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The Transit Fine Arts Gallery, an all-volunteer directed arts organization working under the auspices of the Oil City Arts Council, is located in the historic National Transit Building at the corner of Seneca and Center Streets in downtown Oil City. It is open year-round with the hours of 10:00-4:00 on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday with extended hours during Oil Heritage Days in July and during the holiday season in December. The Gallery showcases the work of regional artists with work such as paintings, photography, pottery, jewelry, woodworking, weaving, and much more..
More that 100 artists exhibit and sell their work in the Gallery every year. Nearly all of the artists are from Western Pennsylvania and most live in or around Venango County. A few with out-of-state addresses are artists with ties to the area who now live elsewhere. Artists sell their work on a consignment basis and are paid monthly.
The work varies from paintings to pottery, from jewelry to photography, from glassware to fine porcelain, and offers a wide range of items, both functional and decorative. Most of the work on display is one-of-a-kind. Some production work is also available, such as signed and numbered prints by several artists.
Among the regional artists in the Gallery are Fred Carrow, Mary Hamilton, Pauline Case, Robert Elliston, Ellen Amsler, Judy Slater, Jill Mattson, Helen Oxenham, Jack Paluh,
Yvonne Klapec and Linda Lineman. Their painting talents stretch from watercolors, oils, acrylics, printmaking, and porcelain and from folk art to impressionism.
A special section of the Gallery houses a growing selection of books written by area authors. Many books are about the history of the Oil Region. Among the local writers are Margo Mong, Carolee Michener and David Swatzler......just to name a few. Several books of poetry by area poets are also available.
Also popular are CD's and tapes with music by local individuals and groups. Among these musicians are Rex Mitchell, Ken Hall, Jill Mattson, Jim Self, Cahal Dunne, and the band Phoenix. Recently added to the Gallery's collection is a tape of music from the Seneca Indian Nation.
Each month an "Artist of the Month" is named with special displays of their current work, and often an evening reception is held in the artist's
honor. These events are open free to the public and intended as times for the artist to meet and greet guests and to answer questions about their work.
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WE WELCOME THE
FOLLOWING
"ARTISTS-OF-THE-MONTH" IN 2009.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COME VISIT US
AND SEE THEIR WONDERFUL WORK.
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Our schedule is set for a full year of
artists and artwork at the Transit Fine Arts
Gallery and the Oil City Arts Council is
proud to announce the following featured
“Artists-of-the-Month.” For additional
information, call 677-3707. Mark your
calendar for these special exhibits |
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January 2009 |
| "Winter Art" is a collection of snowy
paintings & photography by a variety of
local artists such as Fred Carrow, Don
Thomas, Carol McDonald, Jerry Sowden, Judy
Slater, Kevin Barletta, Jim Kronmiller,
Eulaine Eri, Robert Elliston & others. |
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February 2009 |
| Margherita Emanuele is our first
featured artist for the new year. Her
work includes a selection of still life and
portrait paintings and is sure to bring many
compliments from her young students as well
as those in the professional art world.
This talented artist is an art teacher in
the
Oil City School District and is currently
maintaining an artist studio in the Transit
Annex. |
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March 2009 |
| We are honored to exhibit the work of
George R. Cooley during the month of March.
His work is an exciting collection of mixed
media using a variety of materials and
techniques. George and his family
recently moved from Massachusetts to Oil
City where he chose a large Transit Building
corner artist studio which overlooks Seneca
& Center Streets. |
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April 2009 |
| "The Wonderful World of Dogs" is our
theme for this month as we link with two
local groups, the Oil City Library and the
Venango County Humane Society. We help
to celebrate the Library's Call of the
Wild "Community-wide Read Project."
Old Buck himself would have been proud to
view all the delightful artwork on the
subject of DOGS to be found in the Gallery.
And, if that isn't enough, we welcome the
Humane Society's newest "PAWcasso" artwork
created by our canine friends! Some
people might say that our art is "going to
the dogs" this month...and, it is!!
Come join the fun! We are looking for new
original artwork on this month's DOG
theme....please call Marilyn at 814-677-3707
for more information if you have work to
display. |
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May
2009 |
| We celebrate "Bird Month and All
Things Nature" in May with the wonderful
photography of Tom Darby. Known
throughout the area for capturing with his
camera some of the state's best nature
studies, we are sure you will enjoy seeing
his work. Don't miss the "Birding
Festival" on the weekend of May 1-2-3
...complete with guided bird walks, field
trips, tours, outstanding speakers &
more...all coordinated by the Oil Region
Alliance. We salute our wonderful
feathered friends and their natural world
with Tom's outstanding photography! |
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June
2009 |
| We welcome Bryce Herrington as June's
very special artist. Bryce does fine
art watercolors, prints, and illustrations
as he encourages people to appreciate the
world in a thoughtful way. He wants
the viewer to take the time to see, not
merely look. His award winning work
can be found in private collections and
galleries throughout the country.
Don't miss this exhibit! |
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July
2009 |
| We honor Joe Gerzina and his beautiful
Stained Glass Artistry. He designs
glass, he repairs glass, he creates colorful
glass to bring our world alive and helps us
to decorate our homes with this ageless artform.
Joe serves as Manager of the Transit Artist
Studios and has his own studio, "Art Glass
Restoration," in the Transit Annex. |
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August 2009 |
| As the celebrations of "Oil 150" reach
their peak in this month, we honor local
teacher and photographer Susan Tarr of
nearby Titusville. Over the years she
has consistently and successfully taken more
photos of the local "oil region" than anyone
else we know. Somehow she still finds
new angles to capture the buildings, people, and
landscapes of our area and turns the work
into large photos and small greeting cards
which have been sold and/or sent to folks
all over the world. Thanks, Susan, for
helping to keep us on the map! |
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September 2009 |
| Curt Anderson shares his outstanding
woodcarving with us this month. His
work, a blending of modern technology and
old-world craftsmanship, is sure to make us
say "Wow, I've never seen anything like that
before." This is an exhibit
perfect for fall
or for any season....do come and see for
yourself! |
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October 2009 |
| We are excited to bring the work of JD Titzel to the Transit Gallery this month and
you will quickly see why. His large
watercolor paintings, which sometimes take
70-200+ hours to complete, are true
masterpieces. Landscapes, florals, and
historical pieces are among his favorite
works....and have garnered for him many
awards & honors. |
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November 2009 |
| TBA |
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December 2009 |
| "Holidays in the Gallery" We celebrate
the holidays with a variety of fine art &
craft work...items large & small,
appropriate for all of your gift-giving
needs. Unique one-of-a-kind art treasures &
fun seasonal items
will make the Gallery the place to visit
this month. And, don't forget to stop by the
National Transit Building on December 31st
for our FIRST NIGHT fun &
festivities...we'll be open until midnight!!
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