CAZENOVIA — This spring, Albany Street’s H. Grey will exhibit the artwork of former Cazenovia resident Sarah Tietje-Mietz as part of the store’s “Grey Gallery @ H. Grey Social.”
Tietje-Mietz is a self-described artist, writer, and lover of old buildings. Her paintings depict streetscapes and architecture in quiet, nocturnal moments, each capturing the luminosity and intrigue created as night falls. While her work is deeply linked to her personal experiences of placemaking and memory, her paintings also invite viewers to imagine and project their own narratives onto them.
She has shown her work in solo exhibitions at the Cultural Center of Cape Cod and the New Woodstock Free Library, and in group exhibits at the Stone Quarry Hill Art Park, the Roberson Museum of Art, the State of the Art Gallery in Ithaca, the Broome County Arts Council, the Gear Factory, and as part of the Cazenovia Art Trail.
Currently based in Stonington, Maine, Tietje-Mietz works as a digital content editor for the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts. She previously served as the director of the Hilltop House and Studio at Stone Quarry Hill Art Park in Cazenovia.
According to Tietje-Mietz, the Grey Gallery Spring/Summer Show will feature around 10 of her paintings, and there will be a mix of new work and some older pieces.
“My work has always been tightly linked to placemaking and memory, and with this seismic shift in my life — new job, new town, new community — I find myself more acutely examining my emotions in response to this,” said Tietje-Mietz. “I see this coming through as I paint, and the new work feels more sensitive and responsive to my internal questioning of place, self, and connection.”
All the featured paintings will be available for purchase throughout the season.
Tietje-Mietz will return to Cazenovia to open the show with an artist’s reception on April 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. Handcrafted mocktails, espresso beverages, charcuterie, and Jeni’s ice cream flights will be available.
“We are thrilled to showcase Sarah Tietje-Mietz’s captivating and intriguing work,” said H. Grey Co-founder Travis Barr in a press release announcing the exhibit. “Her paintings beautifully capture the essence of nocturnal moments, inviting the viewer to reflect on their own memories and stories. We are so excited to welcome everyone to experience her art.”
The exhibit is free and open to the public.
H. Grey Supply Co. is a modern-day general store and outfitter at 53 Albany St. in Cazenovia.
The store, which is focused on celebrating inclusivity, positivity, and community, offers clothing, accessories, bath and body products, skincare brands, makeup, pantry items, household necessities and décor, bar supplies, and more.
Last summer, the business expanded into the space next door at 55 Albany St., which previously housed the home furnishing retail showroom J.D. Hunter/home.
The expansion, called H. Grey Social, offers espresso drinks and handmade mocktails, comfortable seating, and curated products from independent brands and small-batch makers from around the U.S. The added space also enabled H. Grey to introduce a gallery component to the store.
“Our first [art] exhibit featured the works of Pam Steele, who coincidentally was one of Sarah’s art professors,” said Barr. “During our first summer, we were approached to hang a few of Pam’s works for an artist event here in Cazenovia. After getting to know Pam and coming to understand the prestige of her international career, she suggested that with the expansion of our space last August, we utilize it as a gallery in addition to everything else we do at H. Grey. With her support, we knew we couldn’t pass up bringing more amazing art to Cazenovia.”
For more information on the upcoming art show and opening reception, contact H. Grey Supply Co. at 315-815-5016 or check the events page at hgreysupplyco.com/events.
Learn more about Tietje-Mietz and her work at sarahtietje-mietz.com or @sareteej on Instagram.
