Review by Carl Mellor
“Slices of Life,” a group exhibition at the Edgewood Gallery, showcases three artists who travel down multiple roads in their work. Elisabeth Groat, for example, is comfortable photographing doorways in an abandoned house, geometric forms and two dancers on golden-colored grasses. A second artist, Joyce Backus, creates glass bowls, plates and vases, some of them large and others small. She works with a rich palette of colors, hand painting the glass vessels. And Eva Hunter, whose body of work includes watercolors, oils and pastels, shows her jewelry at Edgewood, displaying colorful earrings and bracelets with an abstract flavor.
First, Groat has the ability to size up a seemingly ordinary scene and create an interesting image. Her photo of a deserted railroad station in Casterland, New York, moves beyond the sight of a run-down building. Viewers will wonder about the station’s history.
In addition, Groat has an eye for outdoor scenes as she shoots birch trees and a raft floating by itself on High Falls Pond, on a misty day. “During the Rain,” meanwhile, captures an isolated road during a downpour. That work doesn’t merely reference weather; it seems to convey a mood of reflection and regret.
There are other images subject to interpretation. “Three Magi,” for example, doesn’t portray a mural or painting depicting the three wise men who play a role in the traditional story of Christmas. They come bearing gifts on the evening of the day when the baby Jesus has been born. Instead, Groat’s photo portrays three sets of clothing, each of which suggests traditional clothing like flowing robes.
Elsewhere, Groat’s lens focuses on a street scene in Frankfurt, Germany. Her photo is surrealistic rather than realistic. It depicts two tiny, faded figures.
And she goes in a minimal direction with her shots of a single flower. Her shot is barebones, yet visually interesting.
Another image depicts two men sitting at a table, just below a wall decorated with a painting of a large, edgy face. The photo is titled “Two Literary Men at Table.” Viewers can only guess about their identity.
“Slices of Life” also displays 38 of Backus’ glassworks with mixed media, offering an extensive look at her vessels. Several of them celebrate nature. For example, she inserted peacock feathers in a couple of the pieces. And she placed a leaf in another work, while a third vessel contains small pieces of paper that look like leaves.
In several works, she plays with an array of colors. One piece has a rust color, while a second work was created with pink and red colors.
Some of Backus’ best work in the exhibit comes in the form of three cylinders; they are shaped like pillars and stand on a pedestal. One is splashed with lush colors, a mix of orange, red and green.
Beyond that, she has other interesting pieces at Edgewood. One is decorated with streaks. And then there’s a hefty vessel, a pitcher with two segments on its surface. The upper half is greenish, and the bottom half appears in a shade of brown. This is an elaborate, innovative work.
Finally, Hunter has necklaces and earrings, bracelets and other types of jewelry in the show. They are related to her interest in creating watercolor paintings and oils. For example, she handpaints earrings with watercolors.
“Slices of Life” is on display through February 21, 2025 at the Edgewood Gallery, 216 Tecumseh Rd. The venue is open from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Admission is free.
For more information, call 315-445-8111 or access edgewoodartandframe.com.
Carl Mellor covered visual arts for the Syracuse New Times from 1994 through 2019. He continues to write about artists and exhibitions in the Syracuse area.
All photos Samuel Gruber/WNA 2025