OAG 50th Anniversary

The Onondaga Art Guild is celebrating its 50 anniversary with an award show displaying work of 32 of its members at the Tech Garden , 235 Harrison St. Syracuse, NY.

Reception: Thursday May 29th, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Best of Show: Carol Adamec, for her sculpture "Embracing Differences"
Award of Excellence: Mary Beth Sorber for painting "White Door Barn"
Award of Excellence: Maria Rizzo for painting "Tree Totem #19"

Congratulation to all the award winners!

Featured Artist: MaryBeth Sorber

Big Moose Lake Afternoon, acrylic, 11x14

I have been interested in creating art in some form for most of my life.  I remember that my mom signed me up for weekly art lessons when I was about 10 with Mrs. Enders, a local artist in the Baldwinsville area.  I still have my first oil painting done in her studio. Her love of art was infectious and I believe that she instilled that inspiration in me.   Although my career was not in the art field, when I retired a few years ago, I began painting in earnest.  I’ve been taking classes and workshops to increase my knowledge of composition and color, drawing inspiration from the Impressionists. I have experimented in clay (sculpture), charcoal, watercolor, pastel, acrylic, and most recently, oil.  I think the most important lesson I have learned about painting in recent years is patience; that every painting is a journey, whether a success or failure, to be enjoyed for what it is, and not necessarily the outcome.  MaryBeth Sorber


Clockwise:Bleeding Heart, acrylic; Sunflower Study, acrylic 18x18; Morning Dew, acrylic, 4'x4'; Lily, acrylic, 24x20; Coneflower, acrylic 12x16

L to R: Harbour Dinghy, acrylic,12x16; Harbour Gull, acrylic, 12x16;, Taking a Break, acrylic,16x20

L to R: Peaceful Thoughts, acrylic, 11x14; Sandbeach, Acadia Park, Maine acrylic,16x24 ; Late afternoon in the Pasture, acrylic, 11x14

Left, Blue House on Cole Road, acrylic,16x20 . Right, The Old Mill, 20x24

A GOOD START

Just like the school year, our guild year starts in September, but the members of the Workshop Committee have been busy since early spring organizing a workshop for the fall.

So, the day after the guild's first meeting  Robert  Carsten will be teaching a 3-day workshop to a group of 13 members at Baltimore Woods from Sept 4th to Sept 6th. He will be demoing in different media.

Upcoming Spring Show and Sale

Sat April 27th: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Sun April 28th: 12:00 Noon - 4:00 PM

Emmanuel Episcopal Church

400 W. Yates Ave.

E. Syracuse, NY 13057

Featured Artist: Jo Ann Von Pless

County Garden, acrylic, 16x20"

 When I was a child I woke up every morning to the view outside my window. The window was right next to my bed at the level of my pillow. The sunrise, the colors of the sky, the trees and the fields
surrounding our yard are still vivid memories of mine. I could see mountains in the distance on a very clear day. The view was the same, yet ever changing. I love the tapestry of colors and textures
of flowers, fields, mountains, water and sky. The vast beauty of nature is my inspiration to paint landscapes.

I am basically a self-taught artist, however I do take workshops and classes whenever I am able. I have worked with Delores Herringshaw and have taken classes at Commercial Art and Rochester Art. I experienced a workshop with Elizabeth Apgar Smith which was wonderful. I also enjoy the webinars from Wet Canvas.

I am a member of the CNY Art Guild and a member of the Cooperstown Art Association as well a new member of the Onondaga Art Guild. I am a part time painter now because of my full time job, but I look forward to painting full time some day.

                                                                                                                    Jo Ann Von Pless

Clockwise from Top:View from the Top, acrylic, 20x16";  White Sentinel, oil, 20x16"; Adirondack Farm, oil, 20x16"

Above: Winter Reflections, acrylic, 11x14"

Below L: Rock Garden, watercolor, 12x9";  Fair Heaven, watercolor and acrylic, 10x8"

OAG 4th Annual Show and Sale

Hibiscus, watercolor by Nancy Shampine

Mark your calendar for our upcoming

Art Show and Sale

Sat April 28th : 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Sun April 29th : 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm


Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 400 Yates St. E. Syracuse 13057

Spring, pastel by Adriana Meiss
Fenced Garden, pastel by Adriana Meiss












Venetian Red Bridge, oil by Linda Abbey


Footbridge, Venice, oil by Linda Abbey

Art Exhibit and Sale, April 24th and 25th

Coming Up:

Art Exhibit and Sale
Emmanuel Episcopal Church
400 Yates St., East Syracuse
Sat April 24th, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Sun April 25th, 12:00 noon - 5:00 pm

Works by 25 artists will be on display.


Spring Tulips,
Kathryn Wehrung



Forever Free, Marge Hill



Amaryllis, Susi Buschbacher




Next Meeting: Tuesday April 6th, 7:00 pm
Our guest speaker will be stained- glass artist Robert Oddy

Bob characterizes his works as having great depth. He is self-taught, and has always experimented with unusual techniques that seem to push the possibilities of this intriguing medium. He has incorporated bronze, wood and other unique materials in his window designs.

Bob grew up in England where he attended university in the field of Information Studies. In 1981 he arrived at Syracuse University, where he taught and did research in Information Retrieval. He began to work in stained glass part-time, creating his first window in 1983. In1997, he resigned his position at SU to concentrate full –time on stained glass.

Bob now conducts workshops all across the country, and has been featured in numerous articles.
B. Elkins


Last Meeting:



Our guest for last meeting was Connie Carroll, a local painter and illustrator who is currently exhibiting at the Delavan Gallery until May 23rd.