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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