KITCHEN REPORT

I CAN HEAR THEcollective ugh from my vegan, vegetarian, and animal cruelty activist friends, and I apologize for not giving you a heads-up that this image was coming.

The story of this painting goes back to before it found its way to the easel. The short of it is that I was in McCaffery’s and ran into David. He asked if my wife was away and I was doing Home Alone Bob shopping (I

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Robert Beck is a painter, writer, lecturer and ex-radio host. His paintings have been featured in more than seventy juried and thirty solo gallery shows, and three solo museum exhibitions. His column has appeared monthly in ICON Magazine since 2005. www.robertbeck.net

Fashion as Experiment: The ’60s Allentown Art Museum

31 N 5th St., Allentown, PA

610-432-4333 allentownartmuseum.org

Thurs. –Sun. 11 –4

Third Thurs. 11 –8

May 6 –September 24

The exhibit delves into fashion movements and trends during the decade that linked the personal and political in a powerful new way. Youth fashions such as paper dresses emphasized novelty and low price, defying ideals like quality and elegance that shaped the wardrobes of older generations. Similar styles in men’s and women’s clothing blurred gender boundaries, while miniskirts, hot pants, and dresses with cut-outs evoked the 1960s sexual revolution. Countercultural looks from the late 1960s and early 1970s were worn in protest of materialism, racism, imperialism, and the fashion establishment. This is a look back at a tumultuous time in American history but also, well, a blast.

Admission is FREE for all, and free parking in the Museum lot at 5th and Linden Sts.

Trisha Vergis: Solo Exhibition

Silverman Gallery

4920 York Rd., Route 202, Holicong, PA 215-794-4300 Silvermangallery.com

May 6 –June 11

Artist Receptions 5/6, 5–8 and 5/7, 1–4 Wed–Sat. 11–6, Sun. 11–4 and appointment

Silverman Gallery of Bucks County Impressionist Art is proud to feature a collection of recent oil paintings from this Bucks County native. Vergis’s art is grounded in the natural surroundings, small towns and farming communities of the Delaware Valley. Her carefully planned and beautifully executed paintings of flowers, fruit and other objects will be included in the exhibition.

In an earlier interview, Vergis explained, “I’m right there in the thick of things. If my painting is of a winter day, you know I was out there painting it. Working from life breathes life into a painting. You may not get a ‘perfect’ painting, but you will get one that sings with life, one that captures the mood, space and time of the moment.”

Senior Honors

Art & Art History Thesis Exhibition

Lafayette College, Grossman Gallery

243 No. Third Street, Easton, PA galleries.lafayette.edu

May 2–20

Artist reception: May 3, 5:30

The graduating seniors in Art and Art History present their culminating projects in this exhibition. From a series of paintings to art history research using virtual reality, these senior theses projects are a testament to those young artists and scholars’ curiosity, research skills, and artistic talents.

Featuring: Caitlyn Carr, Andrea CollazoSalazar, Renee Mercereau, April Miller, Isabel Sorrells, Baoyi Zhu.

Spatial Contusions: My Life on Paper

Swan Boat Gallery

69 Bridge St., Lambertville, NJ 332-400-6651 swanboatgallery.com

Through May 15

What are Spatial Contusions? Florence says it’s like life, as we are bounced around with so much good and not-so-good in the news.

Like life, her works on paper are created in the same manner—paint strokes of whimsy, drips of color paint, rolled and smeared. The finished work becomes an abstract surprise, like life.

Her abstract paintings are meant to draw you in, creating a unique experience and revealing your own sense of emotions.

In mid-May, the gallery continues her Works on Paper, The Devil Made Me Do It

We are more than a gallery; Swan Boat Gallery is a cultural experience. One of Lambertville New Jersey’s newest galleries will feature international artists, poetry readings, art lessons, and art socials.

Visit www.swanboatgallery.com for hours and news, future shows, and special events.

Bethlehem Town Hall Rotunda Gallery

10 E. Church St., Bethlehem, PA

May 19–June 27

Opening Reception May 21, 2:00–4:00 Mon.–Fri. 8:00am–4:00pm

Inspired by nature, literature and music, Gano’s visual representation uses symbolism to understand the human condition which we all may or may not experience in our lives. Her primary focus in this exhibition are insects combined with other visual elements.

Baum School 38th Annual Art Auction

Online Art Auction

The Baum School of Art

510 W. Linden St., Allentown, PA givergy.us/baumartauction38

May 13, 6:30pm & May 20, 10:00pm Premiere Party, 5/13, 6:00–9:00, ticketed

The auction will feature over 400 works of art from artists of the Pennsylvania Impressionist period of Walter Baum, to almost 60 contemporary local artists. New this year is the opportunity to kick off the bidding at our Premiere Party with hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and music. $100 per ticket, 5/13, 6–9:00.

To view the artwork up for bid visit: givergy.us/baumartauction38.

Visit and sign up as a bidder. When you place your bid, you can choose to receive real-time emails and/or text notifications of your bids.

By

The two poems offered here—same subject, same title, different form—were not written about the iconic Fare de Haut-Fond Prince lighthouse shown here, but rather represent my reflections about lighthouses generally, and specifically about those who were its keepers—a special breed long since replaced as lighthouses became automated, as was this one in 1987.