The Gatehouse Coffee Shop & Mercantile in Morris is hosting a series of events celebrating visual art, music, and writing in February. (Submitted photo)

MORRIS – The Gatehouse Coffee Shop & Mercantile is embracing the energy of abstraction this February with a series of events celebrating improvisation, contemporary expression, and creative experimentation across visual art, music, and writing.

The month kicks off with a special art reception on Friday, February 6th from 4–6 PM, featuring live performance and visual exploration. Improvised Gestures showcases the collaborative work of musician Evan Jagels and visual artist Timothy Atticus, presenting a dynamic conversation between sound and form.

Evan Jagels will perform songs from his new album, SoLo, created in collaboration with Timothy Atticus’ drawings and accompanied by a limited-edition book. Guests will experience an immersive environment where improvisation meets abstraction, creating a unique sensory encounter.

In partnership with the Butternut Valley Arts & Crafts Center (BVACC), The Gatehouse is excited to launch a new abstract art class designed for artists of all levels. Running 4 to 6:30 p.m. Friday evenings from February 13th through early March, the class explores the principles of abstraction through observation, experimentation, and material engagement.

Participants will cultivate the skills to see, think, and make in new ways—moving beyond representation toward expressive, conceptual, and intuitive approaches.

Expanding the month’s exploration of abstraction across disciplines, The Gatehouse will also host a generative writing workshop focused on ekphrastic writing, the practice of responding to visual art through language, from 1 to 3 p.m. on Feb. 7

Led by writer and educator Julene Waffle, participants will engage with paintings, drawings, objects, and images as creative catalysts, translating close looking into vivid prose and poetry. Through guided prompts, discussion, and shared reflection, writers will move beyond simple description to engage art emotionally, imaginatively, and critically—exploring voice, metaphor, narrative, and perspective.

Open to writers of all levels, the workshop invites both seasoned writers and curious beginners to write with art rather than merely about it. Participants will leave with new tools for observation, original writing generated during the session, and fresh inspiration drawn from visual forms and collective conversation.

Registration and class information: www.thegatehouseny.com

- Information from the Gatehouse Coffee Shop & Mercantile