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Blue Pearl Yoga

Expanded offerings at Blue Pearl in Batavia

By Joanne Beck

bluepearl.jpg

Denise Glidden, Karen Reisdorf, Paula Bianchi, Lisa Ingalsbe and Michelle Woodward celebrate the expanded offerings Saturday at Blue Pearl Yoga on East Main Street in Batavia with an open house to introduce new bellydancing classes, sound baths and performances from GO Art! Photo submitted from Genesee County Chamber of Commerce.

Classes are live and can be found HERE

Duo performs selections from 'American Raga' at Blue Pearl Studio Friday, followed by reception at GO ART!

By Press Release

Submitted photo and press release:

Blue Pearl Yoga presents the Padmanabha/Strongmen Duo performing selections from "American Raga," a combination of music from North America and India, on Friday, June 18 at their East Main Street studio.

Ravi Padmanabha is a percussionist, multi-instrumentalist, and composer. Mike Strongmen plays banjo, slide dobro, and the saw.

"American Raga" is the first release by the musical duo.

A reception where guests can meet the artists will immediately follow across the street at GO ART!’s Tavern 2.o.1.

Padmanabha’s initial interest in drum set led to a variety of musical instruments and at 18, began his formal studies in tabla -- a pair of small hand drums attached together, used in Indian music; one slightly larger than the other and played using pressure from the heel of the hand to vary the pitch.

Strongmen is from Nebraska and performs extensively throughout North America.

Together they have found a common ground for a cross-culture collaboration.

Well-versed in a wide variety of musical styles, including jazz, world, and experimental music, Padmanabha has performed at Buffalo's Drum Day and Maelstrom Percussion Ensembles Master Drummers Program. Along with fellow Buffalo musicians, he performed in the William Parker Buffalo Orchestra, which inaugurated the new Righteous Babe Records/Hallwalls performance space.

Padmanabha is also a member of Family FUNKtion and the Sitar Jams, which he formed with his two brothers. They have released two CDs and continue to perform.

Strongman is also active in the Buffalo music scene.

Ravi Padmanabha and Mike Strongmen perform at 7 p.m. at the Blue Yoga Studio, 200 E. Main St., third Floor in Batavia; Tickets are $15; register online at www.bp-yoga.com.

A reception follows across the street at GO ART!’s Tavern 2.o.1 at 201 E. Main St. For more information call (301) 848-4902.

Sunny weather outlook: Free yoga in Centennial Park Saturday, bring food pantry donation

By Press Release

Press release:

The forecast for the weekend looks warm and sunny! You are invited to enjoy one last Yoga in the Park with Elena, 200 RYT*, for a slow vinyasa flow with a short guided meditation.

We will start class by setting an intention, flow through a series of poses and finish with a guided meditation.

Register here through Eventbrite. Chance of rain is small, however you will receive an email no later than one hour before class if cancelled.

Please bring your own mat, water, and blanket. Dress for the weather! If you typically use a block, you may choose to bring one. Social distancing will be followed, please wear your mask until you roll out your mat.

November Food Drive for the Little Free Pantry and Fridge

You are invited to bring nonperishable or perishable food (fresh and frozen) to Yoga in the Park and help fill the bellies of families experiencing food insecurity in our neighborhoods. There will be a collection box at the park for your donations. Whether a need for food or a need to give, mini pantries help neighbors feed neighbors, nourishing neighborhoods.

The Little Free Pantry is a grassroots, crowdsourced solution to immediate and local need.

The Free Little Free Pantry and Fridge we are stocking Saturday was started in the summer by a resident on State Street who wanted to make a difference in her neighborhood. The Good Samaritan was joined in her efforts by Blue Pearl Yoga, Ryan’s Rose Organic Farm on Rose Road in Batavia, Sharon and Michael Kubiniec, DDS, The Just Kings, and others.

It is located outside Kubiniec’s dentistry office at 180 Washington Ave. in Batavia and is open every day with updates posted on Facebook.

Soon, a collection box for future food donations will be available soon in the first-floor foyer of the Yoga Studio at 200 E. Main St. in Downtown Batavia, as well as other locations around Batavia.

  • Yoga in Centennial Park -- FREE
  • Food Drive Donations Gratefully Accepted
  • 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7
  • 151 State St., Batavia

*Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) is a designation given by the Yoga Alliance U.S. to an individual who has completed the 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Certification.

Live music and yoga planned at idyllic Ryan's Rose Organic Farm Sept. 6, must preregister online

By Billie Owens

Blue Pearl Yoga in Batavia has planned a special event for yoga practitioners at the idyllic Ryan's Rose Organic Farm in Batavia on Sunday, Sept. 6.

Live music will be performed by Mantra Jam.

Simultaneously, Patty Hawley (RYT) will lead vinyasa mat practice while Marianne Skye (E-RYT, YACEP) will lead chair practice. Bring your own sturdy chair.

"Yoga at the Farm" starts at 11 a.m. Cost is $15 per person. Preregistration required.

Ryan’s Rose Organic Farm is located at 3417 Rose Road.

Please:

  • Register online -- absolutely no walk-ins;
  • Bring your own yoga gear (mat or frim-seated chair, blocks and straps if you like). Towels, water and sunscreen/ bugspray might be good, too;
  • Be aware there are NO restroom facilities;
  • Social distancing & masks required until you are set up and seated.

Weather:

  • Any cancellation will be emailed by 10 a.m. to those registered. We will give full reimbursement.

Popularity of yoga class at Centennial Park prompts Blue Pearl to add one on Thursday mornings

By Billie Owens

From Blue Pearl Yoga:

Turns out the new Yoga in Centennial Park class is a big hit, so we have added another class.

In addition to the Tuesday afternoon classes this month from 7 to 8:15 p.m. with Lisa Ingalsbe, there will be classes from 9 to 10 a.m. on Thursday mornings with Marianne Skye (E-RYT, YACEP).

Breathe, move, recharge. This well-rounded yoga class offers many yoga pose variations, so those with different levels of experience can participate fully. Appropriate for adults and high school students (no young children).

You can relax while stretching and strengthening. There will be active yoga poses, breath work and stillness practices.  

The park is lovely, the shade is cool, and the people who come to yoga are nothing but sweet!

Centennial Park is located at 151 State St. in the city.

Cost is $10 per class.

Register online at least three hours before class -- absolutely no walk-ins.

Things to know:

  • Bring your own mat;
  • Bring your own optional yoga gear if you like, blocks, straps, blankets, water and sunscreen / bug spray might be good, too;
  • There are NO restroom facilities at Centennial Park;
  • Social distancing & face masks are required.

(If two or less people register, the teacher may opt to cancel. You will be notified through email and fully reimbursed.)

Note that the in-person yoga studio at 301 Main St., third floor of the Masonic Temple building Downtown, will be reopening Saturday, Sept. 19.

The Fall Schedule is being developed and they are seeking input about days/times/types of classes people want. Any input would be appreciated. Email: bpyoga@gmail.com

Blue Pearl Yoga to hold live outdoor yoga classes on Tuesdays this month in Centennial Park

By Billie Owens

Pearl Blue Yoga in Batavia has announced that starting Tuesday, Aug. 4, instructor Lisa Ingalsbe will conduct yoga outdoors in Centennial Park.

The live outdoor yoga class will be held from 7 to 8:15 p.m. on Tuesdays this month. Cost is $10 per class.

This will be an all-level, adult class; you can relax while stretching and strengthening. There will be active yoga poses, breath work and stillness practices.  

Centennial Park is located at 151 State St. in the city.

Register online before 4 p.m. -- absolutely no walk-ins.

Things to know:

  • Adults only;
  • Bring your own mat;
  • Bring your own optional yoga gear if you like, blocks, straps, blankets, water and sunscreen / bug spray might be good, too;
  • There are NO restroom facilities at Centennial Park;
  • Social distancing & face masks are required.

(If two or less people register, the teacher may opt to cancel. You will be notified through email by 5 p.m. and of course, fully reimbursed.)

Note that the in-person yoga studio at 301 Main St., third floor of the Masonic Temple building Downtown, will be reopening Saturday, Sept. 19.

The Fall Schedule is being developed and they are seeking input about days/times/types of classes people want. Any input would be appreciated. Email: bpyoga@gmail.com

Blue Pearl Yoga offering live stream yoga classes, discounts available

By Billie Owens

Press release:

It’s an amazingly challenging time, and in the spirit of chipping in and taking care of each other in our community, Blue Pearl Yoga is now offering live stream yoga classes.

The health benefits of yoga are very real. Yoga is wonderful practice for stress relief, relaxation and focus.

Yoga can increase flexibility, build strength, and improve balance.

There is a vast and growing body of research on how yoga improves immunity, reduces anxiety, lessens everyday aches and pains, and helps with a wide array of physical and mental health concerns. It is essentially self-care.

Due to the financial strain that many people are facing, Blue Pearl welcomes you to use a discount code offered when you sign up for a class (half off or free).

For those in a position to contribute, it is greatly appreciated to help offset our temporary closure of our physical space until that time when we can reopen the doors to the studio.

From all of us at Blue Pearl, may you be healthy, may you be happy, and may you have peace of mind.

Sign up for live stream yoga classes here.

UPDATED: Blue Pearl Yoga offers live stream classes via Zoom for adults and kids

By Billie Owens

From Blue Pearl Yoga:

Blue Pearl Yoga Studio in Batavia is pleased to be offering live stream classes via Zoom for adults and kids! Please see our Live Stream Classes page and use the signup links to register and join our teachers teaching live from their homes to yours.

Please use the link in your confirmation email to join the class.

*Due to the financial strain that many of you are facing, we welcome you to use a discount code if you are experiencing a serious financial hardship. Please understand that we are, too -- and any amount you can give is appreciated.

**UPDATE: See below.

Live Stream Schedule:

Mondays 9:30-10:30 a.m.   Vinyasa - All Levels (Patti)
Mondays 4-5 p.m.   Gentle Yoga (Marianne)
Mondays  5:30-6:30 p.m.   Vinyasa - All Levels (Lisa)
 
Tuesdays 10-10:45 a.m.   Kids & Family Yoga  (Marianne)
Tuesdays  4-5 p.m.   Vinyasa - All Levels (Patti)
Tuesdays  5:30-6:30 p.m.   Vinyasa - All Levels (Lisa)
 
Thursdays 10-10:45 a.m.  Kids & Family Yoga (Marianne)
Thursdays  4-5 p.m.   Vinyasa - All Levels (Patti)
 
Saturday 9-10 a.m.  Vinyasa - All Levels (Patti)

Follow these simple steps:

  • Click “Live Stream Classes” page at bp-yoga.com
  • Choose class and click "Sign Up"
  • Use the link in your confirmation email to join the class
  • Do Yoga!

You will get notified 12 hours and again 1 hour before your class.

Take very good care of yourself as you care for those you love. Stay in touch through future Newsletters and posts on our Facebook page.

*For those experiencing a serious financial hardship who would like to use a discount code to access live stream yoga classes:

  • Simply click on the Sign-Up button from our Live Stream Classes page, and enter the code. Use code HALFOFF for a 50-percent discount; Use code FREE for a 100-percent discount.

​**UPDATE 12:46 p.m., Tuesday, March 24: Many have asked to use their Class Card, so a coupon code has been added to the website -- CLASSCARD. Please remember, we are extending all class card expiration dates, of course.

Special event at Blue Pearl Yoga Feb. 15: 'Purifying shower of love' by way of a Healing Sound Bath

By Billie Owens

Information from Blue Pearl Yoga:

Blue Pearl Yoga in Downtown Batavia is very excited to have Sonam Targee of Ancient Universal Medicine of Rochester join us again for a Healing Sound Bath on Saturday, Feb. 15.

A Healing Sound Bath is a relaxation technique and meditative experience. Participants “bathe” in the sound waves produced by chimes, gongs, drums, singing bowls, voice and more. It is a healing meditation through the use of sound and vibration.

"It is like a purifying shower of love through sound," according to proponents.

Targee brings more than 30 years of expertise in sacred music and sound healing. His expertise in sacred music, sound healing and the spiritual arts gives him a diverse palate of healing modalities from which to choose and to impart.

Targee performs regularly as a musician and leads groups in Kirtan (sacred chanting).

“Music can open your heart and create a profound sense of inner peace, a place where healing can occur,” Targee says.

The Healing Sound Bath will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 15 at the yoga studio, located on the third floor of the historic Masonic Temple building located at 200 E. Main St.

Presale tickets are $35. If any remain, tickets will be $40 at the door.

Psychic visits Blue Pearl Yoga Jan. 31, his specialty is 'readings' on mysterious deaths

By Billie Owens

If you like John Edwards and "The Long Island Medium" then you will probably enjoy a "Psychic Gallery Event" with Steven Albert at Blue Pearl Yoga Studio in Batavia on Friday, Jan. 31.

Time is 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Tickets cost $35.

Many people are astonished at the detail in his readings.

If you have a mystery around a death -- come let him look into it and tell you the "real story" of what happened. Albert claims he is often able to channel loved ones who have passed.

His passion is bringing forth what needs to be said to help with healing of the people left behind.

The yoga studio is located in the Masonic Temple building, third floor, at 200 E. Main St. -- the southeast corner of Main and Center streets Downtown.

To learn more, visit www.stevealbert.net

Questions can be emailed to: KBREBS@HOTMAIL.COM

Hospital and Blue Pearl Yoga team up to offer discounts on yoga classes for UMMC workers

By Billie Owens

Press release:

United Memorial Medical Center and Blue Pearl Yoga have joined together to bring the benefits of yoga to their employees. This week is designated as UMMC week at Blue Pearl Yoga Studio, 200 E. Main St. in Batavia.

Employees who show their UMMC work badge will receive deep discounts for yoga classes, promoting the hospital’s overall intention to support their employees' health and personal wellness goals.

The health benefits of yoga are very real. Much more than a trend in America, this 5,000-year-old practice has withstood the test of time, and modern scientific studies has proven its effectiveness. Yoga can increase flexibility, build strength and improve balance.

There’s a vast and growing body of research on how yoga improves health concerns including: chronic pain, obesity, fatigue, asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, and high blood pressure, to name a few.

Because of the mind-body connection in yoga, it is a wonderful practice for stress relief, relaxation and focus. It is essentially, self-care.

Burnout is common among healthcare workers, and the hospital has offered a variety of healthy activities and tips for team members this month. The focus is on recharging and caring for themselves as they care for patients and our community.

To find out about what is offered at Blue Pearl Yoga, click here.

Bang a gong: Blue Pearl Yoga hosts Healing Sound Bath Nov. 10

By Billie Owens

Press release:

Blue Pearl Yoga (200 E. Main St., Batavia) will host a Healing Sound Bath from 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 10 featuring Sonam Targee of Ancient Universal Medicine, Rochester.

Targeee will also be teaching a three-hour Nada Yoga Workshop that afternoon in cooperation with the Yoga Teacher Training occurring at Blue Pearl.

He is a professional complementary medicine practitioner and musician with more than three decades of experience counseling thousands of people in the art of gaining the knowledge necessary to improve their health.

A Sound Bath is a musical and spiritual journey, a healing meditation through the use of sound and music. It is deeply relaxing and comforting, allowing you to let go of anxiety and worries, open your heart and create a profound sense of inner peace, the place where healing can happen.

The sounds come from many instruments from all around the world, and can include crystal singing bowls, five-metal singing bowls, voice, flutes from around the world, shakers and rattles, didgeridoo, hammer dulcimer, mountain dulcimer, tanpoori, tabla, frame drum, gongs, recorders, harmonium, and harmonica.

The music is evocative of ancient temples, caves, and ancient tree groves. No participation other than active listening is required. It’s like a purifying shower of love through sound!

A Sound Bath uses the ancient Indian system of Nada Yoga, the science of sound for transformation. In Yogic philosophy (and quantum physics) everything in the universe is made of energy and possesses a basic vibration that interacts with everything else, including your body and mind. If you can imagine your body like a guitar, disease and discomfort can arise because your guitar strings are out of tune, the music of the body has literally gone out of tune.

We can use music, sound, and the principles of Nada yoga to “tune” our bodies, bring back equilibrium, and facilitate healing. Come and experience why music soothes the savage beast. It’s cool science! All are welcome!

Cost is $25 (or two class card punches). Purchase by Friday, Nov. 9. Tickets can be purchased at bp-yoga.com.

Class on 'Holistic Wellness through Ayurveda' to be offered Oct. 13 at Blue Pearl Yoga

By Billie Owens

Press release:

"Holistic Wellness through Ayurveda: Intro to Yoga's Sister Science" will be taught by K. Sonam Targee of Ancient Universal Medicine from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 13, at Blue Pearl Yoga in Downtown Batavia.

Cost is $60.

Have you heard about Ayurveda but don't quite know where to start?

Are you interested in learning more about the body’s natural rhythms and how you can use the five elements to bring balance to the body mind, and spirit?

Did you know that simple dietary and lifestyle adjustments can have a dramatic impact on your physical, mental and emotional well-being?

Not sure how to detect an imbalace in the body?

If you answered yes or maybe to any of the questions above, then this course is for you.

In this introductory class, we will focus on making the information immediately useful and easy to understand with practical applications.

Ayurvedic theory is explained, including the three Doshas, the five elements (earth, water, fire, air, ether), and the viewpoint of Ayurveda in anatomy, subtle anatomy and physiology.

Diagnosis and treatment strategies will be discussed including herbal medicines and dietetics. The information is for anyone who has an interest in self-healing and wellness, or would like to simply understand the basics of this ancient Indian modality.

Lastly, this class will discuss Prana and how this energy moves in the body and mind. Acknowledging that there is an inner vitality circulating throughout the body is a profound gift from Asian medicine to the world. Learning how to consciously work with it is a tremendous advantage for living a healthy life.

Imagine having great mental clarity, emotional stability, and peace of mind and heart.

Includes yogasanas and pranayama where applicable.

Blue Pearl Yoga is located in the Masonic Temple building atop Charles Mens Shop at Main and Center streets.

bp-yoga.com

About K. Sonam Targee

K. Sonam Targee is a professional complementary medicine practitioner with more than three decades of experience counseling thousands of people in the art of gaining the knowledge necessary to improve their health. Sonam endeavors to help the individual do what works for them, given the wide array of therapeutic modalities in Ayurveda and Chinese medicine.

Hypnotist Glenn Adams to introduce his business EnTranced Saturday and Tuesday with talks at Blue Pearl Yoga

By Billie Owens

Press release from hypnotist Glenn Adams:

Glenn Adams will introduce his business EnTranced to area residents in upcoming seminars. Hypnosis has proven successful in helping people change habits from anxiety to smoking. Likewise, it often helps with sleep disorders, pain management, and lots of things in-between.

He will answer questions such as: What is this “other” mind we have. How do we access it? Does it ever lead us astray? He will also answer the question the owner and CEO of a multi-million dollar corporation asked him, “Will you make me cluck like a chicken?”

To introduce the benefits of hypnosis to the broader public, Adams will be giving introductory talks hosted by Blue Pearl Yoga, on the fourth floor of the Masonic Temple in Downtown Batavia.

One is tomorrow, Sept. 8, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.; and two are on Tuesday, Sept. 11, in the morning from 10 to 11 and in the evening from 6:30 to 7:30. Cost is $5. Sign up on the Blue Pearl Yoga website, bp-yoga.com -- click on Events & Workshops -- using PayPal.

Adams can be reached at 585-727-4408.

Here are a few frequently asked questions:

People often ask how I got into hypnosis. I have relatives and friends who had problems the medical community couldn’t treat adequately, or even diagnose in some cases. When my son-in-law was ready to file for total disability, I figured there must be a different approach for some of the issues. I ended up going the direction of hypnosis and have never looked back.

Are there things hypnosis cannot help? I don’t really know the limits of the human mind. Remember that our 50 trillion cells all develop from one cell. But I do have a client with restless leg syndrome and we haven’t resolved it, at least not yet.

Can hypnosis make people do things they don't want to do? Hypnosis is really an educational process, which makes it easier people to do what they really want to do. It doesn’t make them do what they don’t want to do. Unfortunately, we are not born with a users manual for the mind so we just work to use it more strategically.

About Glenn Adams:

Cheryl and I moved into the Batavia area in 1985. Since then we have been involved in a number of church and civic activities. I am semi-retired after teaching at Spencerport High School and Roberts Wesleyan College, and also run a Registered Investment Advisory business.

FREE Summer Solstice Outdoor Labyrinth Walk in Stafford, sponsored by Blue Pearl Yoga

By Billie Owens

Everyone is welcome to participate in the FREE Summer Solstice Outdoor Labyrinth Walk sponsored by Blue Pearl Yoga.

It will take place in Stafford at 9072 Fargo Road from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 21.

Please join in this unique walking meditation.

What is the appeal of Labyrinths?

Labyrinths are tools used by many cultures and religions throughout history.
Labyrinths can be walked meditatively as a tool for personal, psychological, and spiritual transformation. 

"The Path Reveals the Mystery of Life Unfolding."

Serving as a living metaphor, the labyrinth experience is known for helping to remember one's true Self by connecting us to the depths of our soul. Taken one step at a time, their purpose is to further those looking to bring more spiritual, emotional, psychological and physical well being into their lives, and to gain insights and answers. 

Some frequent labyrinth users call the experience a meditation in motion, fusing movement and inner calm. Concentrating only on the course before you, your pace slows, your breathing deepens and your mind becomes clearer.

Questions? Call Sandy at 344-1765.

'Downward Dog for a Cause' at Blue Pearl Yoga Friday night to benefit Volunteers for Animals

By Billie Owens

From the Volunteers for Animals:

"Downward Dog for a Cause" is a donation-based yoga class that will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 23, to benefit the Volunteers for Animals at the Genesee County Animal Shelter. It will take place at Blue Pearl Yoga, located on the third floor of the Masonic Temple Building at the corner of Main and Center streets in Downtown Batavia.

Come and join us for a playful Vinyasa flow class, open to all levels of experience.

All donations are welcome -- even pet supplies!

If you do not own a yoga mat, extra mats are available to borrow at the class. Parking available in the muncipal lot off Center and School streets.

Walk the Santa Rosa Labyrinth on loan to Blue Pearl Yoga Feb. 13 and make a donation for Spay Our Strays

By Billie Owens

Press release:

The Santa Rosa Labyrinth -- a winding path in which participants walk from beginning to end -- will be set up at Blue Pearl Yoga on Saturday Feb. 13. It takes approximately 20 minutes to walk the labyrinth.

This seven-circuit labyrinth is divided into four quadrants and includes a unique space on the fourth circuit in line with the labyrinth’s “mouth” or center. Called the “heart space” this area is not walked by serves as a sacred vessel for holding symbols of one’s issues, needs, or celebrations. Looking at the path, walkers realize that this heart space is approached from all four directions, allowing the participant to view his/her symbols from various points of view.

There are many examples of the Santa Rosa Labyrinth in the United States but the one at Blue Pearl Yoga is on loan from the First Unitarian Church in Rochester and will be hosted by Harriette Royer. Harriette will be offering a brief introduction to the Labyrinth Quest throughout the afternoon so participants can deepen their experience as they proceed through the labyrinth.

Marianne Skye, owner of Blue Pearl Yoga says, “Walking the Santa Rosa Labyrinth is a beautiful experience and one that I am happy to share with our Blue Pearl Yoga community.”

Anyone interested may visit the labyrinth between 12:30 and 3 p.m. on Feb. 13. There is no cost but donations will be given to the Spay Our Strays program at the Batavia Animal Shelter. For more information visit www.bp-yoga.com.

Mother's Day Spa Retreat at Blue Pearl Yoga!

By Lisa Ace

Mother's Day Spa Retreat on May 4th from 1pm-5pm at Blue Pearl Yoga, located at 200 E. Main St., in Batavia. Relax and rejuvenate on this day retreat that features Thai yoga massage, facials & parrafin hand dips and guided relaxation. For more inforamation call or check out our website. Call 585-230-5430 or www.bp-yoga.com.

The cost is $80 for two. Please register before May 1st, if possbile. Bring your mother, your daughters or a friend. Partners required. Class size is limited. Call today!

Event Date and Time
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Closing reception for local artist Jolene Beckman's 'Within the Wallpaper' at The Gallery at Blue Pearl Yoga

By Patricia Hawley

Local artist Jolene Beckkman is closing her current exhibit, “Within the Wallpaper,” at The Gallery at Blue Pearl Yoga with a reception on Thursday, April 24 from 6 - 8 p.m. About a dozen pieces depict the struggle between what we expose and what we choose to keep hidden.

Born in Batavia but moved to Colorado before settling in Albion, Beckman attended local schools. She graduated from The College at Brockport with a degree in Fine Arts and gained an MFA from the University at Buffalo. She currently lives in Batavia with her husband and children.

Beckman has shown her extensive body of work locally in Batavia, Rochester, Buffalo, Canandaigua, Brockport, Binghamton, and Lockport as well as nationally in galleries in Chicago, Seattle, and New York City. With her current exhibit, Beckman says, she is, “questioning what it means to put a body on display, and what it means to be looked at — from the perspective of both the viewer and the viewed.”

Each complete painting is partially covered in wallpaper -- some of it purposely ripped -- “to convey the idea that sometimes what is concealed is often just as important as what is revealed.”

Much of Beckman’s work is steeped in realism and indeed, she draws inspiration from the detailed realism of the Old Masters. She also cites German Expressionist Kathe Kollwitz -- who produced a series of works reflecting her concern with war, poverty, and the lives of ordinary women in the 1920s -- as inspiring for their eloquent yet searing account of the human condition. 

“Her facial expressions are beautifully rendered,” Beckman says. “My own interpretation of such stark emotion is to paint my figures as if they are walking out of the painting and into a dream.”

Within the Wallpaper is on display until Thursday, April 24. The closing reception is scheduled from 6 - 8 p.m.; it is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. For additional information contact Blue Pearl Yoga at 585.230.5430 or the artist at jolene.beckman@gmail.com.

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