"Promise" Art Installation at Hartwood Elementary School

Gabriel Pons was commissioned by Hartwood Elementary School to create a 27 foot-long mural for their administrative office that embodies the “spirit” of the school. Above is a time lapse video showing the process from start to finish.

The mural reads:

“We are a community of dedicated and determined teachers who believe that students thrive in an environment that is inclusive, safe, purposeful, respectful, collaborative, engaging, and responsive.

Kids come first in our family and we strive for a stimulating learning experience that provides young minds with a creative spark and a nurturing environment where they can excel as children and be free to explore on their own or as a team all that our world has to offer. Curiosity, tenacity, empathy coupled with a supportive, hard-working and hands-on curriculum is key to cultivating success. We are invested in our future and believe that enduring relationships are built upon a foundation of trust, honesty, respect, patience, devotion, and charity.  Students are encouraged to grow together and learn from one another as an integrated community devoted to exploring science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, traveling the world and understanding our place in history because we are the future.”

PONSHOP extends are thanks to the faculty and staff of Hartwood Elementary for their sustained efforts in making Hartwood Elementary such a stimulating, incusive and engaging school.

Call for Artists: Model Kit Marvels Exhibition

Registration Deadline: Wednesday, June 15, 2016 or when submission limit is met.
Registration Fee: $20 (includes 1 model kit) Limited to First 25 Artist Entries & 1 Kit Per Artist
Delivery of Artwork: on/before Sunday, June 26 (noon-5pm)

Opening Reception: Friday, July 1, 2016 (6-10pm)
Exhibition Dates: July 1-31, 2016
Artwork Retrieval: Monday, August 1, 2016

PONSHOP is pleased to announce our seventh community art exhibition in July of 2016, and we invite you to participate as an artist in the event! “Model Kit Marvels” will feature custom-painted model kits supplied by the New York-based company Boundless Brooklyn. Artists can select between the Boundless Brooklyn Half Pipe, Medium Water Tower, or Billboard kit. 

Entry Parameters: Artists can modify their model kit however they see fit, adorning with paint, markers, and incorporating additional materials.  The models, however, must retain the same "footprint" - meaning that no materials shall excessively extend beyond the volume of the model.  Boundless Brooklyn Kits must be purchased through PONSHOP. All artwork must be assembled and dry upon delivery and all work must be for sale (The gallery retains 40% commission on all sales).  The gallery reserves the right to reject entries based upon quality: uniqueness and creativity, craftsmanship and execution.  Late Entries will be rejected. Entries must be original creations of the artist - no reproductions of others artwork.

We encourage all participating artists to join us for the opening reception.  We'll be doing a Do-It-Yourself Model Kit workshop in our classroom and, weather permitting, we'll have our garden open as well for guests.

Feel free to contact us should you have any questions. 

View fullsize

Boundless Brooklyn is an innovative company established in New York by friends David and Terence. They provide easy-to-assemble model architecture kits that allow you to add your own personal flair. Made out of 100% recycled material, their easy-to-assemble kits pay homage to iconic structures in our urban environment including NYC’s classic water towers, billboards, and skateboard ramps to name a few.  Learn more at www.boundlessbrooklyn.com

PONSHOP is a multifaceted storefront: an art gallery, retail store, and classroom.  The vision of the owners, Scarlett and Gabriel Pons, is to provide a place that embodies what they love: art, design, and creative education.  The gallery features a variety of work from artists both near and far.  Their storefront includes a classroom, providing workshops for students interested in everything from painting, ceramics, and architecture to street art and skateboarding.  PONSHOP has been retailing Boundless Brooklyn products since 2015 and incorporates Boundless kits in their art curriculum, teaching students about the history and architectural importance of these miniature structures.

Fall 2014: PONSHOP Academy

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October

kicked off our pilot PONSHOP Academy Program.  We worked with students over the course of six weeks to explore mixed media (collage and painting), ceramics, and sculpture.  Students were encouraged to push their boundaries in terms of their creative skills and willingness to work with new materials.  Below are some photos from the workshops taught by Gabriel Pons (The Collage Bridge Project), Scarlett Pons (Ceramic Pockets and Masks), and Leslie Brier (Wire and Nylon Sculpture).  Good work students!

PONSHOP Academy will be initiating again in January of 2015.  Click Here for our current class schedule and registration form.

"Remixed": Opening Reception, June 7 2013

“Remixed” was PONSHOP’s fourth community art exhibition featuring original artwork using vinyl albums as a canvas. The exhibit included thirty-six local and regional artists all working in this non-traditional medium. Remixed runs through June 30, 2013.

Gallery owner Gabriel Pons has been using 12” vinyl records as his canvas for three years. When a friend offered him a crate of old records, he saw the potential of using the standardized discs in an art show where each participant “repurposes” the old albums and turns them into art.  A Call for artists was issued in April and interested artists from students to professionals registered and received their albums to adorn.  The opening reception included musical entertainment from DJ Climax, spinning on the turntables.  Thanks to all of our artists who participated for this exhibition and thanks to our fans and friends who came out to see the show.

Featured Artists for the “Remixed” Show are: Gregg Deal, Matt Corrado, Rob Landeck, Adam Desio, Stephen Graham, Jack Labadie, Julie Maida, Nick Candela, Crystal Rodrigue, Jeff Gulick and Nina Angelini.

Participating Artists include: Sue Henderson, Stacey Schultze, Sandy Skipper, Lois Skipper, Alex Rudenshiold, Guerin Wolf , Jayden Gilhousen, Zakk Davis, Amina Shafi, Nina Jot Prakashkaur, Cameron Limbrick, Toy Fowler, Ronald Jackson, Mirinda Reynolds, Erin Stephens, Sidney Mullis, Joshua K Rama, Mark Eyestone, Kelly Penick, Mark Manjarrez, Sean Woodard, Elizabeth Carter, Frank Woodley, Josie Yorgeson, Ed King, and Malik Malek.

2012 The Sketchbook Project: Limited Edition

httpv://youtu.be/vhKHd0bj4WY

I am excited to have completed my submission for The Sketchbook Project Limited Edition Vol. 1.  Organized by the Art House Co-op, The Sketchbook Project is a collaborative collection of art books by thousands of artists throughout the world.  Once completed, the books are archived and displayed to the public at the Brooklyn Art Library.  Below is the sequence of pages from cover to cover.  The book is 32 pages and approximately 10″x7″ (open).

The Sketchbook Project: Limited Edition Progress part 2

Here is an update for my contribution to The Sketchbook Project Limited Edition Vol. 1.  Organized by the Art House Co-op, The Sketchbook Project is a collaborative collection of art books by thousands of artists throughout the world.  Once complete, (the deadline is April 30, 2012) the books are archived and displayed to the public at the Brooklyn Art Library.  Below are some progress photos of my book. You can view my earlier progress post here.

2012 Sketchbook Project Progress

Gabe is currently working on his submission for The Sketchbook Project Limited Edition Vol. 1.  Organized by the Art House Co-op, The Sketchbook Project is a collaborative collection of art books by thousands of artists throughout the world.  Once complete, (the deadline is April 30, 2012) the books are archived and displayed to the public at the Brooklyn Art Library.  Below are some initial progress snapshots of Gabe's sketchbook.  The book is 32 pages and approximately 10"x7" (open).

Small Works for November

Current snapshot of the studio desk.  To wax nostalgic for a moment, the drafting board has been in action since 1993.

November ushers in another cycle of small works for the upcoming holiday season.  I'm kicking out some classics before getting into some new designs.  You can catch the latest at our upcoming First Friday opening on November 4, aka The awesome Jewelry Show.

World Water Day: Saturday March 19, 2011

I'm excited to have contributed to Fredericksburg's first annual World Water Day event coming up this weekend. Our amigos, Friends of the Rappahannock, asked if PONSHOP would pitch in to promote water conservation within local communities. I did up a barrel with spray paint one fine morning and called it "Agua".

Check out Hurkamp Park in Fredericksburg, VA this Saturday, March 19 (9am-noon) to see more artist-painted barrels contributed by community as well as a "build your own rain barrel" workshop, and more.

Click Here for the Friends of the Rappahannock Facebook page.

Fredericksburg's World Water Day is a Family Friendly Free Event.

Public Art: Caroline Street Fence

Gabe is one of six local artists to participate in Fredericksburg’s latest Public Arts Project. “Beautify the Burg” entails adorning a section of Caroline Street’s 800 Block with six large art panels. The project was unveiled in a public ceremony on Friday, July 2 at 6pm. Below are some pics from the ceremony (and more).

Left to Right: Milvi K. Gill, Gabriel Pons, Brandon Newton, Jay D. Anderson, Bonnie De Lelys, Elizabeth Seaver, Kristi Zerull, and Pat Thalman.

The unveiling took place on June 2nd, 2010

Scarlett and the boys struck a pose in front of my panel.

"Grasshopper #3", mixed media on wood, 40"x56"