In the Galleries…
Roti Roti Art Center Members Show
Exhibit: November 1st – December 16th
Thank you to all who attended our Artists’ Reception on Sunday, November 5th
We are very excited to present the work of many of our talented members. Enjoy the photos of some of the artwork included in the exhibit. Visit during our regular business hours to see the wonderful variety of artists work.
Shirley’s Abstract Exhibition
November 1st – December 16th
Shirley Roti Roti and family moved to Buchanan in 1950, and she resided here until her death in 2020. After completing her undergraduate degree in 1966 at Western Michigan University, she taught freshman English for one year at Buchanan High School, and then became the art teacher, a position she held over fifteen years. In 1970, she earned an MFA degree from the University of Notre Dame. She belonged to the Buchanan Fine Arts Council, the Michigan Art League, the St Joseph Watercolor Society, the Art Center of South Bend, Niles Art Association, Fernwood, the Buchanan College Club and the Buchanan Preservation Society. After retiring in 1982, Shirley gave private lessons at her personal studio; and taught at Fernwood and the Buchanan Art Center, which she helped establish. In 2022, the art center was renamed Roti Roti Art Center of Buchanan, in her honor.
While Shirley studied and produced prints, pottery, woodcuts, and sculptures in metal and clay, her primary artistic expression was in painting and drawing. Watercolor was her favorite medium, but she created works in oil, acrylic, pastel, pen & ink, colored pencil and charcoal.
She painted abstracts, landscapes, still-lifes and portraits. Flowers were the inspiration for many still-lifes. Historic buildings and local farmland around Buchanan provided inspiration for many landscapes. Her favorite subjects for portraits were her children and grandchildren.
Shirley’s paintings were accepted and displayed in many juried exhibits in the area and won numerous prizes.
This year RRAC is proud to exhibit some of Shirley’s abstract works, on loan from her family.
UPCOMING EXHIBITS
Jeffrey Paulette: Lithographs & Hand-crafted Furniture
Artist Reception – Sunday, January 14th, 2024 2-4pm ET
Exhibit runs Wednesday, January 10th – February 18th, 2024 in the Fehlner Family Gallery
Jeffrey Paulette’s interest in drawing and painting began at a young age. His passion for pen & ink drawings led to his exploration of creating images using the method of lithographs, prompted by the suggestion from an outstanding teacher who noted Paulette’s attention to detail. Paulette, a local artist, portrays Buchanan area landscapes, all hand printed originals, not photo reproductions. Each print is a numbered, limited edition, drawn on lithograph stone, then hand inked and printed, one at a time on a lithograph press.
Inspired by remodeling an older home, Paulette began making his own Mission-style furniture, incorporating stained glass, mica and tiles. In addition to his lithographs and furniture, the exhibit features several of Paulette’s beautiful stained-glass windows and lamp shades, all of which contribute to a timeless aesthetic.
As a young man, Paulette was awarded a scholarship to John Herron School of Art in Indianapolis, where he attended from 1966-1968 before being drafted into the Army. After completing his service, Paulette finished his undergraduate studies and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education at Ball State University. His teaching career began soon after in Indiana where he taught middle school art for seven years. During his teaching career, Paulette earned a Masters Degree in Art Education from the University of South Bend and exhibited his drawings and lithographs in art shows throughout the Midwest.
A brief description of lithography: Lithography was invented in 1796. To create a lithograph, the artist draws a reverse image on a smooth lithograph stone with a special grease pencil. The drawing is then treated with various chemicals that bond the drawings to the stone. There are approximately thirty steps to this process. The lithographic process works with the principle that oil (grease pencil) and water cannot mix. After wetting down the stone with water, the stone is hand inked and run through a printing press to create one print. This process continues for each print. Each print requires a delicate balance of the right amount of water sponged onto the stone and the ink rolled onto the stone.