Township Artists Featured In Cultural Arts Council Art Gallery

Taehoon “Ted” Kwalk nest to some of his artwork at the Franklin Township Cultural Arts Commission art gallery.

As a boy growing up in Korea, Taehoon “Ted” Kwalk was repeatedly told by his teachers that he had a natural talent for drawing and painting.

He pursued the hobby through elementary and high school, but then dropped his pens and brushes when he came to the United States, more than 40 years ago.

It was another 10 years – after retiring as a chemical engineer from Dow Chemical – before he picked up the brushes again, after attending a watercolor class. That was more than two years ago, and on Sept. 27, Kwalk was celebrating his first inclusion in an art show.

Kwalk was one of 26 township artists whose work was displayed in the show, sponsored by the Franklin Township Cultural Arts Council’s visual arts committee, and held in the library’s community room.

“I’m enjoying it,” Kwalk said of the show. “I invited my friends and they’re also excited. I’m happy.”

The show featured the work of 26 artists, all of whom are township residents. There were a variety of media shown, from photography to painting stop sculptures.

“We have people who have been doing this for a couple year, and people who have been doing it for 50 years,” said Alex Shedlock, chairman of the visual arts committee. “It’s almost hard to tell the difference between some of these because they are all amazing works.”

Shedlock, who is the branch manager of the Unity Bank in Somerset, said attendees called the event “a success and a half.”

“As long as everybody’s happy, I feel that I am doing the right thing,” he said.

Shedlock said library patrons, who did not know about it, explored the gallery.

“There were some kids who came into the library who have never been in an art gallery before, so this is rewarding for all of us,” he said. “I’m looking forward to doing many more of these.”

In addition to Kwalk, artists exhibiting at the gallery were Joan Waldman, Dusik Shin, Richard Goldrosen, Tiina Nummela, Freda Russo, Hong Cai, H. Denis McGrath, Lynn Levine, Chickie Siegel, Ken Morrison, Jackie Weighart, Angelo Frigola, Mary Eleen Hinckle, Shash Jain, Corrine Prochazka, Ed Zaremba, Richard Hoffman, Marty Seigel, Ginny DeLuca, Emily Kern, Ada Galdi, Eileen Faherty, Eleanor Morehouse, Paul Goldberg and Fran Hargadon.

2016 Cultural Arts Art Gallery

Your Thoughts

comments