My experience as an artist-in-residence at Vytlacil

I just returned from the Art Students League of New York Residency at Vyt.  Here are some highlights of my time spent there as an artist-in-residence, an unforgettable experience. If reading this sparks an interest please visit their website for more information about the program and to apply.

The surroundings: The campus is located in Orangeburg NY, an hour north of NYC, in a truly picturesque setting.  It's on a hill surrounded by forests and overlooking a stunning valley with the most amazing sunsets.  The 15 acres area is home to staff, residents, chickens, cats and a bee hive. We were also visited by wild turkeys, deer and the occasional black bear.

the Vytlacil House

Chickens of course

 
The facilities: Our studios were great!  All studios have vaulted ceilings, north light and are very spacious.  Some are private while others are shared by two artists.  All the bedrooms are private. The residents are split into two houses, the Vytlacil House and the Residency Hall located at a small distance from each other.  There is also a well equipped workshop that has two kilns and many materials and tools.  In the Vytlacil House there is a library, and a beautiful art gallery.

Three residents are housed on the 2nd floor of the Vytlacil House, which also contains a shared kitchen, bath, and laundry facilities.

Four residents are housed in the Residence Hall, an ADA-compliant live/work facility completed in 2010. With sleeping, cooking, and bath areas in each residence room,

- See more at: http://www.theartstudentsleague.org/Residency.aspx#sthash.LjSe0gTK.dpuf

Three residents are housed on the 2nd floor of the Vytlacil House, which also contains a shared kitchen, bath, and laundry facilities.

Four residents are housed in the Residence Hall, an ADA-compliant live/work facility completed in 2010. With sleeping, cooking, and bath areas in each residence room,

- See more at: http://www.theartstudentsleague.org/Residency.aspx#sthash.LjSe0gTK.dpuf

studio space is included with living quarters

studio space is included with living quarters

Vaulted ceilings and amazing lighting in my studio

Outside view of the studio I shared with the talented Ekaterina Vanovskaya

the Residency Hall view from the Vytlacil House

The crits: We had three visiting artists that critiqued our work as a group and individually. This is a great opportunity to dialog about your art, get feedback, share ideas and learn new things.  For those of us who are out of school this is our next best chance to receive an honest critique that both encourages and challenges our practice. I learned so much from these studio visits, it was definitely a highlight of my time there.

Stephanie Petet's critique

Mark Farrell's critique

The staff:  What a friendly, funny, helpful bunch of people! They organize delicious group lunches and dinners, trips to the grocery stores, answer any workshop questions.  Basically there is always someone there to help and guide you trough your stay.

Playing Apples to Apples with the best host Charis Braun

About the residents: My fellow residents came from Iowa, Arkansas, North Carolina, New Jersey and New York.  It is typical for residents to be from different parts of the US with some coming from abroad (Australia, Japan etc).  I am really happy to have met such a great group of artists!

Group shot sent to me by the awesome resident from Iowa, Kimberly Machoveck-Smith

What to do for fun: There are no TVs in the Residency.  Instead you can pick up a book in the library, or go look at the artwork in the gallery.  You can hike on trails, sketch by the creek, or take a longer trip to the Nyack Beach State Park and Nyack restaurants row.  At night you can enjoy a drink in the oldest tavern in the United States or lit a bonfire.  Also NYC is only an hour away by bus!  There are so many options for fun and entertainment, eating out, etc that you'll never be bored. I certainly wasn't.

View from the Nayak Beach State Park

Drinks at the 76 House, the oldest tavern in the USA, 1686

Bonfire in the back yard

Making art:  That is the reason we all went there and I'm amazed at how much we got done.  At the residency all you have to do is paint, or draw or sculpt... There are no distractions and the environment fosters creativity.  The Residency accepts artists from a variety of backgrounds and artistic styles. This was an amazing opportunity for me and I wholeheartedly recommend it to any fellow artists!  A special thank you to the Ruth Katzman foundation for making my residency possible!

Metal forging class on Saturdays

My paintings in progress

The campus is full of sculptures

Jess Leo's amazing drawings

Steven Assael's New Paintings and Drawings at Forum Gallery

On view at Forum Gallery are Steven Assael's New Paintings and Drawings.  The show runs from Nov 12 to December 31.  The Opening reception was very well attended by artists, his students, his models, and many art lovers.  They all came to see what this show is really about: poetry of color, texture, light and the human spirit.  My pictures below offer a glimpse into his heart felt, masterful art.  Please go see the exhibition and don't rush, take it all in slowly.  That's how these masterpieces are meant to be experienced.  For those who can't make it you can view some high resolution images on the gallery's website.  Enjoy!

My Visit to Matthias Van Arkel's Studio in Soho

Last week-end I had the pleasure to discover Matthias Van Arkel's artwork.  He has two studios one in Stockholm, Sweden and the other in Soho, New York City.  I met him at that second location, a brightly lit, top floor room, tastefully displaying his recent work.  I was drawn immediately to his silicon paintings, a playful exploration of color and the physicality of paint.  In the words of the artist 'they are paintings and sculptures at the same time'. The artist has many large, site specific pieces that I find intriguing and fun. Check out his website to see them. Below are a few shots from his studio.  You can contact him directly to see the work in person. Enjoy!

Power: Margaret Bowland's New Work at Driscoll Babcock

Margaret Bowland: Power is the artist's third New York solo exhibition, and one that impresses on every level.  Her large scale paintings are mesmerizing; it's easy to get lost in their beauty and masterful execution as well as their momentous narrative.  Her show touches on contemporary issues of race, gender, social unrest and wealth inequality.  As such, the US dollar bill is a recurring motif found both in her paintings and her installation of twisted dollar roses on barb wires.  The exhibition is on view at Driscoll Babcock gallery until December 12.  Here are some of my photos from the show (you can see more on the gallery's website).  There is so much to discover in these works, go see them for yourself! 

Margaret Bowland, TANGLED UP IN BLUE, 2015, Oil on Linen, 70" x 98"

DUST UP, Oil on linen, 90" x 60" -DETAIL

THE WATCHERS, Barbed Wire, US and Indian Currency, Site specific installation

"NAKEDNESS HAS NO COLOR" AND KNOWS NO BORDER, 2015, Oil on Linen, 82" x 70"

Jim Shaw: The End is Here at the New Museum

Last night I went to the opening reception of Jim Shaw's: The End is Here exhibition at the New Museum.  It is the artist's first NYC retrospective spanning on three floors of the museum - an impressive curatorial feat.  Not only are we presented with a survey of the artwork he created in the last five decades such as paintings, drawings and theatrical backdrops but also with his diverse sources of inspiration.  For example, there are rooms filled with his collections of comic books, record covers and religious posters as well as an entire gallery filled with paintings he purchased from thrift stores.  This exhibition is so expansive it requires a couple of trips to the museum to fully absorb it. The good news is that the show runs until 01/10/16, so there is plenty of time to see it.  Here are some photos I took, please check out the museum's website for more information.

P.S. The views from the museum's 7th floor 'sky room' are incredible, especially at night.

 

My visit to Michelle Doll's studio made possible by Verni

I found Michelle Doll's studio via Verni.  This site made it easy for me to schedule a visit and see her work in person, something I wanted to do for a while.  Her studio is in a nice area in Hoboken, NJ, in an artist building, with beautiful views of Manhattan and the Hudson River.  It feels very welcoming and homey.  

In her studio are a number of works in progress and finished pieces.  There are large and small oil paintings that depict honest moments of intimacy.  The large images surround you while the small ones draw you in, a playful interpretation of space, a space that is shared by the couples, the artists, and the audience. She paints them differently, the small pieces she describes as 'tokens', precious, and carefully rendered.  The large ones are painted more loosely and in parts the paint seems to be peeling (an illusion created by the layered application of paint). It's as if we are witnessing the impermanence of the embraces. It's a beautiful and startling sensation at the same time.

Michelle is a successful female artist showing tenderness and courage in her paintings as well as a remarkable technique.  Below are some photos I took during my studio visit.  You can see more of her work on line at www.michelledoll.com.  I had a great time in her studio and a good experience using Verni to reach her.  Don't hesitate to try the service for yourself!

 

Dan Voinea at Slag Gallery; Bors & Ritiu at Open Source

Two galleries in Brooklyn are now exhibiting artwork by Romanian artists.  Painter Dan Voinea is showing at Slag Gallery, an event made possible with the support from the Romanian Cultural Institute in New York.  Voinea makes his solo debut in New York City with a small number of oil paintings, seven or eight, perfectly suited for the gallery space.  Seductive, dark, soulful, his works stand out and his technique shows a level of sophistication that delights.  The show is called 'Absently Yours' and is on display until October 11.

The duo Cristian Bors and Marius Ritiu also show a small number of pieces that make a great impact.  Their show titled 'Venus von Hamburg' is a smart social commentary on the economic crisis in Europe.  It is on view at Open Source until September 28.  More details about these shows can be found by clicking on the links above.  I'm also happy to answer any questions you might have. Here are a couple of shots from the shows, be sure to go experience the artwork for yourself!

New work by Dan Voinea at Slag Gallery

Detail

Opening Reception at Slag

Opening Reception at Open Source

Within Venus von Hamburg, the great Greek beauty Venus de Milo is distorted and disfigured. Her fate is no longer controlled by her people, but her uncertain future has been dictated by politicians and executives. - See more at: http://open-source-gallery.org/#sthash.gKvL59GJ.dpuf

Within Venus von Hamburg, the great Greek beauty Venus de Milo is distorted and disfigured. Her fate is no longer controlled by her people, but her uncertain future has been dictated by politicians and executives. - See more at: http://open-source-gallery.org/#sthash.gKvL59GJ.dpuf

Venus von Hambur

'Slip' and ''Pardon the Interruption, Please.'

Last night was very busy night in Chelsea.  There were so many art lovers on the streets and in the galleries and quite a few opening receptions happening at the same time.  Unfortunately there wasn't enough time to see all the ones I wanted to visit.  I did make it to two great shows, one called 'Slip' at Winston Wachter Fine Art displaying drawings by Zaria Forman and the other called 'Pardon the Interruption, Please.' featuring sculptures by Will Kurtz at Kim Foster Gallery.  See photos below.  For more information about the galleries and the artists please click on the links above. I highly recommend both shows, they will remain open in Chelsea till sometime in October.  I'm also happy to further comment on any of these pieces, if you have any questions please let me know.