An Exhibition Curated by Diane Bond Western New York Book Arts Center Opening Reception November 22, 2019 / 5-9pm
Book Arts Center presents an exhibition by WNY artist Lynne McElnhaney, curated by Diane Bond, on view November 22 – December 7, 2019. An opening reception to celebrate the exhibition will be held Friday, November 22 from 5-9pm. This event is free and open to the public.
This show is a retrospective of the work of Lynne McElhaney who was an artist and professor of design at Buffalo State College from 1970 to 2005. Lynne passed away in 2016. She was a prolific artist whose work and style changed throughout her career. The work in this exhibit chronicles the variety of styles and media she explored during her 35 year career and illustrates her personal creative journey. The show includes paintings, relief prints, embossings, collage, mixed media illustrations, and her progressive work in the book arts. Her strengths and interests as an artist were reflected in her teaching. She was not only a gifted artist but also an art educator who left a lasting impact on countless students. Her love of paper and books inspired many students to carry on the book arts tradition in their own work. This exhibit is a tribute to Lynne, to her creative spirit and to her exceptional vision.
Lynne McElhaney was a native of Dunkirk, NY. She graduated from Buffalo State College with a B.S. in Art Education in 1964 and a M.S. in Art Education in 1972. During her undergraduate time, she studied abroad in Siena, Italy and did graduate work in ceramic sculpture at Fredonia State College. She began her career as an art teacher in the Dunkirk School District and joined the faculty at Buffalo State in 1970. She became an Assistant Professor of Design in 1975 and retired from teaching in 2005. She exhibited her work extensively at the Albright Knox Art Gallery and the Burchfield Art Center and at many other galleries across Western New York. She received the SUNY Research Foundation Fellowship Award in 1975 and 1976 and worked as the acting director of the Burchfield Art Center in the 1970’s. She studied at the Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina and received extensive training in traditional leather bound books and book repair while working with a master bookbinder in Rhode Island.
Bond will also host an Artist Workshop at Book Arts on November 23 / 12-2pm. A gallery meditation will take place November 23 / 10-11:30am. For more information about the workshop, meditation and exhibition, please visit https://wnybookarts.org/lynne-mcelhaney/.
The Book Arts Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting a greater understanding of printing and book-related arts through education, creation, and exhibition for a broad and diverse community. Book Arts is located at 468 Washington Street, Buffalo, NY 14203. For more info visit www.wnybookarts.org.
