The Jerry Burrell Gallery of the Hamilton Hill Arts Center presents the multifaceted dimensions of African, African-American and  minority art.  It does so to sustain the treasure and rich legacy of the African Diaspora.  Group and solo exhibitions are held throughout the year.  On occasion, exhibits travel to other locations.

For more information regarding upcoming exhibits, solo exhibitions or information on the Hamilton Hill Arts Center and its programs, please call us at (518) 346-1262 or e-mail us at artsathhac@aol.com.

NOW SHOWING

"The Digital Eye"

The Jerry Burrell Gallery presents "The Digital Eye", an exhibit focusing on the medium of digital photography. From cell phone to high-end digital cameras, digital photography is everywhere. This exhibit showcases the many possibilities that can be achieved with digital photography. With "The Digital Eye", the only limit is the imagination. 

Featured Artists

Duncan E.Bailey

Zenzele Bell

Arianna Charles (Youth Participant)

Sharon Cropper

Catherine Smith Reavis

Cheila Alysha Laye Daio (Youth Participant)

Benita Law-Daio

Wanda Adams Fisher

Warren Hamilton

Mabel Leon

Phil Littlejohn

Delma L. Phillips-Seigel

"The Digital Eye" art exhibit will be on display in The Jerry Burrell Gallery from
February 24 - May 1 (2008).

PREVIOUS EXHIBITS:

                 "Six Over Sixty"

Six artists over the age of sixty share their artistic expressions. This exhibit is a part of the Hamilton Hill Arts Center "Senior Painting Workshop" art program.

        "Visions on The Hill"

Featuring the artwork from youth and adult residents of Hamilton Hill and "The Street Painters" from New York City, this art exhibit is inspired by the positive and beautiful of life on Hamilton Hill.

"Home

Home is one of the early words children learn to speak and understand. And one of the earliest drawings we learn to make is a box with a triangle on top, small squares inside the box and a vertical rectangle at the bottom. If we were really into it, we scattered "M's" up in the sky for birds and a circle for the sun --with or without rays and maybe a path. Home!

As adults, we speak of "back home", "down home", "going home" with affection or longing. If we have children at some point we send them back home -- not where we live now, but the home of our childhood. "Home is where the heart is", home is where our "homies" live, where we get good home cooking. Even homing pigeons and dogs find their way home. Home is the motherland, our center, our foundation and our goal. Home is real or romanticized or miserable or spiritual. And when we die, some of us expect to "go home" -- back to the source. Home is a place. But more than a place, home is a feeling.

Judges

Margaret Cunningham

Margaret Cunningham founder of the Hamilton Hill Arts Center (in 1968) functioned as its executive director until her retirement in 1992. Born in Brooklyn, Mrs. Cunningham has an extensive background in Art. She attended the Hampton Institute, Howard University and the State University of New York (Albany) as an art major. In addition she has taken private studio classes in pottery, painting; and an apprenticeship in sign painting and poster art. Margaret was a charter member of the Schenectady Museum’s Designer Crafts Council and has served on the museum’s Board of Directors and its Art Committee. She has been involved in arts and crafts organizations and other community work for a great many years, and has been the recipient of numerous awards for her volunteer contributions. Mrs. Cunningham’s work has been exhibited in area group shows, single-artist exhibitions, family art shows and Black dimensions in Art exhibitions. “If there is a dominant theme to my work, it is probably that of reflecting the world around me: the mountains, beaches, nature’s forces at work, to which I have always been drawn, which have fueled me in my search to find my place, and brought release from the stresses of everyday life.”

“Voorheesville Farm” water colors on paper

“Menemsha” oil on canvas

Stephen Tyson

Stephen Tyson, a native New Yorker, is a visual artist, educator and curator. He taught English and Fine Arts in the NYC public school system, during which time he earned tenure. He was also an Associate Professor (with tenure) of Humanities and Fine Arts at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown where he taught Foundation Design, Drawing and Introduction to Painting. In addition, he taught African, Modern, Baroque and Early Renaissance art history course. Presently he is on the faculty of Siena College. Mr. Tyson is a recipient of a Fulbright-Hays Fellowship in 1988, as well as in 1995 and has studied in Nigeria, Namibia and Botswana as a result. He has lectured extensively on these educational experiences and they are clearly reflected in many of his photographs, painting and drawings. Stephen Tyson’s work has been exhibited in galleries, museums and in private spaces throughout New York, Connecticut, Ohio and Pennsylvania. His work is part of the permanent collections of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Hudson Valley Community College and in the Schenectady Museum. His illustrations have been featured in books by major New York publishers.

“While the City Slept” mixed media

Artists

Demetrius Dickerson, 1^st Prize

Demetrius is an up-and-coming artist living in Albany. Dickerson, born in Newburgh, has been “doodling” as he describes it, since he was five years old. His entrance into the art world was as a graffiti artist. Demetrius is currently working with all types of media, gaining world renown for his unique collages. Through his work Dickerson seeks to raise awareness on social, political, cultural, historical and global issues. His work has been exhibited at the Hudson Valley Community College and work published in the Informed Constituent. Dickerson has traveled to and worked with artists in China, London and New York City. He says his wants viewers of his work to recognize the cultural influences and quality in the underground African-American artist. In his piece, will, Demetrius is seeking to bring to the surface the other side of this picture: those without a home. His social awareness is once again brought into the context of his art, with his criticism of the U.S. government’s handling of the Hurricane Katrina disaster that devastated the Gulf region

“Will” mixed media (prize winning entry)

Jim Kelly, 2^nd Prize

Painting since 1995, for Jim Kelly home invokes memories of his childhood, where he grew up and his people lived. Inspired by the art he had seen in the Jerry Burrell Gallery, Jim soon would make the leap from art enthusiast to artist. His first piece was a penciled drawing of a mountain with a face. Having received encouragement from other artists in the community (through a gift of paints, pastels, and other items), Jim Kelly has not looked back. Jim has donated some of his pieces to the Hamilton Hill Arts Center, Black Dimensions in Art and SACC-Channel 16. Jim Kelly’s outlook on his art is best summed up in his own words—“If you feel art is a passion or spiritual, make the effort. It’s never too late.”

“Campfire” oil on canvas

“Graceful Waterfall” oil on canvas

“Snowbound Cabin” oil on canvas (prize winning entry)

June (Nita) Borland, 3^rd Prize

A native of Albany, Nita “June” Borland moved to Schenectady in 1960 with her family. Originally a poet, June did not begin painting until the age of twenty-one. It was at that time that she was given some pastels from a neighbor. Considered an intuitive artist (one with minimal former training), June works almost exclusively in pastels with an occasionally piece done with mixed media. June would go on to study briefly with Pat Bloomfield before her passing, which was truly an inspiring. She has also studied with Perley Laighton, helping to improve her overall technique. Ms. Borland specializes in multi-cultural and fantastic subjects, and has had her work exhibited at the Friendship Baptist Church, the Stockade Exhibit in Schenectady, The Chamber of Commerce, the Laighton Galleries, Ltd., the Leo O’Brien Federal Building (Albany), and the Warren and August galleries (Hudson). Now fully retired, June Borland is now able to devote herself to her art on a full time basis, which includes her work with Black Dimensions in Art, Inc.

“Panspermia” pastels on paper

“Africa the Continent” pastels on paper

“Home” mixed media (prize winning entry)

UPCOMING ART EXHIBITS:

Artists are responsible for following all deadlines and for arranging drop-off and pick-up of their works. No works may be removed before the end of the exhibit. The Hamilton Hill Arts Center accepts no responsibiltiy for works not collected by the pick-up deadline. No works may be stored at the Arts Center.

About the Jerry Burrell Gallery:

The Jerry Burrell Gallery of the Hamilton Hill Arts Center presents the multifaceted dimensions of the of the work of artists whose roots are in Africa. It does so to sustain and treasure the rich legacy of the cultures of the African Diaspora. Group and solo exhibitions are held throughout the year. On occasions, the exhibits travel to other locations. The continued programs at the Jerry Burrell Gallery are made possible in part by funding from the New York State Council on the Arts, donations by gallery visitors and sales of artworks. For more information regarding upcoming exhibits and solo exhibitions, or information on the Hamilton Hill Arts Center, please call (518)346-1262;e-mail us at artsathhac@aol.com or visit our website at

www.hamiltonhillartscenter.org.

                                   Hamilton Hill Arts Center

409 Schenectady Street

 Schenectady, NY  12307

(518) 346-1262

artsathhac@aol.com