UpFront Exhibition Space unveils October show

The UpFront Exhibition Space in Port Jervis will be featuring the works of three stellar artists throughout October and November: June Ponte, Ben Butler and Keith Helwig. The exhibit will run from Oct. 4 to Nov. 24, with an artist reception slated for Saturday, Oct. 19, from 1 to 6 p.m. Oct. 19 will also be Art Port, Port Jervis’ new annual arts walk, which features 10 art venues for people to visit, with the last stop being UpFront.

June Ponte is a local self-taught artist, she is winner of the Edgar Allan Poe Award from the Poe Museum in Baltimore. She has owned a gallery in Milford, the Poe And Raven Gallery, which is now in Canadensis, Pa. Two of her oil paintings are also in the museum at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia. Ponte has also exhibited her work throughout New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Regarding a Vincent Price portrait she painted, Ponte said, “Growing up in the 50s and 60s, Vincent Price, here painted in oil, was well known in that time mostly for monster movies. So I painted him because he was part of childhood and very frightening to me.”

Ben Butler says of his work, “I’m making ceremonial objects for an unknown ceremony.” His piece in this show titled “Echo” is an assembled sculpture of wood and metal. Butler had an early career as a silver smith before becoming a full-time fine artist. Butler was born in Philadelphia in 1943 and graduated from Penn State University in 1967 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education. He pursued Buddhist teachings in India for two years. He has been in numerous one-man shows, including at the Island Arts Gallery, Salve Regina University, The Museum of Work and Culture, and Little Compton Commons, all in Rhode Island.

Keith Helwig’s painting “You Know What I’m Thinking” utilizes abstract realism in a provocative style. The assemblage of multi-color acrylic paint randomly put down, disguises the eyes. An eerie effect is caused by the sudden realization of seeing realistically painted eyes. This painting is one of Helwig’s many styles which include photo realism, photography, conceptualism, 2D, and 3D, all created with various mediums. Helwig holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, was a framing/gallery/restoration lab owner, and won a RIAA Award in design.

Upfront Exhibition Space is located at 31 Jersey Ave, Port Jervis. For more information, call 945-754-1808.