April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
ALBANY ART
Pastoral Center has been home to art gallery for 23 years
The gallery was the brainchild of religious artist Sandra Bowden and parish life director Betsy Rowe-Manning of St. Vincent de Paul parish in Albany. When the diocesan offices were moved to the Pastoral Center in 1989, the women noticed the bare walls and realized their potential to be used as a gallery.
Now in its 23rd year, the Visions Gallery has been filled at various times with exhibits of fabric, paintings, sculptures, photographs and drawings.
Yvonne Welch, curator for the gallery from 1999 to 2010, told The Evangelist that the Visions Gallery has always had an ecumenical bent. In fact, many of the original contributing artists were Lutheran.
"All art comes from God," Ms. Welch explained, "but the artists' work that is displayed in this gallery is truly informed by faith."
Carole Fults, an artist and current director of the gallery, explained that though they do try to present more religious exhibits during the Christmas and Easter seasons, secular works of art are welcome at other times.
"The Church has always been supportive of the arts and we try to reflect that," said Ms. Fults. "Our main goals are to try to maintain a certain quality of art, to show pieces appropriate for all ages who walk through here, to expose new artists and to brighten the days of those who work there and pass through the halls every day."
The Visions Gallery's reach extends beyond those who work in the Pastoral Center. The gallery's opening nights are also a part of Albany's "First Friday" celebrations. Each event draws almost 150 participants into the Pastoral Center - a building they may never have visited otherwise.
Ms. Welch sees the gallery's accessibility as one of its greatest strengths.
"Sometimes, people read the word 'gallery' and wouldn't even think about going in, but the best thing about [this] location is that it makes it possible for people from every walk of life to see fine art," she explained.
Ms. Fults agreed: "The opening nights raise awareness of the Pastoral Center and we have a good mix of people."
As the curator of the exhibits, Ms. Fults' job is to find the artists, help hang the pieces and attend opening night. Her favorite part of the job, however, is being able to meet and interact with the artists and their work.
"It's a visual thing," she said. "You have to consider the wall space, the frames working together and the overall flow of the exhibit - and the feedback has been positive. The artists are pleased with the venue, the lighting and the receptions."
One of those artists is Carolyn Abrams, a parishioner of Our Lady of Victory Church in Troy who works in acrylics. Her first show in the Visions Gallery was in 2005; she'll be back in March with her newest collection, "Divine Vessels," a reflection on her belief in divine protection.
"A lot of galleries are just there to sell paintings. But the Visions Gallery brings energy to that area of the building and reflects the work that is done there," said Ms. Abrams. "There are many prestigious galleries in the area, but only one that partners the artist and the faith."[[In-content Ad]]
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