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Posted: 07/04/12

PASTELS AND PHOTOS. Above, Romeo resident and artist James Kaperek is seen here transporting some of his pastel works to the High Head Sculpture Valley gallery in England in 2008. He, along with Washington Township photographer Elijah Majeski, will be featured at the Starkweather Arts Center July 13-28.

(Observer file photo)

Starkweather features
two local artists in July

by CHRIS GRAY
Observer Staff Writer

      Two shows in one will demonstrate what local talent is residing in the greater Romeo area.
       The Starkweather Arts Center will have a double dose of local art by featuring the photography of Elijah Majeski and the pastel artwork of James Kasperek.
       The shows begin on July 13 with an opening reception from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., and will run until July 28.
       Kristin Barr, art director for the arts center, said the July exhibits will be a nice showing of two different mediums from two talented artists.
       "What's great is they both have very affordable artwork, so I encourage anyone interested in adding to their art collection to come to the show," Barr said.
       Barr admits she was initially leery about featuring a recent high school graduate's work, but upon seeing Majeski's photos she changed her mind.
       "The level of talent is amazing, I was super impressed," she said. "He absolutely knew what he was going to do for the show, so I was happy to give him a show."
       Majeski, a resident of Washington Township and 2012 graduate of Lutheran High North, said his photos are about capturing the innocence and "crazy dreams" that people have when they're children.
       The subjects in his photos are mainly his sisters and their friends. He said he starts with an idea, such as playing dress-up or cowboys and Indians, and photographs his subjects enacting these games.
       "There is a lot of planning, but it's based more on the environment they create than what they're going to do," he said.
       He will be heading to the Pratt Institute in New York City to study photography, and expressed excitement in having his first show.
       "I was really impressed with the Starkweather center," he said. "I'm really proud with what I've learned through the experience."
       Barr said she approached Kasperek to feature his pastel landscapes in his own show. He is a member of the art center and recently won second place during the Member's Show in February.
       "He is very, very talented and I'm excited to see his work fill the whole downstairs gallery," she said. "I would love and welcome more of our members to submit for a show."
       Kasperek, a Romeo resident, studied at the College for Creative Studies as well as the Columbus College of Art and Design with a major in fine art painting and a minor in illustration.
       He works as a graphic artist, but said he has been a serious artist for 35 years, working with pastels since the early `90s.
       "I'm more concerned and inspired by colors than anything else," he said. "I always love to draw and I discovered pastels, where the color was as vibrant, if not more vibrant, than oils."
       He said he likes to draw exclusively on black paper, using photos of local landscapes or plants as his subject matter if he isn't drawing at the site itself.
       His works have been featured in the Starkweather Arts Center as well as overseas, but was excited to have a show dedicated to his works.
       "It's really quite an honor," he said.
       The Starkweather Arts Center is located at 219 N. Main Street and is open Thursdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call (586) 752-5700 for more information.

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