New Exhibitions at the Thousand Islands Arts Center

CLAYTON – The Thousand Islands Arts Center ~ Home of the Handweaving Museum presents its
current exhibition, Beyond the Landscape, featuring the work of Linda Toomey, and Texture,
Form, Color. It will be on display through May 17, with an opening reception Friday, May 9,
4:30-6:60 pm.

Linda Toomey, a Buffalo native, began her painting career in earnest after retiring from a 28-
year art teaching career. She has had her studio at the Tri-Main Center in Buffalo since 2001.
She is currently a resident artist at Buffalo Arts Studio.

Linda is a member of the Buffalo Society of Artists, the Western New York Artists’ Group, and
the Breakwater Gallery (Cape Vincent, NY). She has won numerous awards in both local and
national shows, and her paintings are in local, national, and international collections, including
the Roswell Park Cancer Institute and Oishei Children’s Hospital.

Linda says of her work, “For me, the landscape is about tranquility and peacefulness. There is
poetry in texture, color, and space- in earth, flora, water, and sky. We may all find common
bonds in the appreciation of nature and a spiritual nurturing less evident in a world dominated
by politics, consumption, crass communication, and right now a pandemic. As an artist, I would
like to take the viewer into a quiet world of solitude, reverence, and contemplation.”

She continues with, “Water, its reflections and movement are an integral part of my paintings
as well as the textures and colors found in surrounding areas, especially marshes. I paint with
gouache (opaque watercolor) on black archival board. I also do mixed media pieces using
paintings, pieces of my paintings, handmade papers, photos of the areas which have inspired
paintings, and color copies of my paintings.”

Executive Director Sarah Riddoch comments, “Linda Toomey is so adored by her followers.
Much of her work, the scenes she illustrates, are familiar as it’s what we see along the river.”
Three members of the Weavers’ Guild of Rochester are exhibiting their woven tapestries,
hangings, and garments. Denise Kovnat, Mary McMahon, and Ruth Manning share their talents
and creations with visitors to the Arts Center. Many of the pieces are years in the making. The
colors and texture will be impressive and inspire all who encounter this beautiful collection of
unique pieces.

“The weavers are such a fun group to work with. They have so much enthusiasm for what they
do!” says Marina Loew, curator and assistant director of the Arts Center.

The Arts Center and its galleries are open to the public. Feel free to stop in anytime Monday-
Friday, 9-5, and see this exhibition. Visit www.TIArtsCenter.org for more information.