Friday, November 3, 2017

Destiny, Considered


Arthur Singer's paintings
at
The Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology
November - February 28, 2018


For a New Yorker - when you look at it - was it destiny that my father, Arthur Singer - who grew up in Manhattan on Audubon ( named after artist John James Audubon ) Avenue  - would then go on to make his career painting portraits of birds and animals?  What factors come into play when artists reach inside to find and express what is most memorable about themselves and then dedicate their art to the pursuit of that truth?

Arthur Singer ( 1917-1990 ) growing up in the 1920s and 1930s considered himself a loner, but by the time he had entered college at The Cooper Union, he had already distinguished himself through his art which had been published in national newspapers and had caught the attention of museum curators.


Signing books:  Alan on the left and Paul Singer
with their new illustrated biography of Arthur Singer ( 1917-1990 )

This month we move selections of a large show that was held at the University Gallery on the campus of R.I.T. and bring the art to Cornell University and their Laboratory of Ornithology where it will be on view thru February 28, 2018.  My brother Paul, and I will speak about our father's illustrious career at 7pm, this coming Monday, November 6th, and we will be available to sign copies of our new book published by RIT Press.  Our talk will also be broadcast live, and here is the link:bit.ly.BirdTalks


Moving day: Roberto Bertoia sculptures for
the
University Gallery at R.I.T.

We moved our show about Arthur Singer, The Wildlife Art of an American Master to Cornell University and now taking shape is a new show of sculpture by Roberto Bertoia, curated by Josh Owen, who is on the faculty at R.I.T. as an industrial designer.  "Bob" Bertoia's sculptures, many of which are made from wood, have a very distinctive constructivist look, and the opening is just days away....at the University Gallery.


Curator Josh Owen with works by Bertoia


There are many art oriented events going on in Rochester, and I was pleased to see that the Rochester Magazine edited by Mark Liu has devoted an issue to the local art market and to some shows that are currently on view  ( including a show of Wendell Castle who is featured on the cover ).  I happen to see a well presented show in the studios of Kathy Clem and Martha Schermerhorn that really is called: DESTINY.  This collaboration included a high tech video projected down to a circular screen on the floor, and there were also dimensional figurative works made of papers, encaustic, and lights that seemed to float.  These dreamlike apparitions were  quite unusual and this installation is on thru December 1, 2017 - so go and see for yourself.




Kathy Clem and Martha Schermerhorn
at
Anderson Alley

DESTINY is a collaboration between two artists and it seems like this friendly episode has a theatrical aspect in the lighting and positions of each of the "characters".  The little lights embedded in each one of these figurative ghostly creations is very effective.  This is the season for artists to break out of the mold of traditional painting and sculpture and move into new materials and methods of presentation.  It takes a lot to make a memorable presentation, and to make a work of art that has staying power.


Destiny on view until December 1, 2017
at
3rd floor studios of Kathy Clem and Martha Schermerhorn