Artists' Choice at Lohin Geduld Gallery
Chelsea Gallery Features Peer Selections
By: Adam Zucker - Jun 16, 2009
June 11 - July 18, 2009
Lohin Geduld Gallery
531 West 25 Street, New York, NY
The Lohin Geduld Gallery in Chelsea has shifted the role of exhibition selection to the artists in their current show Artists' Choice that runs from June 11 to July 18. The idea of the exhibition is simple yet fascinating; a group of artists who are represented by the Chelsea gallery chose one of their own works to show in addition to selecting a fellow artist. The result is a very eclectic mix of mediums and styles by artists of various generations, ethnicities and genders.
The artists included are: Laura Battle, Sam Bornstein, Charles Cajori, Jean Arnold, Natalie Charkhow Hollander, Sandra Stone, James Farrelly, Marianne Gagnier, Cecily Kahn, Suejin Jo, Jay Milder, Ray Grist, Mayumi Sarai, Takeshi Mukouyama, Kyle Staver, Janice Nowinski, Kevin Wixted, and John Gill.
Generally, the artists that were chosen had similar qualities to their electors. Painters chose painters and sculptors chose other sculptors. Each group of artists had their own unique story and reason for specific choices. For example, painter Laura Battle selected one of her students at Bard, the emerging artist Sam Bornstein. His painting is an interesting landscape that seems more alien then earthly. I was surprised to find out the medium was oil. The artist achieves a beautiful translucent and blotted effect with his handling of paint.
Jay Milder and Ray Grist have known each other for thirty years. They share a very similar interest in history. They are inspired by humanistic values that were developed before the advent of Christianity. Both artists have an interest in the migration of civilization from that period to current Western civilization. Milder, was one of the seminal Figurative Expressionist painters from the Sun Gallery days in Provincetown and a founder of the figurative Rhino Horn group in the sixties. His work has always been spiritual and full of energy. Milder takes code from the Kabbalah and Cabalistic geometry to explore the personal relationship between the individual and God. His selection is from the Noah's Arc series based upon the mysticism of the Old Testament and Noah's covenant with God. Grist's paintings are also full of color and texture. His piece in the show is a small collage that brings to mind the energy and rhythm of jazz improvisation.
With the exception of photography and video, every other medium was well represented. Mayumi Sarai created abstract sculpture with wonderful textures and geometries. Her choice, Takeshi Mukouyama also sculpts but the work is very figurative. Kyle Staver and his selection, Janice Nowinski, are both outstanding figurative painters. While I would have loved to see some of Staver's larger paintings, his small etching of Lady Godiva on a horse was one of my favorites. Abstract painter Kevin Wixted's two-dimensional painting looked strikingly similar to the three-dimensional sculpture by John Gill, the artist he selected.
Artists' Choice is an interesting concept. Over time Chelsea has become more conservative. A lot of shows reflect saleable art targeted for collectors. This exhibition is a democratic move for a commercial gallery. The artists' spirit and vision becomes the compelling element in the project.