Ock Hee's Gallery - the Power of Flowers

My friend Gwen had recommended this gallery in Honeoye Falls on several occasions, and when I learned about an exhibit of floral paintings, both in the D&C and at a garden club meeting, I knew it was time to make a visit.  I dragged Gwen, on a miserable, rainy afternoon, and I'm glad I did, because I hadn't understood how well she knows the owner.  When we arrived, she immediately greeted Gwen, and offered us cups of tea.  What a gracious hostess!

Flyer for the Power of Flowers Exhibit

The tiny gallery, behind an only slightly larger retail space, is in an old train station, and also serves as Ock Hee's home.  She explained the different artists and media and styles to us, especially Carol Woodin's exquisite botanicals, done in watercolor on vellum.  I was curious about the vellum - that always seemed like tracing paper to me...  Ock Hee politely did not laugh at my insinuation, but instead informed us that Ms. Woodin is exhibited in the Smithsonian Institution as well as the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew.  So no tracing involved!  And the vellum isn't your ordinary synthetic variety, but instead made from calfskin, the same material the monks used to make their illuminated copies.  (The image 2nd from the left on the flyer is from her "Two Anemones.")

Another featured artist is Alan Singer, an RIT professor from an incredibly artistic family.  He and his father, Arthur, illustrated a book of state birds for the National Audobon Society:  Arthur drawing the birds and Alan the habitats.  Alan's submissions included both framed and unframed floral paintings (including "White and Gold Lily," 2nd from the right on the flyer), many of which I would have been proud to own (my favorite was already sold - I told Ock Hee that the price was way too low!).  There were also several lovely unframed botanicals by his mother, Edith (Judy).

One of the things that has always impressed me about botanical paintings is their incredible detail.  Most paintings are usually smaller than life size, and the reduction necessarily means the loss of some detail, no matter how realistic the rendering.  But the botanicals are the complete opposite - they are life size or larger, and the detail is meticulous.

Local artist Dennis Burns' paintings are in a completely different style (sumi-e, or literati painting - see the image 3rd from the left on the flyer), and Ock Hee described the particular skill and brush strokes necessary to execute them.  From the card at the exhibit explaining the technique:  "The artist's idea is characterized by (1) an economy of strokes, (2) a decisive execution, (3) an asymmetrical composition.  By these methods the painting is not a final statement but a starting point, drawing the viewer in to complete the idea using his or her own experiences and imagination."  Although a literati painting takes less time to complete than a detailed botanical, it takes years to master the the art.

Ock Hee started the gallery in 2005, and mounts six exhibits each year.  She doesn't focus just on "fine art," but, as she said, searches for "anything created with heart and hands."  She made Gwen and me feel so at home that I was jealous when two couples entered the shop and we had to share her attention!  The ground was too saturated for us to explore the outdoor labyrinth, but a quick look on the website reveals that it is open 24/7.  What a lovely gesture to open the grounds of your house to strangers to explore.  I will definitely go back to walk the path, and perhaps use the time to reminisce about my parents.

For more information on the gallery, and the Power of Flowers exhibit, which runs through May 24, click here:  http://ockheesgallery.com/