The Barrytown Gazette - August 25, 2011

I t’s been kind of quiet around the Unification Theologicial Seminary at Barrytown since the Seminary moved to NYC, but last week was dif- ferent. The Seminary—which is plan- ning to open a four-year undergraduate college next year on the Barrytown campus—hosted the Unification Church’s (UC) seventh annual Blessed Culture and Sports Festival (BCSF) from August 9-12. Young adults from around the coun- try came to participate in sporting events that included ultimate frisbee, volleyball, basketball, soccer, tennis, and table tennis. In between sports, poker and black- jack tournaments were available for the daring, with part of the proceeds going to a college scholarship fund. On the cultural side of things, they could compete at ballroom dancing, perform at an open mic, and be enter- tained by a New Jersey based band called Junction. The organizers of the festival also put together a talent show, a fashion show, and an art gallery. The Fine Art Gallery was well or- ganized by Shinyoung Chang , the ed- itor of the UCNews, a monthly church newspaper, and Red Hook resident Shannon Forringer. They worked tire- lessly setting up the art work of over 10 young artists in the beautifully wood-paneled meeting room of the Massena Mansion, which included examples of their own art. “Next year we will have twice as many artists’ work on display,” said NY, showed two beautiful and very maker of the late 19th and early 20th Shinyoung. different oil paintings. “Half Moon centuries. The scene is of a kimono- heart, with titles such as: “Heartache,” The show featured a broad range of Bay” is a seascape in blues and greens clad monk walking up a broad stairs to “Lost in Thought,” “Longing,” mediums, including oil and acrylic capturing the surf crashing on the a temple as the snow gently falls “Chill,” “Comfort,” “Waiting,” and paintings, colored pencil drawn illus- beach, with the sun sitting above a rose among the pines. A lovely rendition in “Preoccupied.” Sun-ae painted close- trations, pencil on Bristol paper, pho- colored sky. The other is called “Kon- blue, white and browns. ups of the torso and limbs of her sub- tography, and handmade pottery. The jikido,” which is an interpretation of Sun-ae Patterson, 20, from Irving- jects, with the focus on hands in most depth, skill, creativity and beauty of Kawase Hasui’s wood block print by ton, NY, had on display a number of of these painting, using strong, vibrant their works was impressive to see. the same name. He was a prominent paintings of people in acrylic, express- colors to capture the moods she Theo Wilson, 27, from Red Hook, Japanese painter and master print ing various internal states of mind and See Art, continued on page 2

Art, from the front page Shinyoung, 33, who lives in New wanted to portrait. York City and is from Toronto, One of my favorites was a portrait Canada, is herself an extraordinary of “Captain Jack Sparrow” in mixed artist. She started off studying theater media, done by Alka Callahan, 16, and set design, learning to sketch out from Indianapolis, Indiana. It was so scenes on large canvases. She moved lifelike that as I looked at Sparrow’s into acrylic painting and says she has- face, I thought someone was looking n’t liked to work in oil mainly “because back at me through holes cut in the face the oil paint smells bad, and stinks up where the eyes were! your clothes!” A breath-taking group of photos of For the art show, Shinyoung choose the mountains and sea in Kodiak, to present some beautifully created Alaska was offered by Tim Forringer, color pencil illustrations that were in- 22, from Red Hook, NY, who is actu- tended to be used for a children’s book. ally in the middle of a 4-year degree Sadly, the artist died before the book program at the Culinary Institute of was published. She says about pencil America in Hyde Park, NY. He took side, as well as her great talent. make sure that the Fine Art Gallery— drawing, that she has to focus intently advantage of his art of food prepara- And more art from Red Hook was at some distance from all the sports on on getting just the right colors and de- tion with photos of a delicious looking provided by Yuri Mickler, 22. She did the UTS soccer field, and the other ac- sign, “because with pencils, you have grilled tomato and chicken sandwich, a “Tattoo” series of paintings in oil, fea- tivities in the main building wasn’t to be precise, and once you sketch it, and some fancy meatballs garnishes turing intricate blue tattoos either from overlooked—so they cleverly made you can’t take it back.” with sesame seeds. her imagination, or actually on some attractive gallery signs placed on easels Also on display was one of her Since the art show was in Barry- real bodies. (I didn’t get a chance to ask strategically around the campus, point- acrylic paintings named “The Path.” It town, it was convenient for local teens her which it was.) ing to the Massena Mansion and the is a colorful city scene under the stary to bring their work, and as a result, One was of crossed arms adorned art show. sky— at once mysterious, intriguing around half of the artists were from with “When No One Believes InYou” It worked! The gallery was visited and enchanting. Red Hook, including an amazing col- on one arm, and “Believe In Yourself” frequently by most of the festival’s par- She loves the feeling of creativity lection of hand-crafted pottery made on the other. In the middle of her dis- ticipants during the four days of events. and “making it happen. I’m my worse by Jeung-il Tsumagari, 21. play, to show what is really important, According to a report in the UC Com- critic so if I can blow myself away, I Jeung-il selected a group of around was a colorful still life of fast food and munity news online, the visitors “de- know others will like it too.” And I do fifteen pieces of cups, bowls, pitches drinks. scribed the gallery as ‘amazing,’ blow myself away!” and small bowls with tops. She clearly The artists had their work on sale, ‘inspirational,’‘beautiful,’and ‘intrigu- Other artists who had their work on is an accomplished and creative potter. and it seems from the many “sold” ing.’” display were: Abi Zambon, 24, from Her choice of designs and colors are signs on the art work, many who vis- Shannon and Shinyoung didn’t just Bridgeport, CT,; Kristi Laurel Mas, 27, full of life and of course of practical ited the gallery walked away with their set up the art show—they also are ac- from NY; Naria McGee, 22, and use. One piece, a bowl with spider web own piece of art to take home. complished artists and had their own Inwha Hendricks, 20, both from Red design showed Jeung-il’s humorous Shannon and Shinyoung wanted to work on display as well. Hook.

Local artist Shannon Forringer excels at abstract portraits S hannon, 23, from Red Hook, has been draw- ing and painting since she as she holds up her shirt to reveal only her ribs and spinal cord. was little, and you could say Another painting shows that all that practice has paid the body of a girl in a pretty off. She works in oil on can- flowery dress, with one arm vas, and was showing her extended, holding her smil- “Summer Girls” series— ing face in her hand! beautifully painted portraits “I have been taking art of her friends in warm, pas- courses from the Academy tel like colors. Shannon has of Art in San Francisco, and captured the summer moods would like to work in oil of hope, beauty and joy in painting and children’s book her portraits, with a twist. illustrations in the future,” One half-body length girl Shannon explained, as she with an expression of “what sat by the guest book table next,” is surrounded by welcoming visitors to the art leaves blowing around her, gallery.