'Creative Passions' and 'Maidens and Voyages' featured in galleries

Exhibitions at York College Galleries will continue with pieces by a local family of artists as well as that of Adrienne Stein, a York native who studied in California and New York City before returning to the area to set up a studio in downtown York.

The exhibits, “Creative Passion” and “Maidens and Voyages,” will be on display from Oct. 1 – 23 in the Cora Miller Gallery and the Brossman Gallery.           

All events in the York College Galleries are open to the public free of charge. The Galleries are open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The galleries are closed Sunday. For more information, contact Matthew Clay-Robinson at mclayrob@ycp.edu or call 717-815-6622.

“Creative Passion” features the Engdahls, a family of artists with very deep roots in York. The opening reception, which will begin with a gallery talk, is scheduled from 5 – 7 p.m., Oct. 1, in the Cora Miller Gallery.

This exhibition at York College of Pennsylvania, which coincides with Family Weekend, marks the first time that Nathalie Engdahl has shown with her two children, David and Ellen.

Nathalie was born in York and has remained here ever since. She has won Best in Show three times and First in Oils eight times while exhibiting at York College, the Cumberland Valley Museum in Hagerstown, Md., The Art Association of Harrisburg, the Penn State York Campus and many other regional venues. She first exhibited with the York Art Association in 1962, and at 94 years of age, still maintains a very active art practice.

 This exhibit will be the first for David Engdahl in his hometown of York, although his sculptures can be found in museums and galleries throughout the Unites states and abroad. His interest in sculpture began 38 years ago when he was inspired by the “Art of the State” exhibition at The State Museum of Pennsylvania. David now resides in Jacksonville, Fla.

Ellen Engdahl Ehlenbeck has shown her work in 22 group exhibitions, six juried exhibitions and three solo exhibitions since 2005. She received the Debi Watson Watercolor Award at the Fall 2008 Members Exhibit at the York Art Association and the Judges Award at the 2007 Members Show at the Mechanicsburg Art Center. An instructor at the Art Institute of York, Ellen is one of the four founders of YorkArts and owns her own graphic design business in York.

The other exhibit, “Maidens and Voyages,” features Adrienne Stein, who first gained local media attention at age 11 when she was named “Artist of the Month” by Borders Books & Music. The opening reception will be held from 5 – 7 p.m., Oct. 1, in the Brossman Gallery. A gallery talk will begin at 6 p.m.

This exhibit is a collection of Stein’s most recent and deeply personal paintings. The imagery was inspired by her travels to Italy, France, China and Morocco.

Stein has devoted herself to classical training and studying the Old Masters. She is inspired by her natural surroundings as well as her travel experiences, literary, Biblical and legendary influences. Her paintings investigate the aesthetics of light and its spiritual symbolism. Stein hopes to communicate reverence for all of creation’s value, and to engage the viewer in that same reverence.

Stein has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Laguna College of Art & Design in Laguna Beach, Calif. She has also studied art in France, Italy, New York, Los Angeles and Baltimore. She has received numerous awards and has been a finalist in the Great Christian Art International Competition and the Masterpiece Artist Canvas, Inc.’s Annual Figure/Portrait Competition. She has exhibited her work at the Fairhaven Mausoleum in Santa Ana, Calif.; City Art Ltd. in York; Laguna Fine Art in Laguna Beach, Calif.; and the Harbour Court Hotel in Baltimore, among others. Her work has also been featured in The Artist’s Magazine, Brio Magazine, YM Magazine, TIME for Kids magazine, The Baltimore Sun and the York Daily Record.