Golden Sunrise by Catherine Reichert
Gallery Installation
"A Celebration of Women"
Featuring:
Catherine Reichert
Darrell Remole
Weldon Stout
Opening Reception:
Sunday, April 13, 2025
10:30am-12:30pm
Peacock by Darrell Remole
Path to the Beach by Weldon Stout
The Galleries at First Pres began in January of 2017 and was founded by Dr. Jacob Craig, with Peter and Carole Coe as curators. Their mission is to feature a wide variety of works by local artists, on rotation quarterly throughout the year. The Galleries are located throughout the campus of First Presbyterian Church. They are open for viewing from 12pm to 3pm, Monday through Thursday. Guided tours can be made available upon request. Admission is free and open to the community.
Our current curator is Mrs. Susan "Suze" Lavender. Suze was born and raised on the south shore of Long Island, NY. Her two loves were always Art and the Sea. She loves to draw and paint moments to release emotions. Although she has never been formally trained in Art, except for the odd class in a variety of different mediums, her art shows a natural talent and beauty that exhibits a deep love and the heart and soul she puts into her work. Since meeting and studying under Frits Van Eeden in the last five years, she feels that he has opened up a window of what could be. Suze’s art now has the energy, emotion, color, and passion that she’s always strived to put on canvas. Suze says, “I have been an artist my entire life, but I have had no formal training until recently. I knew I had so much to say and had no idea how to transfer my thoughts onto canvas. There was a time when I viewed photographic and detailed production as the epitome of artistry. Gratefully, that is no longer the case. My New York upbringing is especially present in my cityscapes, and I've discovered how to communicate my ideas emotionally through textures, color choice, and subject. I've yet to travel the world however my paintings have created a world for me.”
Our Artist in Residence, Sheila Lougheed, has some of her artwork displayed throughout campus. Her most recent religious-inspired works can be found lining the stairwell of the Center for Christian Life- a 7-painting series that was created live during Sunday services in the Lenten Season of 2018. Each piece represents a different theme during the period of Lent. The final work of this series is a 12-foot tall painting of a dove to represent to resurrection and rebirth of Christ.
Catherine Reichert
Catherine Reichert is very involved in painting, sports and her family. She started painting later in life. After a few years, she took a hiatus but returned to it in her 60’s. Painting is one of her passions, which she inherited from her father and sister who are both artists. She enjoys watercolor, and a medium she just learned – alcohol inks. She has been painting with alcohol for a little less than a year while continuing to take classes. She lives in Grand Harbor, Vero Beach with her amazing husband.
Darrell Remole
As the sole artisan of Darmikk Designs, I produce the finest quality "Shaker" Oval Boxes and Stained-Glass art.
All items are hand-made with traditional techniques that can be cherished for many years.
In November of 1998, I attended a class at Shaker Village learning the fundamentals of box-making with box maker John Wilson. After the class I started making the boxes for friends and soon others wanted to buy my boxes. I started a side business called Darmikk Designs, making Shaker Boxes and other wooden items. One of many honors with my Shaker boxes was being accepted into the Kentucky Crafted and Kentucky Guild of Artists & Craftsmen. Another honor was my boxes being sold in the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Harrodsburg.
Kentucky gift shop.
My other popular item is the original US Post Office Lock Box Door bank which I make using oak, cherry, walnut and other types of wood. I restore the brass PO Box doors and install them in my handmade wooden banks and/ or keepsake storage boxes. I use dovetail joints, sometimes combining several types of wood to show off the joinery and details of the wood
In June of 1983, I attended a class learning the fundamentals of making stained glass. I started making sun-catchers and worked my skills up to making lamp shades, window panels, mobiles and other items using stained glass. The owner of the stained-glass store hired me to repair and teach a class.
My artwork includes wood, stained glass, and quilts. I especially enjoy the challenge of creating pieces that capture an idea or personality of the individual. All items made are personally signed.
Weldon Stout
Weldon Joseph Stout can't remember when he couldn't draw. As a young teenager, he attended freehand sketching classes at the Maryland Institute of Art and has been drawing ever since.
His professional career began as an illustrator for the Glen L. Martin Company, Baltimore, Maryland in the Research and Development section and later as an illustrator for the Bendix Corporation in Towson, Maryland. He was assigned to the Art Department. When asked to participate in the formation of a new Human Engineering Group, he attended Johns Hopkins University to study human psychology in engineering and began a career change as an Industrial Designer, designing controls and displays for the cockpits of general aviation and transport aircraft. Stout was again invited to set up an Art Department to accommodate the needs of two newly relocated divisions of the Bendix Avionics Group in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and subsequently became their Art Director. This position prevailed until early retirement in 1980.
Upon retirement, Stout created his own Graphics Arts business and at the same time began designing art for the Stained Glass Industry. His 30 years of excellence as an artist, illustrator and industrial designer,
as applied to this medium, was the most exciting and fulfilling period of his career.
In 1987, Stout retired again and relocated to a small fishing village, known as Sebastian on the East Coast of Florida, built a home,
workshop and studio in which he enjoyed his two loves until his death at 94 in 2013.