Opening Reception December 2, 2011
5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
(585)589-6715
Featuring six decades of photography by:
The Late Al Fleckenstein
Gary R. Fleckenstein
J. L. Fleckenstein
Ace K. Harrison
And poetry by Alfred L. Zudfin
The evening will include refreshments and
a live poetry reading by J. L. Fleckenstein.
Show Overview
Five artists within an extended family who have lived and vacationed along the Oak Orchard River in Waterport, New York since the early 1930’s bring varied aesthetic visions and evolving technologies into focus in the fine art photography and poetry show, “One River”, opening December 2, 2011 at Marti’s on Main in Albion from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. Phone the gallery for more information at (585)589-6715.
Local writer and fine artist, J. L. Fleckenstein and husband Gary Fleckenstein (both active members of Artists of The Oak) have produced the exhibit which consists of more than fifty photographs shot over a period of six decades by photographers within their family: Al Fleckenstein (deceased), Gary Fleckenstein, J. L. Fleckenstein, and Ace K. Harrison. The exhibit will also highlight a number of poems by photographer and writer Albert L. Zudfin, J. L. Fleckenstein’s father.
Many of the photographs, ranging in date from the late 1940’s to present day, feature landscapes and portraits shot along the Oak Orchard River and surrounding countryside in Waterport. The family has owned a cottage on the river since the early 1930’s and has owned the historic farm known as Wheelman’s Rest—also in Waterport—for nearly thirty years.
“We are completely excited about this opportunity to exhibit the photographic talent of four members of our family. We have all been shooting photographs from the same locations on and near the Oak Orchard River, but over a period of sixty years. Visitors will see a wonderful diversity in artistic style and photographic technologies including color slides and digital images all professionally printed at a lab on an amazing new photo paper from Kodak that yields extraordinary details, color, and depth,” says J. L. Fleckenstein.
Gary Fleckenstein’s father (the late Al Fleckenstein) began the family’s tradition of photographing along the river shortly after the end of World War II when he returned from Germany armed with 35 mm equipment he purchased during his European service in the war.
As a boy, Gary was drawn to cameras and photographic technology, inspired by watching “magic lantern shows” of his father’s Kodachrome color slide photography. “The images were amazing, I was blown away by them,” says Fleckenstein of his father’s shots. When he was a teenager he began learning about cameras and photography in earnest on his own through any books and magazines on the subject he could get his hands on.
By trial and error, applying what he studied, Gary learned to use a variety of 35 mm equipment, and loaded with Kodachrome slide film continued the family tradition shooting what would eventually amount to thousands of photographs (both film and digital) of the river and picturesque surroundings. His fine art photograph, “A Bend in The Oak” was featured in marketing materials for the Artists of The Oak Annual Art Trail this past summer and visitors to the trail received a free commemorative postcard featuring the shot.
J. L. Fleckenstein’s father (Albert L. Zudfin whose inspirational poetry is featured in the One River show) introduced his children to photography when he bought a 35 mm camera and built a darkroom in the family’s North Carolina home in preparation for photographing the televised lunar space landing in 1969. After the family relocated to Los Angeles, the children studied photography throughout high school and continued to do their own darkroom work both at school and at home.
In the late 1990’s J. L. Fleckenstein transitioned from 35 mm to digital photography while simultaneously engaging in an extensive study of digital graphics and digital photo editing technology. Since marrying Gary and moving from Los Angeles to Waterport in early 2006, J. L. has shot what she estimates to be more than 75,000 digital photographs around the couple’s farm, cottage, and many other sites throughout Western New York. Her picturesque photography is an integral feature in her popular lifestyle blog, “I Live on a Farm” located online at http://ScrumptiousLiving.Wordpress.com.
Growing up in the digital age, Los Angeles based artist-designer Ace K. Harrison (J. L. Fleckenstein’s son) also continues the family’s connection with photography utilizing the gamut of digital photographic technology available today. Harrison has worked as a professional artist and graphic designer for more than ten years; his online business, Flying Junction (www.FlyingJunctions.com) ships signs and prints world-wide, featuring his meticulously crafted, authentic looking reproductions of NYC subway roll signs, bus scroll prints, and vintage maps depicting a variety of U.S. and some European cities. His t-shirt designs are frequently spotted in celebrity photos, television productions, sporting events, and music videos.
Regarding the concept and title of the show, J. L. Fleckenstein says, “The idea with this show, ‘One River’, is that as a family we are one river of creativity. Our photography of this beautiful place we all love, binds us together creatively. Our artistic vision, talent, and ‘eye’ may be quite different one artist to another, but the river ties it all together and makes us one.”
One River will feature color photography from a wide range of cameras, film, and digital technology available to artists over the past sixty years. Most of the photographs depict scenes and people on and around the Oak Orchard River printed in a variety of sizes including 8” x 10”, 11” x 14”, and 16” x 20”. The photographs have all been printed by a professional lab on Kodak’s award-winning professional Endura Metallic paper for stunning visual impact and depth. Most of the photographs will be available for purchase during the show, ranging in price from $12 to $100.
A collection of J. L. Fleckenstein’s oil paintings may be seen year round at Zambistro Restaurant in Medina or by visiting her website at www.JLFleckenstein.com. Learn more about J. L. Fleckenstein’s fine art paintings, photography, and writing by visiting her website at www.ILiveonaFarm.com; Ace K. Harrison’s graphic designs and blog may be found online by visiting www.FlyingJunctions.com. For more information about this and other art shows at Marti’s on Main, contact gallery owner Kim Martillotta-Muscarella at (585) 589-6715
Opens August 5, 2011 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
On August 27, 2011 Artists of The Oak, in co-ordination with GO ART! (
This annual art trail event is a great opportunity for members of the local community and people from all over Western New York (and beyond!) to get a taste of the rich and diverse fine art and culture available in our picturesque region. Artists featured on this year’s trail include J. L. Fleckenstein, Stacey Kirby, Arthur Barnes, Tony Barry, Tom Zangerle, Sue Rudnicky, and many others. This year there will be a number of original pieces of art available for sale ranging in price from $25 to $100 in an effort make our work available to people who want to start collecting original art, but might not have thought they could afford to do so. There will also be prints, notecards, and other forms of art reproductions available for sale in limited quantities.
Aspen Grove | 11×14 oil on stretched canvas by Nathan D. Pace
The completion of the Henpeck Park Public Mural in Greece, NY, by artist Stacey Kirby will be celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday September 20th at 10am. We’re excited to have the mural completed in time for the World Canal Conference. The opportunity to share our canal heritage with visitors from all over the world, in addition to local residents is wonderful. Please join us to celebrate community, art and the canal!
