RoCA Preps for Three New Exhibits

Come next month, Rockland Center for the Arts (RoCA) will be decked out with folk art and rollercoaster-like short films.

The West Nyack art center is prepping for three new shows slated to open Sept. 9 and run until Oct. 3—"The World According to Peter Cheney," "Callum Cooper," and the annual faculty exhibit and open house.

Nyacker Peter Cheney uses everyday objects as a canvas.

"He's a self-taught artist," said Lynn Stein, RoCA's artistic director. "His work is sort of folk art—it's very raw. He's a well-known character around Nyack."

Debuting simultaneously is an exhibit by Australian Callum Cooper, a sculptor and creator of short-films.

"His videos feel very much as if you're on an amusement park ride," Stein said. "It gives viewers wild sensation."

Cooper recently finished a residency at a gallery in Sparkill.

Rounding out the three fresh exhibitions is the annual faculty exhibit and open house. Paintings, drawings, ceramics and photos by the staff will be on display, and studio tours will be scheduled, as well.

"It's a really good time for people to come and get to know us," Stein said.

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The details

'The World According to Peter Cheney'

• When: Opening reception, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2:00-5:00pm; runs through October 3
• Where: On view in GalleryONE
• What: Self-taught artist and Nyack resident Peter Cheney exhibits his art in "The world according to Peter Cheney." His paintings, sometimes on found objects, reflect the simplicity and directness of country road signs, while his animal characters tell anecdotes of his time in Rockland County and in his day-to-day life.

'Callum Cooper'

• When: Opening reception, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2:00-5:00pm; runs through October 3 
• Where: On view in Media Project Spaces 1 & 2            
• What: Using ingenious homemade camera riggings, Australian artist Callum Cooper creates films that flip and spin placing the viewer inside the action, much like being on a ride in an amusement park. Created at the Vytlacil Campus of the Arts Student League of New York, 2011.

'Annual Faculty Exhibition and Open House'

• When: Opening reception, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2:00-5:00pm; runs though October 3
• Where: On view in the Emerson Gallery
• What: RoCA?s talented faculty exhibits their most recent artwork and projects including painting, drawing, ceramics, photography, jewelry and more. Chat with the faculty, tour our studios and see demonstrations. A great opportunity to get to know RoCA!