at 143 William St.
(Nov. 28, 2012)
The winners included Pat Guard, a Victorian photo album from Vintage Albums; Fran Wenderlich, a plaster assemblage from Studio Moon NY; Fran Klupinski, a set of ceramic bud vases from Woods Edge Studio; Paul Savastano, sterling silver earrings from Beachcomber Jewelry; Terese Norton, a beaded bracelet from Honey Bee Creations; Stacy Gilson, a woven, textile bowl from Reflections in Color; Pat Crosby, sterling silver earrings from Swirling Sterling; Jim Amrose, two sets of barrettes from Casey Was Here; Don Katz, a gift pack of honey from Waid's Honey & Candles; Merri Burnett, a Ukrainian Easter egg from Pysanky by Mia; Kelly Brady, a paper Christmas tree ornament from Pine Tree Designs; Nancy Galleher, wool mittens from Envirocrafter, Vicki George, a cloth tote bag from ArtSnack; Donna Sarastano, a cloth doll from Chancery Lane Primitives; Jean Goodwin, a brown bear puppet from Stage Struck Puppets; Nate Schoonover, a glass Christmas tree ornament from Tom Zachman Fused Glass; Ulla Billings, an art block and coaster from PS Enjoy Your Life; and Pat Certo, a framed photograph from Kevin Schoonover and Flying Whale Studios.
The event featured the work of 25 regional artists and craftspeople offered in an intimate, relaxed shopping atmosphere.
The 2013 Artist Open House and Holiday Sale will be Nov. 29 to Dec. 1 at 143 William St.
(Nov. 28, 2012)
Schoonover wins Best in Photography at Christkindl
"A Fair and Stately Palace"
CANANDAIGUA, NY -- Artist Kevin Schoonover won “Best in Photography” at last weekend’s Christkindl Market. The prize included a ribbon and a $100 cash.
Schoonover also won this award in 2010, prompting him to exclaim, in mock deference to actress Sally Field's famous second Academy Award acceptance speech, "They like me. They really like me."
For the past three years, Schoonover’s Flying Whale Studios has been specializing in the creation of photography and fine art & crafts, graphic design and publicity for non-profit organizations.
This was the final festival of the season where the artist showcased his photographic work. On Thanksgiving weekend, his studio hosts its inaugural “Artist Open House and Holiday Sale” The three-day event, featuring work from more than two dozen local and regional artisans and craftworkers, runs from 5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 23, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 24 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 25 at Flying Whale’s home base, 143 William St., Geneva.
Schoonover and his wife, Mary, will then be exhibiting their Christmas sculptural decorations at the Syracuse Holiday Crafts Spectacular, Nov. 30-Dec. 2 at the New York State Fairgrounds.
A graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology’s graphic design program, Schoonover served as executive director of Finger Lakes Regional Arts Council/Smith Opera House for 10 years and Wayne County Council for the Arts for five. He and Mary opened Flying Whale Studios in 2009. He is also Creative Director and a Producer for Prove Your World, a new not-for-profit organization and science television show for children in grades 5-8.
(November 13, 2012)
Schoonover also won this award in 2010, prompting him to exclaim, in mock deference to actress Sally Field's famous second Academy Award acceptance speech, "They like me. They really like me."
For the past three years, Schoonover’s Flying Whale Studios has been specializing in the creation of photography and fine art & crafts, graphic design and publicity for non-profit organizations.
This was the final festival of the season where the artist showcased his photographic work. On Thanksgiving weekend, his studio hosts its inaugural “Artist Open House and Holiday Sale” The three-day event, featuring work from more than two dozen local and regional artisans and craftworkers, runs from 5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 23, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 24 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 25 at Flying Whale’s home base, 143 William St., Geneva.
Schoonover and his wife, Mary, will then be exhibiting their Christmas sculptural decorations at the Syracuse Holiday Crafts Spectacular, Nov. 30-Dec. 2 at the New York State Fairgrounds.
A graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology’s graphic design program, Schoonover served as executive director of Finger Lakes Regional Arts Council/Smith Opera House for 10 years and Wayne County Council for the Arts for five. He and Mary opened Flying Whale Studios in 2009. He is also Creative Director and a Producer for Prove Your World, a new not-for-profit organization and science television show for children in grades 5-8.
(November 13, 2012)
Photographer wins top prize at Orchard Park art festival
"Littoral Women"
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Local artist Kevin Schoonover won “First Place in Photography” at last weekend’s 51st Annual Quaker Arts Festival, for his picture titled, “Littoral Women.” The 16-inch-by-24-inch archival inkjet image depicts five Mennonite women cavorting in the waves at the Delaware seashore. The prize included a blue ribbon and a $400 check.
For the past three years, Schoonover’s Flying Whale Studios has been specializing in the creation of photography and fine art & crafts, graphic design and publicity for non-profit organizations.
Forthcoming festivals where he will exhibit photographic work include the Naples Grape Festival (Sept. 29 & 30), Letchworth Arts & Craft Show & Sale (Oct. 6-8), and Canandaigua’s Christkindl Market (Nov. 9-11).
A solo exhibition of Schoonover’s work, The Cinematographer’s Party, will be available for viewing from Oct. 11 to Nov. 10 at Wayne County Council for the Arts, 108 West Miller St., Newark. An opening reception is scheduled for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 12.
On Thanksgiving weekend, Flying Whale Studios is hosting its inaugural Artist Open House and Holiday Sale The three-day event, featuring work from more than 20 local and regional artisans and craftworkers, runs from 5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 23, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 24 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 25 at Flying Whale’s home base, 143 William St., Geneva.
A graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology’s graphic design program, Schoonover served as executive director of Finger Lakes Regional Arts Council/Smith Opera House for 10 years and Wayne County Council for the Arts for five. He opened Flying Whale Studios in 2009 with his wife, Mary.
(September 18, 2012)
For the past three years, Schoonover’s Flying Whale Studios has been specializing in the creation of photography and fine art & crafts, graphic design and publicity for non-profit organizations.
Forthcoming festivals where he will exhibit photographic work include the Naples Grape Festival (Sept. 29 & 30), Letchworth Arts & Craft Show & Sale (Oct. 6-8), and Canandaigua’s Christkindl Market (Nov. 9-11).
A solo exhibition of Schoonover’s work, The Cinematographer’s Party, will be available for viewing from Oct. 11 to Nov. 10 at Wayne County Council for the Arts, 108 West Miller St., Newark. An opening reception is scheduled for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 12.
On Thanksgiving weekend, Flying Whale Studios is hosting its inaugural Artist Open House and Holiday Sale The three-day event, featuring work from more than 20 local and regional artisans and craftworkers, runs from 5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 23, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 24 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 25 at Flying Whale’s home base, 143 William St., Geneva.
A graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology’s graphic design program, Schoonover served as executive director of Finger Lakes Regional Arts Council/Smith Opera House for 10 years and Wayne County Council for the Arts for five. He opened Flying Whale Studios in 2009 with his wife, Mary.
(September 18, 2012)
Art with abandon at Stomping Grounds
GENEVA, N.Y. -- Abandonment Issues, a new exhibition of photographs by local artist Kevin Schoonover that imaginatively inspects neglected and deserted buildings, starts June 25 at Stomping Grounds, 492 Exchange St. The images will be on display until September 17. An open house with Schoonover, featured craftsman Tommy Fish, and featured authors Charles R. Mitchell and Kirk W. House, is scheduled from 3 to 6 p.m., June 25. It is free and open to the public. Wine courtesy of Billsboro Winery will be sampled from 4-6.
From sadly vacant houses and weather-beaten barns to dilapidated institutional structures and old, rusting trucks, Schoonover and his camera have been documenting the decaying relics that litter our rural landscape. His images draw the viewer in and tasks them with uncomfortable ideas about how and why these things came to be, and how they, the viewer, are related back to the landscape.
"I don't know what it is about these artifacts that attracts me," said Schoonover. "But I'm not alone. I've met so many people who respond favorably to my vision and my, seemingly, odd subject matter. They're not pretty pictures and they're not photo-journalistic reporting. I'm trying to interpret reality as I see it, and then share it in a meaningful way."
Shot throughout the Finger Lakes region, Schoonover's work is simultaneously somber and nostalgic, melancholy and dreamlike. He uses a variety of in- and out-of-camera techniques including focus and exposure adjustments, and different filters and lenses, to achieve the desired aesthetic atmosphere.
Schoonover recently won "Third Place in Photography" at the 54th Allentown Art Festival in Buffalo and "Third Place Best in Show" at the Naples Spring Artisan Showcase.
Stomping Grounds is a unique shop offering a fun blend of modern and vintage art, books and gifts, as well as custom printing, matting and framing services. Regular store hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Call 315-220-0922 for details.
(June 16, 2011)
From sadly vacant houses and weather-beaten barns to dilapidated institutional structures and old, rusting trucks, Schoonover and his camera have been documenting the decaying relics that litter our rural landscape. His images draw the viewer in and tasks them with uncomfortable ideas about how and why these things came to be, and how they, the viewer, are related back to the landscape.
"I don't know what it is about these artifacts that attracts me," said Schoonover. "But I'm not alone. I've met so many people who respond favorably to my vision and my, seemingly, odd subject matter. They're not pretty pictures and they're not photo-journalistic reporting. I'm trying to interpret reality as I see it, and then share it in a meaningful way."
Shot throughout the Finger Lakes region, Schoonover's work is simultaneously somber and nostalgic, melancholy and dreamlike. He uses a variety of in- and out-of-camera techniques including focus and exposure adjustments, and different filters and lenses, to achieve the desired aesthetic atmosphere.
Schoonover recently won "Third Place in Photography" at the 54th Allentown Art Festival in Buffalo and "Third Place Best in Show" at the Naples Spring Artisan Showcase.
Stomping Grounds is a unique shop offering a fun blend of modern and vintage art, books and gifts, as well as custom printing, matting and framing services. Regular store hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Call 315-220-0922 for details.
(June 16, 2011)
Photo exhibit asks "What is home?"
PENN YAN, N.Y. – Flying Whale Studios presents Dreams of Home, an exhibition of photographs by artist Kevin Schoonover that explores the idea of home and its different meanings and interpretations, starting April 15 at Anthony Road Wine Company, 1020 Anthony Rd., Penn Yan. The images will be on display in the winery's spacious tasting room until May 13. An opening reception with the artist is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m., April 15. It is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
From the building one lives in to an overall emotional feeling of contentment, the concept of "home" is infinitely varied and different for everyone. The exhibit asks patrons to consider their own understandings of "home" as a place or a concept or a state of mind while they examine the work.
"It's not necessary a house," noted Schoonover. "It can be that spot where you feel most comfortable or happy. It can be a person or a part of the world or a memory. Or it can be a house. I hope this collection will spur others to contemplate what "home" means to them."
Shot mostly in and around New York's Finger Lakes region, Schoonover's work is oftentimes somber, melancholy, and dreamlike lending itself well to this exploration of emotion and remembrance.
Regular winery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 12 to 5 p.m., Sunday. Call 1-800-559-2182 for details.
(April 8, 2011)
From the building one lives in to an overall emotional feeling of contentment, the concept of "home" is infinitely varied and different for everyone. The exhibit asks patrons to consider their own understandings of "home" as a place or a concept or a state of mind while they examine the work.
"It's not necessary a house," noted Schoonover. "It can be that spot where you feel most comfortable or happy. It can be a person or a part of the world or a memory. Or it can be a house. I hope this collection will spur others to contemplate what "home" means to them."
Shot mostly in and around New York's Finger Lakes region, Schoonover's work is oftentimes somber, melancholy, and dreamlike lending itself well to this exploration of emotion and remembrance.
Regular winery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 12 to 5 p.m., Sunday. Call 1-800-559-2182 for details.
(April 8, 2011)
Major photo exhibit to open at High Falls Art Gallery
Top photographers announced
ROCHESTER, N.Y. –– A Photographer’s Path
will lead downtown to the High Falls Art Gallery for the 14th
consecutive year beginning mid-March and running through April 29. High
Falls Gallery is best known for its open shows mixing local artists of
all ages and skill levels; but this juried show has become one of the
most popular in the gallery’s history. A super-jury of six local experts
was enlisted to select the top photographers from a field of more than a
hundred. One gallery will be devoted to their work alone. Other areas
will contain a broad sampling of remaining submissions. The show
attracted many professional level imagists, gifted amateurs, students
and beginners. Visitors year after year enjoy the wide array of works
from traditional to new trends and technologies. Top ranked
photographers for 2011 include Wendy Sacks, Tim Fuss, Brian Dettman, Ron
Brancato, Kevin Schoonover,
and Don Menges. The gallery remains open during installation but other
high scorers and the remaining field will be revealed at an artist’s
reception on March 20 (3-6 pm).
(March 13, 2011)
(March 13, 2011)
Beach photography exhibit goes against the grain
GENEVA, N.Y. -- Flying Whale Studios and Billsboro Winery present The Silence of Sand, an exhibition of photographs by local artist Kevin Schoonover, starting Feb. 18 in Billsboro's English barn tasting room, 4760 West Lake Rd. The images will be on display until April 1. An opening reception with the artist is scheduled from 4:30 to 7 p.m., Feb. 18. It is free and open to the public. Musical entertainment is provided by the Cool Club Trio. Light fare from Red Dove Tavern will be available.
As an antithesis to the snow and low temperatures the Finger Lakes is experiencing this year, The Silence of Sand offers an enticing preview of warm ocean breezes, clear blue skies, and nostalgia for the seashores of our youth that never really existed. It features a number of new images celebrating summer vacation and sandy beaches. But with the customary twinge of melancholy and loneliness that the artist's work has become known for.
"I love winter weather as much as the next person -- maybe more, but even I'm ready for it to be over," noted Schoonover. "This show is my way to remind patrons that better days are coming soon. And what better place than a winery for that?"
A graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology's graphic design program, Schoonover served as executive director of Wayne County Council for the Arts for five years and the Finger Lakes Regional Arts Council/Smith Opera House for nearly 10. In 2009, he started Flying Whale Studios, a professional arts business specializing in the creation of photography and fine art, graphic design, and grant writing and publicity for non-profit organizations. He won Best in Photography at the Canandaigua Christkindl Market in November and will be a part of the Finger Lakes Gallery and Frame Beginnings exhibition in March. He lives in Geneva with his wife, Mary.
Regular winery hours are 12 to 5 p.m., Wednesday-Friday and Sunday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday. Call 315-789-9538 for details.
(February 15, 2011)
As an antithesis to the snow and low temperatures the Finger Lakes is experiencing this year, The Silence of Sand offers an enticing preview of warm ocean breezes, clear blue skies, and nostalgia for the seashores of our youth that never really existed. It features a number of new images celebrating summer vacation and sandy beaches. But with the customary twinge of melancholy and loneliness that the artist's work has become known for.
"I love winter weather as much as the next person -- maybe more, but even I'm ready for it to be over," noted Schoonover. "This show is my way to remind patrons that better days are coming soon. And what better place than a winery for that?"
A graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology's graphic design program, Schoonover served as executive director of Wayne County Council for the Arts for five years and the Finger Lakes Regional Arts Council/Smith Opera House for nearly 10. In 2009, he started Flying Whale Studios, a professional arts business specializing in the creation of photography and fine art, graphic design, and grant writing and publicity for non-profit organizations. He won Best in Photography at the Canandaigua Christkindl Market in November and will be a part of the Finger Lakes Gallery and Frame Beginnings exhibition in March. He lives in Geneva with his wife, Mary.
Regular winery hours are 12 to 5 p.m., Wednesday-Friday and Sunday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday. Call 315-789-9538 for details.
(February 15, 2011)
Photo exhibit opens at local credit union
GENEVA, N.Y. –- Flying Whale Studios presents Every Specimen Becomes a Relic,
an exhibition of photographs by local artist Kevin Schoonover,
beginning Aug. 5 at the Finger Lakes Federal Credit Union, 27 Seneca St.
The images will be on display in the lobby and Loan Department until
Oct. 28. An opening reception with the artist is scheduled from 5 to 7
p.m., Aug. 5. It is free and open to the public. Refreshments, including
a wine tasting from Billsboro Winery, will be available.
Every Specimen Becomes a Relic is composed of over 20 photos offering depictions of rural and urban blight, and some of the natural wonders that surround us but often go unnoticed. Semi-abstract patterns and textures play an important role in Schoonover's pieces. The interplay of light and shadow on ordinary surfaces combined with muted or jarringly bright colors all help create an original way of seeing the world.
"I've always loved sad, broken buildings and places," remarked Schoonover. "There's something wistful and heartbreaking in the decay and ruin that calls to me. At the same time, I'm also drawn to those spontaneous and uninhibited moments of joy that are constantly occurring... if you know where to look. I hope my work reflects this duality and that the audience shares and appreciates this sensibility."
Whether it's a weather-pounded dune fence receding to the ocean's edge, or the crumbling brick backside of a downtown Geneva tenement, or the serenity of an endless blue sky hugging the even bluer horizon line of Lake Ontario, Schoonover's eye is always on the lookout for that which we all look at, but rarely see.
A graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology's graphic design program, Schoonover served as executive director of Wayne County Council for the Arts for five years and the Finger Lakes Regional Arts Council/Smith Opera House, where he had the same title, for nearly 10. He left The Smith last year and started Flying Whale Studios, a professional arts business specializing in the creation of photography and fine art, graphic design, and grant writing and publicity for area non-profit organizations. He lives in Geneva with his wife, Mary. They have two grown children, Zachary and Hannah. This is the first local exhibition of the award-winning photographer's work.
Regular Credit Union hours are Monday to Wednesday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,Thursday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. Call FLFCU at 315-781-1334 for details.
(July 28, 2010)
Every Specimen Becomes a Relic is composed of over 20 photos offering depictions of rural and urban blight, and some of the natural wonders that surround us but often go unnoticed. Semi-abstract patterns and textures play an important role in Schoonover's pieces. The interplay of light and shadow on ordinary surfaces combined with muted or jarringly bright colors all help create an original way of seeing the world.
"I've always loved sad, broken buildings and places," remarked Schoonover. "There's something wistful and heartbreaking in the decay and ruin that calls to me. At the same time, I'm also drawn to those spontaneous and uninhibited moments of joy that are constantly occurring... if you know where to look. I hope my work reflects this duality and that the audience shares and appreciates this sensibility."
Whether it's a weather-pounded dune fence receding to the ocean's edge, or the crumbling brick backside of a downtown Geneva tenement, or the serenity of an endless blue sky hugging the even bluer horizon line of Lake Ontario, Schoonover's eye is always on the lookout for that which we all look at, but rarely see.
A graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology's graphic design program, Schoonover served as executive director of Wayne County Council for the Arts for five years and the Finger Lakes Regional Arts Council/Smith Opera House, where he had the same title, for nearly 10. He left The Smith last year and started Flying Whale Studios, a professional arts business specializing in the creation of photography and fine art, graphic design, and grant writing and publicity for area non-profit organizations. He lives in Geneva with his wife, Mary. They have two grown children, Zachary and Hannah. This is the first local exhibition of the award-winning photographer's work.
Regular Credit Union hours are Monday to Wednesday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,Thursday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. Call FLFCU at 315-781-1334 for details.
(July 28, 2010)
Unlikely subject wins at wildlife photo contest
MILTON, DE. –- Geneva, NY artist Kevin Schoonover won third place in the 2009 Prime Hook Nature Photography Contest.
With hundreds of submission, the annual contest and exhibit at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge showcased some of the more dramatic and beautiful natural resources on the Delmarva peninsula. A panel of three professional photographers judged the entries.
Schoonover's photograph, titled Buzz Kill, features an extreme close-up of one of the ubiquitous horseflies that plague beach-goers each summer especially when the wind comes from the west instead of off the ocean.
"Patience was key," said the artist. "I used a zoom lens. But I also wriggled around in the sand for quite awhile, slowly inching closer to him, and hoping he wouldn't fly away."
Schoonover recently opened Flying Whale Studios in Geneva, specializing in a variety of fine and graphic arts, marketing and publicity, and grant writing.
(October 30, 2009)
With hundreds of submission, the annual contest and exhibit at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge showcased some of the more dramatic and beautiful natural resources on the Delmarva peninsula. A panel of three professional photographers judged the entries.
Schoonover's photograph, titled Buzz Kill, features an extreme close-up of one of the ubiquitous horseflies that plague beach-goers each summer especially when the wind comes from the west instead of off the ocean.
"Patience was key," said the artist. "I used a zoom lens. But I also wriggled around in the sand for quite awhile, slowly inching closer to him, and hoping he wouldn't fly away."
Schoonover recently opened Flying Whale Studios in Geneva, specializing in a variety of fine and graphic arts, marketing and publicity, and grant writing.
(October 30, 2009)
