NORWICH – The public is invited to attend the opening reception of an exhibit by Chenango Forks artist, Keith Rosko, on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m.  The reception will be in the Mariea Brown and Raymond Loft Galleries of the Chenango County Council of the Arts at 27 W. Main Street in downtown Norwich.  The exhibit will feature beautiful, realistic pen and ink and pencil drawings of Native Americans, New England folk heroes and recent work that focuses on historical documentary and drama, as well as other period style work.  His specialty is Native American studies, with an emphasis on portrait and figurative work.  While he works almost solely in black and white, his photo-realistic graphite pencil renderings show a flair for detail, costume and expression.  His work is meticulously researched to reflect a high degree of historical accuracy. Keith’s exhibit will focus on a look into the past, a fleeting glimpse of something that is disappearing or has disappeared, giving the show an overall theme and mood in keeping with the somber attitude expressed in most of Keith’s Native work.
Rosko received his teaching degree from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania and a MA in Illustration from the Marywood University of Pennsylvania.  He is currently an art teacher at Chenango Forks.  He is a member of the American Press Association, New York State Art Teachers Association, Communications Association of the Southern Tier and the Indian Arts and Crafts Association.  His illustrations and drawings have been published in such magazines as the Wild West, Holistic Resource, Harding House Publisher, Carousel News and Trader and Mason-Crest Publishing, to name a few.  He has also been commissioned to do work for the Meridian Mortgage Corporation, the Endicott Carousel Committee, Catholic Charities of Broome County, the Southern Tier Crane Incorporated and many more.  His work has been displayed and won awards across the country in Chicago, Los Angeles, North Dakota, Oregon and New York.
Keith has also been recognized for his excellence in teaching with awards from the Classroom Connection Internet Teacher of the Year, Technology Research Committee teaching award, A&E History Channel creative teaching award, Who’s Who among American High School Teachers, a nominee to the Disney Teacher of the Year and a feature article about him in the Cable in the Classroom magazine.
The art students of Chenango Forks have also benefited from Keith’s direction.  They have won 17 Scholastic Art Awards gold key medals, 23 silver key medals and one piece in the national level of competition.  Their work has also appeared in numerous newspaper articles and national magazines, television news programs, local Public Television coverage and exhibit with the NYS Education Department.