________________________________________________________________________________ we had three reviews published for Jonathan Rogers, including the NIAGARA GAZETTE, March 2, Sunday edition (cover: Niagara Living); BUFFALO NEWS GUSTO, April 4-11; ARTVOICE, May 8-14. Please see the blogs to the right.
Influences
..
I'd like to thank Michael Beam, of the Castellani Art Museum, for so generously giving a helping hand; to Jon Simon for his indispensable inspiration; to Kathy Kudela, and everyone else at the NACC, for believing in me; to Lorraine Simon, Ralph Finowski of Artspace, Pete Stafford, and all my family and friends, for helping to pull it all together (Mark, I know you're here in spirit).
I'm influenced most by my friends. I'm lucky to have so many friends who are also talented artists. I don't work competitvely, in the normal sense, but strive to create an atmosphere of shared ideas and inpirations that cross-pollinate the arts. To me, it's more about having a good life: the art of living.
Sounds Like
Steve Myers - sole proprietor of Gateway Gallery. The band I'm currently playing with is called "Cowboys of Scotland". Bud Redding: keyboards, rhythms, synthesizers, samplers, vocals; Steve Myers: bass, guitars, and vocals.
There's a master plan for us to eventually reform "Funk Monster and Woman", but Bud and I are having a great time carving out our own, unique style. We don't have any new recordings, yet, but we're working on it. The songs that are currently posted are things I've done in the past playing all or most of the instruments, and some with other people, as well.
Gateway Gallery is the embodiment of a life-long passion for music and art. In the process of learning the craft of art and music, mainly from other artists as an informal, as well as formal, apprentice, I have become inextricably entangled in WNY's community of artists, galleries, night clubs, etc., as well as the comminity at large.
My involvement has evolved to Niagara Falls, NY, where I have a studio at the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center (NACC). There is a plethora of talent there waiting to be tapped. The NACC is part of the New York State Multi-Arts Consortium, and is the largest collection of different arts and artists under one roof in New York State, outside metropolitan NYC.
My goal with Gateway Gallery is to open pathways to a greater humanity. The opportunities for us to cooperate already exist. I, as an artist, and promoter, merely have the ability to point them out, to open the doors, to tell the Emporer that he wears no clothes. Any artist that "gets it" knows that he/she is really a conduit for expressing spirit. Hense the expression, "to be inspired, as by a muse". My philiosphy could be titled the "Get out of your own way" method.
So, I'm focusing on bringing Buffalo and Niagara Falls closer together for the purpose of cultural tourism. I believe that tourism will be crucial to the Niagara Frontier's economic recovery. Jonathan Rogers is the third Niagara County artist I have showcased in Buffalo. I have been in a dialogue with the NACC, as well as the NF leadership about collaborations of various kinds. The time is now for us to get together.
In 1991, I met Joanna Angie and became a founding member of Buffalo Arts Studio, Inc., which was part of a growing trend toward using abandoned industrial buildings for studio and gallery spaces. I credit Joanna for giving me the push I needed, when I needed it. This humble effort snowballed tremendously, leading to a rebirth of grass-roots art promotion in all disciplines. Long standing groups like: Just Buffalo Literary Center, Hallwalls Contemporary Art Center, CEPA Gallery, the Colored Musician's Club, Shea's Theatre, Burchfield-Penny Art Center, and the Albright-Knox Art Gallery paved the way for Buffalo being in the top 10 in the nation for art. I've been painting and playing music all my life. So, I no longer separate the two, but am working on the artistic problem of creating a legitimately original synthesis of music and painting. I call it 4-D art. The gallery, as it stands now, evolved out of my love for artistic expression in any form, and of my desire to promote and work with other artists, musicians, writers, actors, dancers, and galleries. I am now looking to spread the gate even wider to welcome our friends of all nations, as well as other cities in America, that we may communicate better. Welcome to my world.
How is everything? Haven't heard from you in a while. If you would like to check out the show my work is in at guerilla gallery above maddtat2 it will be up till the end of the month and there will be a closing reception as well. I will let you know the date.
Hi Steve thanks a lot for the beautiful comment That you left me on my blog, that touches me on behalf of an artist a lot such as you. Have a beautiful day. Hugs and kisses. Kargal
