Our August feature is a show of work by gallery artist Leslie Belloso and 7 colleagues – Elizabeth Ayerle, Barbara Diaz-Tapia, Claudia Eckel, Maria Jimenez, Tania O’Donnell, Ilene Spiewak, Tye Powell – all members of the inaugural class (2017) of the Low Residency MFA program at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. In order to earn MFA degrees Leslie along with the others spent three “on campus” summer semesters and 4 “off campus” fall and spring semesters as a way of achieving the degree when unable to do a full-time on campus MFA. The artists come from different walks of life and different parts of the US. We will show a selection of their work. Most of them paint but the work is diverse. Several work in mixed media, video and installation art. Check our Facebook page to see their work. These artists are very committed to expanding their professional credentials.
August Featured Artists – Leslie Belloso, Elizabeth Ayerle, Barbara Diaz-Tapia, Claudia Eckel, Maria Jimenez, Tania O’Donnell, Ilene Spiewak, Tye Powell
August Featured Wines – 2017 Donnafugata Lighea & 2017 Donnafugata Nero d’Avola, Sicily
2017 Donnafugata Lighea, Sicily $18
Zibibbo is a varietal also called Muscat of Alexandria which is originally from North Africa and was spread around the Mediterranean basin. With intense cultivation in the territories conquered by the Arabs it became as a table grape.This wine has a brilliant straw yellow color with greenish reflections. The nose offers a rich and fragrant bouquet with classic notes of orange blossom combined with citrus scents and nuances of Mediterranean pine. The nose is perfectly reflected on the palate, enlivened by a fresh mineral vein. Donnafugata suggests serving this with all types of oily fish, baked pasta in white sauce, fried fish. This is also a great summer aperitif. Alcohol: 12.5%
2017 Donnafugata Sherazade, Nero d’Avola, Sicily, $19
This classic Sicilian wine has a brilliant ruby red color with violet reflections. The nose offers a pleasantly fruity bouquet with fragrant notes of red plum and cherry, combined with light spicy scents. The palate is fleshy and perfectly reflects the bouquet revealing an extraordinary freshness. The well-integrated tannin, completes this fragrant and pleasant wine. The producer suggests serving it with fish soup, pizza or classic tomato spaghetti. This is a red you don’t expect, which is ideal as an aperitif. Alcohol: 13 %
