The Expressive Edge of Paper: February 22 – April 26, 2014

Karel Appel, Mario Bencomo, Robert Blackburn, Seymour Boardman, Ilya Bolotowsky, Ernest Briggs, Lawrence Calcagno, Pérez Celis, Herman Cherry, Nassos Daphnis, Beauford Delaney, Michael Dominick, Amaranth Ehrenhalt, Claire Falkenstein, Agustín Fernández, Grace Hartigan, John Hultberg, Elaine Kurtz, Jack Larned, Joel Le Bow, William Manning, Clement Meadmore, Melissa Meyer, Henri Michaux, Jeanne Miles, Richards Ruben, Anne Ryan, William Saroyan, Kendall Shaw, Aaron Siskind, Nancy Steinson, Antoni Tàpies, and Petra Valentova.

The Anita Shapolsky Gallery is presenting a multi-faceted group of abstract paper works by twenty-seven artists we have exhibited over the years.  Paper experimentation shows the dichotomy between planning aspects in art and free form automatic drawing.  These works show great technical skill which bring the artists visions to life.  The works give incredible insight into their diverse approaches and the timelessness of their art.  The variety of pieces in this exhibit will be educational and exciting for viewers.  The molten iron paintings by Michael Dominick, for example, result in gestural strokes and splashes, which create beautiful and unpredictable marks that not only scorch the surface but also burn down into the depths of the layered paper.  The abstract photographs of Aaron Siskind evoke wonder at his ingenuity.  Antoni Tàpies’s prints are a good introduction to his ideas for earthly paintings.  Richards Ruben’s oil pastel paintings of Venetian walls on Kochi paper are ethereal.  Agustin Fernandez’s exquisite prints done in Paris by  Lacouriere et Frelaut evoke sensuality using mechanical parts (i.e. screws, pipes, etc.).