GALLERIES 1 + 2 Fresh Start, Member Artists Group Exhibition

BEACON ROOM In Dialogue With Wood: Woodcuts, Ilse Schreiber-Noll

Opening Reception Second Saturday, January 11th, OPEN from 12-6 pm, with an artists’ reception from 6-8 pm. Exhibition ends Sunday, February 2nd, at 506 Main Street, Beacon, NY. Saturdays and Sundays 12-6 pm or by appointment.

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Gallery 1 + 2: Fresh Start, Member Artists Group Exhibition

In a world where change is the only constant, Fresh Start invites viewers to explore the transformative promise of beginnings. This exhibition brings together a diverse group of artists who grapple with themes of renewal, hope, and the cyclical nature of life. Each work reflects a unique journey—whether through personal experiences, cultural narratives, or environmental shifts—inviting us to contemplate our own paths toward reinvention.

The pieces on display echo the sentiment of starting anew, exploring identity, resilience, and the beauty that can emerge from moments of uncertainty. The artists invite us to embrace vulnerability and recognize that fresh starts, while often daunting, can lead to unexpected growth and discovery.

Fresh Start is not just an exhibition; it’s a collective celebration of the human spirit’s capacity to adapt and thrive. We hope to inspire a dialogue about the possibilities that lie in change and the myriad ways we can all reimagine our futures. Join us in this exploration of beginnings, and consider what a fresh start means to you.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Current gallery artists in this exhibition are: Bob Barry, Daniel Berlin, Eileen Sackman, Ilse Schreiber-Noll, Joan Harmon, Joel Brown, Karen Allen, Kelly M O’Brien, Linda Lauro-Lazin, Nansi Lent, Nataliya Hines, Pamela Zaremba, Robin Adler, and Soli Pierce. BAU artists are all working professional artists who exhibit their work regionally, nationally, and internationally.

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Beacon Room: In Dialogue With Wood: Woodcuts, Ilse Schreiber-Noll

Wood has always been more than just a medium to me. It is a living connection to nature, history, and craft. Each piece of wood has a story to tell written in the rings, patterns shaped by seasons, and textures formed over years. Working with wood is an intimate dialogue, where I am both artist and collaborator, guided by the natural grain and contours. As I carve, I find both resistance and softness, a dynamic push and pull that reveals the essence of each block. The process of creating a woodcut is both meditative and challenging, demanding precision, patience, and respect for the material.

This exhibition is a celebration of my love for wood and its unique ability to hold and transform human expression. My hope is that as you view these works, you feel the organic pulse of the material itself—its rawness, resilience, and beauty—and that you, too, sense the connection to the natural world that wood brings into each piece.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Ilse Schreiber-Noll was born in Germany. After coming to the United States, she received her MFA at Purchase College SUNY, N Here she studied and taught with the late Uruguayan-American visual artist, Antonio Frasconi, renowned for his politically charged woodcuts.In collaboration with poets, she made limited edition artist books.

Among the poets and musicians she has worked with are Joseph Brodsky, Dennis Brutus, Galway Kinnell, Octavio Paz, John Cage, and Robert Kelly. Schreiber-Noll’s work captures the raw duality of human existence, portraying the deep struggles of society and the devastating impacts of war alongside the profound beauty of our world.

Through contrasting elements, she speaks of conflict, division, and societal issues, revealing the scars that mark both people and places. Yet, amid the darkness, her work also celebrates the resilience of life and the breathtaking splendor of our planet, reminding us of the harmony and beauty that persist. This juxtaposition invites reflection on our choices, urging a vision for peace and a more compassionate relationship with each other and our Earth.

The artist presently lives in the Hudson Valley.