Monday, April 30, 2012

2012 Gallery Openings (4 More from April) + Chatham Artillery Punch

ART
David Opdyke
"Accumulated
Afterthoughts"

Bryce Wolkowitz Gallery is presenting the meticulous work of David Opdyke which both delights and disturbs. Based on the concept that when "Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold..." (William Butler Yeats). This concept is the artist's personal experience after growing up in Schenectady, New York and watching that city decay. It's economy was based on the ways of the past and although once known as a beacon of American Industry and home to Thomas Edison's Machine Works, G.E. and ALCOA, Opdyke witnessed the rapid decline of manufacturing which created a city of abandoned architectural remains. 

He now makes hyper realistic models and intricate sculptures of this decay and all of our civilization's waste - the result of progress and governmental/corporate policies which created our new outsourced economy. Opdyke condemns America's excesses, shortsightedness and "throw-away" nature.



On one display table is Exhibit A. A group of extremely small sculptures which show the domestic scraps of everyday life. 




As you enter the gallery you pass by his Fixed Cycle, a organic looking display of flowing trees. Alas, these are all made of plumbing pipes and the pink buds are tiny plastic toilets.

Our innate drive to consume and exploit only proves the hopelessness for any group, especially governments and corporations, to have total control - creating chaos in their wake.

Accumulated Afterthoughts runs through May 26, 2012.
Bryce Wlkowitz Gallery
505 W. 24th St.
New York, NY 10011
212-243-8830
info@brycewolkowitz.com



Kathy Ruttenberg
"The Earth
Exhales"
"Dogman loved Ms. Rabbit Lady so much he wanted to run deep into the woods with her so he could eat her in privacy" - Kathy Ruttenberg

STUX Gallery is showing the fairytale-like ceramics of Kathy Ruttenberg. What strange things she has observed, down that rabbit hole! 


The artist's world is filled with men being portrayed as savages (animals) in gentleman's clothing - and the women are portrayed as the outsiders and intruders, well-dressed in rounded skirts and heels. Death, her metaphor for the aftermath of failed love affairs with savages, overtakes the women and the experience allows the natural world to embrace them. Now one with the earth, the women begin to blossom. 


(Dr. Phil will probably do a show on this one!)


The Earth Exhales runs through May 5, 2012
Stefan Stux Gallery
530 West 25th Street
New York, NY 10001
212-352-1600
Andrea@stuxgallery.com

Derek Buckner
"City Views"

Gallerist George Billis and artist Derek Buckner have become successful together, with many shows under their belt. With so little realism shown in Chelsea, it is a pleasure to stroll through what many art collectors really want to see on their walls, day-in and day-out, a well painted oil of something they recognize. Buckner's paintings go well beyond simple landscapes and they are more than a moment in time. These paintings are a composition of color, angles and shapes drawn from the artist's memory and his current experiences in Brooklyn, NY and its environs. 




The artist uses a vibrant palate and is intensely interested in the 1) afternoon sunlight; 2) the resulting shadows; 3) reflections in water; 4) pure design, shapes and color + 5) the close observation of clouds.

Derek Buckner grew up in and still works in Brooklyn. He is represented in many public and private collections and his work is exhibited in galleries around the world. 

City Views runs through May 12, 2012.
George Billis Gallery
521 W. 26th St, B1
Windows at street level
New York, NY 10001
212-645-2621
Gallery@GeorgeBillis.com



Atsuya Tominaga
"Sphere"

Ippodo Gallery, Tokyo & NY, is currently presenting the artist Atuya Tominaga and his love affair with rocks! Geology is the study of the physical Earth, primarily the study of rocks and the processes by which each type evolved. This is Atuya's interest, also. Rocks are the oldest and most basic of materials on our planet. When he touches them - he touches history, and when he makes his mark on them - he makes his mark on history. Japanese Art is credited with teaching the Western World about simplicity and abstraction - changing Western Art away from a predisposition for classical realism into the Modern Art movement. Atuya's work makes us look a second time at the beauty of simple objects, which surround us all.

When Atuya Tominaga sculpts stone he turns nature into a human object. As he says, it is his "song of joy to the fact that I am human." His shaping of the stones and the marks he leaves on them represent the often forgotten fact, humans are an extension of the natural forces of nature!  


Exhibition runs through June 9th, 2012
Ippodo Gallery
Tokyo & New York
521 W. 26th Street 
back gallery, B1
New York, NY 10001
Mail@ippodogallery.com
212-967-4899



Susan Wenyon &
Michael Gamble
"A Universe held up for Inspection"

Magnan Metz Gallery is exhibiting the collaborative photographic works of husband and wife team: Susan Gamble and Michael Wenyon. The show has two parts, images taken in India and Cuba, and the real star of the show, "holograms" made of objects at the historic Royal Greenwich Observatory, in England.

The panoramic landscapes of India and Cuba are worthy of a show, but the difference in excitement levels between the large horizontal prints and the holograms in the next room made the point about how much excitement can be attached to a work of art or its process. This buzz overshadowed the photographic prints we are accustomed to seeing, even if those works are quite good.


These holograms created by Wenyon & Gamble look as if they are suspended in water. You feel like you are viewing them through the window of a deep sea vessel. The three dimensional objects pictured, float in a rather deep space and different details are revealed when viewed from different angles, but when you look from the extreme side, you see these images are just glass photographic plates floating only an inch away from the solid wall.

I cannot explain how this process works, but everyone at the opening was trying to figure it out. It made you want Jules Verne to explain the many innovations and possibilities which probably lay ahead! After more exposure, this 3-D technology may be considered a quirky special effect, but this exhibition opening, had the WOW factor.

Gamble has a BA in Fine Art and a PhD in Science. Wenyon has a BSc in physics and an MSc in optics. He wrote the first popular textbook on holography. The couple was awarded the UNESCO prize for their contributions to new technology in art. Gamble & Wenyon currently live in NYC.

The exhibition runs through May 25, 2012
Magnan Metz Gallery
521 West 26th St.
New York, NY 10001
212-244-2344
Magnametz.com


FOOD
Chatham Artillery Punch

A few years after America's War of Independence, May 12, 1786, the Chatham Artillery was formed in Savannah, Georgia. Their first official duty was to pay tribute to General Nathaniel Green. They would go on to host President George Washington and President James Monroe. At that time in history, any social gathering of military officers was accompanied by a spiked punch to be consumed during the formal gala. The original recipe for Chatham Artillery's celebrated punch has survived all of these years. 
(The quantities in this punch are designed to serve a large crowd.) 

Ingredients
2 quarts Maraschino cherries
1 1/2 Catawba Wine
1 1/2 gallons strong Tea
2 1/2 pounds Brown Sugar
1 1/2 quarts Orange Juice
1 1/2 quarts Lemon Juice
1/2 gallon Rum
1 quart Gin
1 quart Brandy
1/2 pint Benedictine
1 1/2 quarts Rye Whiskey
1 case Champagne

Directions
Mix above ingredients together and keep covered in a dark and cool location for 36 to 48 hours before your event. Add the whole case of Champagne when you are ready to serve.

This punch was designed when people were always driven home in "Handsome Cabs". I think a cab IS a very good plan, after drinking this libation, in today's world also.


I had the privilege of experiencing Chatham Artillery Punch at a "Savannah Dinner" hosted by the honorable Josiah Hatch. He was born and raised in the Savannah area and a more obviously creative or smart man, you will never meet.  


(Source: Chatham Artillery Punch is in the public domain.)



Until later,
Jack
All photos of the openings are © Copyright 2012 Jack A. Atkinson and were taken with permission. ARTSnFOOD, All rights reserved. Concept & Original Text © Copyright 2012 Jack A. Atkinson under all International intellectual property and copyright laws. Images © individual artists, fabricators, respective owners or assignees

Monday, April 23, 2012

Gallery Openings: Damian Stamer "Southern Comfort", Joseph Nechvatal "nOise anusmOs" & Chip Simone Photography + Chicken & Eggplant Saltimbocca



ARTS
Damian Stamer "Southern Comfort"
Freight + Volume Gallery














"Back Where I Came From" oil on canvas, 48" x 72" - 2012 - $9,000




"Southern Comfort" runs through May 19, 2012.
Freight + Volume
530 West 24th Street
New York, NY 2012

-------------------
Joseph Nechvatal 
"nOise anusmOs"
Galerie Richard
Paris / New York















Joseph Nechvatal's "nOise anusmOs" is presented in conjuction with the world premier concert of (the immersive surround-sound re-mastered version of) his "viral symphOny". There is also the presentation of his new book "Immersion Into Noise".












Joseph Nechvatal's work shown in the gallery, is computer-assisted paintings and some have videos attached. The theme of "nOise anusmOs" is a link which the artist believes exists between the human retina, the anus and the cosmos. His computer-assisted paintings turn photographic images of the human retina and the anus into painterly images through a digital virus, he unleases. Nechvatal calls the contamination of the real by the virtual, "viractual". 










Nechvatal is a professor at The School of Visual Arts in NYC.

"nOise anusmOs" 
runs through May 26th, 2012.
Galerie Richard
514 West 24th Street
New York, NY 10011

Galerie Richard
3 Impasse Saint-Claude
75003 Paris, France
info@galerierichard.com

------------------
Chip Simone 
Photography Exhibition
Steven Kasher Gallery



Photographer Chip Simone's 40+ digital color prints were made during the past decade. He is a street photographer who studied under Harry Callahan and has embraced the nanosecond quick captures made possible by digital cameras. Simone goes out on the street by foot or by bicycle to find serendipity and beautiful happenstance. He credits having a keen awareness of all around him by having grown up in a rough Italian-American tenement neighborhood. He needs his fast reflexes and quick wit to see and capture the instant before him, before it is gone. From a young age, he learned to see with his heart and he uses that intuition in his photography.



Chip Simone's Photography Exhibition is up until May 26, 2012.

Steven Kasher Gallery
521 West 23rd Street
New York, NY 10011

-------------------
FOOD
Chicken & Eggplant Saltimbocca

After reading about photographer Chip Simone growing up around all-night Italian restaurants, I was in the mood for Italian food, so I decided to share a chicken saltimbocca recipe, which I tried last week. The breaded and sautéd chicken breasts and eggplants make this spin on traditional chicken saltimbocca, a mouthwatering dish. Saltimbocca means "jump into the mouth". 

Ingredients:
  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves,
      each about 6 oz., LIGHTLY  pounded to an even
      thickness, not flattened
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 Tbs. unsalted butter
  • 2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tsp. chopped fresh sage or 1 tsp. dried sage
  • 4 slices prosciutto
      folded to fit over the chicken breasts
  • 2- 4 1/2" slices of skinned eggplant, from the small end and trimmed to fit the chicken breasts.
  • 1/4 lb. fresh mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced and
      trimmed to fit chicken breasts
  • 3/4 cup dry white wine such as Pinot Grigio or
      Sauvignon Blanc
  • 1/8 cup lemon juice
  • Capers for garnish

Directions:
Pat the chicken breasts dry and season with salt and pepper. Sift the flour over both sides of the chicken. Do the same for the eggplant, coating all with flour, evenly and shaking off the excess. Set aside.

For the chicken - With a large fry pan or sauté pan (over medium-high heat) melt 1 Tbs. of the butter with 1 Tbs. olive oil until very hot. Add the chicken breasts and cook until the undersides are golden brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Turn the chicken breasts over and continue to cook until they feel firm when pressed in the centers, 4 to 6 minutes more.  

For the eggplant - In a separate large fry pan or sauté pan (over medium-high heat), sauté the eggplant in a small amount of olive oil, until crisp on both sides.

Remove all from both pans.

Place the breasts into the eggplant pan and sprinkle the breasts evenly with the chopped or dried sage. Top each breast with a piece of prosciutto, the crispy eggplants and then place the cheese slices on the breasts. Place the pan under a broiler and toast until the cheese is soft and starting to brown, about 1 1/2 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter. 

In the chicken's pan, increase the stove top heat to high. When the pan is sizzling, add the wine to deglaze the pan, stirring to scrape up any browned bits stuck on the pan bottom. Boil until reduced to 1/4 cup, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk-in 1 Tbs. butter. As it melts add the lemon juice and whisk constantly to create an emulsion. 

Spoon an equal amount of the sauce over each breast, then garnish with capers. Serve immediately.
(Sources: This is an original recipe, adapted from several recipes I have acquired.)

Until later,
Jack
All photos of the openings were taken with permission. ARTSnFOOD, All rights reserved. Concept & Original Text © Copyright 2012 Jack A. Atkinson under all International intellectual property and copyright laws. Images © individual artists, fabricators, respective owners or assignees.

Gallery Openings: Rebecca Morgan, "Cabin Fever" - Scott Fraser's New Work - Eugene Lemay "Navigator" + A Duck Sandwich





ART
Rebecca Morgan
"CABIN FEVER"
Opens at Asya Geisberg Gallery

Memling, Van Eyck, R. Crumb, Frans Hals, Adrien Brouwer and Brueghel are all historic influences used to describe Rebecca Morgan's portraits and self-portraits. From "beauty to repulsive" the artist comes to grips with her Appalachian roots. Stereotypes and caricatures are always based on a certain amount of truth, even if exaggerated. The artist bares it all, including her own demons, while laughing at the thought of the perfect, ideal body and perfect ideal living situation. Whether we are urban or rural, we long for perfection. Alas, reality bites back.













Rebecca Morgan's "Cabin Fever" will be up through May 26, 2012.
ASYA GEISBERG
gallery
537 B West 23 Street
New York, NY 10011
212.675.7525

---------------------------
Scott Fraser
Shows off his technical skills as a part of the 
"Things Are Not
What They Seem"
group show at
J. Cacciola Gallery






Scott Fraser's realism is more beautiful than reality itself. That's difficult to explain, but his oil paintings have a warm and inviting physical presence. In this series, he departs from pure realism and into a "Twilight Zone" of reality which pulls his work into the 21st century. Concept and technical skill combine in two wonderfully new paintings. Let's hope he shows us more like these in the future.






The exhibition is up through April 28th, 2012.
J. Cacciola Gallery
537 West 23rd Street
New York, NY 10011

---------------------------

Eugene Lemay
"NAVIGATOR"
at Mike Weise Gallery

Monumental digital outputs are attached directly to the wall.


Old handwritten letters, in Hebrew, create an overall pattern manipulated by the artist.





A monolith greets you as you enter the gallery and then you are presented with framed smaller works and larger pieces applied to the walls, until you finally enter the room with the monumental artworks nearly 20 feet in length.





"Navigator" by Eugene Lemay is based on his time in the Israeli Army. As a navigator he would lead his soldiers through utter darkness, relying mainly on his memory. The Hebrew handwriting, making up the surface images, are from letters never sent to families of fallen soldiers with whom Lemay served. The artworks are nearly black, but the markings vary in density, revealing imaginary landscapes.

---------------------------
FOOD
Have a DUCK Sandwich,
with your SOUP.

Sure, sliced turkey sandwiches are wonderful, as are sliced chicken breast sandwiches, as are sliced ham sandwiches - but they do not evoke that "something special" memory. So next time you need to serve sandwiches to a group, consider duck.

Fairly large duck breasts have a reasonable price, at most grocery stores or butcher's shops. Pan roast them, then slice and serve on several small baguettes, with fresh lettuce, mayonnaise and your choice of condiments. 

Full mouths will hum and eyes will roll back into heads, as this memorable sandwich is ingested and enjoyed.

Ingredients for 6 Sandwiches
  • 6 small baguettes
  • 3 duck breasts
  • Steak Seasoning Mix
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Mayonnaise
  • Fresh lettuce
Directions
Preheat oven. Season the entire duck breast with Steak Seasoning Mix (available in all spice sections). Score the fat on the top of the duck, but do not cut into the meat. Pour olive oil to a large saute pan and heat over medium setting. When the oil is hot, add the duck breast, fat side down and sear for six minutes. Flip the breast and place the pan in the 400 degree oven. Roast the breasts for 8 to 10 minutes until medium rare (you want a med-rare center). Remove the pan from the oven and allow the duck breasts to rest 2 to 3 minutes. Slice each breast, on the bias, in 1/4 thick slices.

Prepare the baguettes by slicing open and applying mayonnaise, then placing lettuce on top side. Llayer the slices of duck on the bottom bread, add dill pickle or banana pepper slices or even a slice of very mild onion.

Serve with white or red wine and a cup of fresh tomato soup. Enjoy.

---------------------------

Until later,
Jack
ARTSnFOOD, All rights reserved. Concept & Original Text © Copyright 2012 Jack A. Atkinson under all International intellectual property and copyright laws. Images © individual artists, fabricators, respective owners or assignees.