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A Walking Tour
Five West Chelsea Art Galleries
Carter Burden Gallery
www.carterburdengallery.org
Atlantic Gallery
www.atlanticgallery.org
Viridian Artists
www.viridianartists.com
The Painting Center
www.thepaintingcenter.org
Littlejohn Contemporary
www.littlejohncontemporary.com
Dr. Roberta E. Zlokower
July 16, 2017
See a separate article about Ceres Gallery, the High Line, and Hudson Yards, inspired by the same tour.
Yesterday, on a warm July Saturday, I explored several art galleries in the Landmark Arts Building, along Chelsea’s West Side, which is accessible from both West 28th Street and West 27th Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues. The first gallery, which I had eagerly wished to visit, is the Carter Burden Gallery. Its mission is “to create a dialogue with the arts community supporting our belief that older, lesser-known artists must not be overlooked due to age or decreased marketability in the current art scene.” (CBG Website) The works on view, included in group or solo exhibitions, were created with glazed ceramic, monotype, mixed media, marble, acrylic on canvas, oil on canvas, archival print, and cardboard tubes. I chose to share six works, below. Among these, Ellen Wallenstein’s archival print, “Tree 109th Street / Tree 108th Street” drew me in for some time, with its natural and painted greenery amidst urban structures. Browsing a gallery or museum is a serendipitous experience, with works that unexpectedly transport the imagination and grip one’s focus. Kate Missett’s ceramic sculpture, “Lynx with Blue Rose”, is a fascinating, fantasy figure. Vera Sapozhnikova’s “Intertwined I” and “Intertwined II” oils on canvas were replete with bursting colors and swirling curves.
Nearby, also on the 5th floor, I found the Atlantic Gallery, with a mesmerizing array of diverse works on display. The gallery’s website mentions its commitment to “supporting creative autonomy and excellence”. “A group of artists jointly own and manage the gallery”, often exhibiting their own work, as well as the work of other artists. (Atlantic Gallery Website) Among these was Joan Walton’s “Untitled” green-beige, ceramic sculpture, exuding the shape of a battered, discarded oceanic shell of a sea creature. Also of particular interest was one of Peter Treiber’s photographs from his “Ethereal Luminescence” series, which captures images from fireworks and light shows in incredible bursts of moving colors. Roni Sherman Ramos’ pair of oil on panel, abstract works were interesting in the blending of shapes and shadings.
On the 6th floor of this building, I found the Viridian Artists / A Contemporary Art Gallery. Its Director, Vernita Nemec, was a very personable host. Today was the final day of a juried exhibition. Viridian Artists notes (on its website) that it is “an outstanding showcase for emerging and established artists from the continental USA and around the world”. Ms. Nemec curates exhibitions, and the artist-owned gallery is highly supportive of its members. Susan Copich’s “All American” photograph seemed right out of the 50’s, with a woman, dressed in heels and makeup, rolling dough. “Harriet’s Kitchen”, a photograph by Lorna Stovall, decked in retro images of red, white, and blue, sported a red ribbon award. I was also drawn to Christopher Nathan Nelson’s twilight family scene, on a driveway, an archival digital print, called “The Great Grey One”.
Crossing an interior hallway to the 27th Street side of the building, also on the 6th floor, I discovered The Painting Center. This is a large, open, divided space, with an exhibit called “Fight or Flight”. “The Painting Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to the exploration of painting in all its possibilities; it does not champion one school or tradition, but welcomes and encourages diverse viewpoints regardless of their market appeal.” (The Painting Center Website) I was immediately drawn to Lauren Schiller’s oil on panel, called “Summer Alter: Equinox”. It was a surreal image, open to interpretation, with a candle, egg, and cactus alter to a sphere and clouds. Alexander Churchill's "A Fitting Family", an oil on canvas, depicted a family posing for a photograph, as lightning seems to strike. Michele Colburn’s mixed media construction, “Let Them Eat Cake”, was intriguing, with brown military spools and tripwire depicting the cake’s chocolate interior.
A highlight of the day was coming upon Littlejohn Contemporary, a refined, intimate gallery. I was given a tour by Laurie Laughren, who was extremely knowledgeable and enthused about the works. An exhibit, “Dust to Dust”, by Mayme Kratz, a mixed media artist, was an homage to the Arizona desert. She encases seeds, pods, shells, twigs, and other found bits of nature, within resin. Her pair of works, “Spring Bloom 5”, with resin over poppy pods, and “Night Bloom 7”, different, but also with resin and poppy pods, were gorgeous. Rob Marchessault’s "Vientos de la Tarde", in oil over acrylic on panel, presents a tree, bent and weathered from windstorms, against a balmy sunset. Nathaniel Galka’s "Pansy Time", with oil on primed watercolor paper, showcases shapes and textures. The final stop today was Ceres Gallery, linked in a separate article above. I look forward to another walking tour, soon, through West Chelsea galleries.
Sheila Schwid
"Who Are All These People?", 2017
30" x 24", Oil on Canvas
Carter Burden Gallery
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Angela Valeria
"Flying Fleeing", 2017
68" x 33", Mixed Media
Carter Burden Gallery
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Vera Sapozhnikova
(l) "Intertwined I", 2016
48" x 24", Oil on Canvas
Vera Sapozhnikova
(r) "Intertwined II", 2017
48" x 24"
Oil on Canvas
Carter Burden Gallery
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Kate Missett
(l) "Lynx with Blue Rose", 2017
24" x 8" x 8", Glazed Ceramic
Margo Mead
(r) "Birdman of Easter Island II", 2016
36" x 24" x 2", Mixed Media
Carter Burden Gallery
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Ellen Wallenstein
"Pastry Shop Girl/Frituras", 2017
24" x 44", Archival Print
Carter Burden Gallery
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Ellen Wallenstein
"Tree, 109th Street / Tree, 108th Street", 2017
24" x 44", Archival Print
Carter Burden Gallery
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Joan Walton
"Untitled", Ceramic
Atlantic Gallery
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Rosanne Ebner
(l) "Looking Out, Looking In #1"
16" x 16" x 4", Clay and Mirror
Rosanne Ebner
(r) "Looking In, Looking Out #2"
16" x 16" x 4", Clay and Mirror
Atlantic Gallery
Carter Burden Gallery
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Phyllis Chillingworth
"Lake Millinocket, Maine"
12" x 15", Oil on Linen
Phyllis Chillingworth
Broad Cove, Nova Scotia
12" x 15", Oil on Linen
Atlantic Gallery
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Karen Adelaar
"Tree"
18" x 13" x 12"
Hand built carved stoneware and
porcelain, fired in oxidation.
Atlantic Gallery
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
(l) Roni Sherman Ramos
"Into the Woods II"
18" x 18", Oil on Panel
(r) Roni Sherman Ramos
"Into the Woods II"
18" x 18", Oil on Panel
Atlantic Gallery
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Peter Treiber
"Ethereal Luminescence 58011"
12" x 16", Dye sublimation on aluminum
Atlantic Gallery
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Susan Leopold
"Landing", 2015
16" x 20" x 10"
Mixed media, photographs, light, wood
Atlantic Gallery
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Susan Copich
"All American" 1 of 15
25" x 36", Photography
Viridian Gallery
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Ellen Burnett
"A January State of Mind"
24.5" x 24.5" x 2.5", Mixed Media
Viridian Gallery
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Christopher Nathan Nelson
"The Great Grey One"
24" x 36"
Pigmented Archival Digital Photographic Print
Viridian Gallery
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Lorna Stovall
"Harriet's Kitchen"
11.75" x 17.75", Photograph
Viridian Gallery
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Vernita Nemec, Director, Viridian Gallery
Background: (l) "A January State of Mind"
(l) Brian Turkowski, "Passages No. 13"
17" x 24" x 18", Leather Horse Saddle, 24K Gold
(r) Keith Tang, "1969"
70" x 42", Oil, Pastel, Ink on repurposed fabric
Viridian Gallery
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Alexander Churchill
"A Fitting Family", 2016
24" x 24", Oil on canvas
The Painting Center
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Amy Hill
"Woman with Plant", 2017
20" x 16", Oil on wood
The Painting Center
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Lauren Schiller
"Summer Alter: Equinox", 2017
8" x 6", Oil on panel
The Painting Center
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Nancy Gladwell
"After the Fall", 2016
5" x 8", Gouache on bistre board
The Painting Center
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Ava Werner
"Flight One", 2017
24" x 24", Mixed media, acrylic, ink, images
The Painting Center
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Ana Rankinr
"Westerlund 2", 2016
20" x 20", Oil on panel
The Painting Center
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Michele Colburn
"Let Them Eat Cake", 2017
20" x 20" x 20", Acrylic paint, media,
military spools, tripwire, ceramics, plexi box
The Painting Center
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Laurie Laughren, with Mayme Kratz
"Circle Dream 66", 2017
36" x 36", Resin and magnolia pods on panel
Littlejohn Contemporary
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Robert Marchessault,
"Vientos de la Tarde"
24" x 24", Oil over acrylic on panel
Littlejohn Contemporary
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Nathaniel Galka
"Pansy Time", 2017
14" x 17", Oil on primed watercolor paper
Littlejohn Contemporary
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
Mayme Kratz
(l) "Night Bloom 7", 2016
24" x 24", Resin, poppy pods on panel
(r) Mayme Kratz
"Spring Bloom 5", 2017
24" x 24", Resin and poppy pods on panel
Littlejohn Contemporary
Courtesy of Roberta Zlokower
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