Luisa Rabbia investigates human psyche at Midtown gallery show

The Peter Blum Gallery in midtown is presenting a collection of new works by Luisa Rabbia for an exhibition titled Drawing. For this show, Rabbia presents several drawings, paintings, sculptures, and other mixed media works where she delves into the depth of the human soul and investigates how individuals relate to others and how they respond to their surrounding environment. 

The color blue appears throughout many of Rabbia’s works, as it symbolizes the color of blood in the veins of the human vascular system. For instance, a series of works titled Worlds I and Worlds II respectively features a deep blue background and white pencil drawings of two heads on both halves of the image. Worlds I depicts the heads of two figures, one of them whose head is upside down on top, and directly on the flip side, on the bottom is another figure’s head. Both figures have what appears to be their hair tied in a bun that connects them. Similarly, Worlds II also features a flipside image of two figures connected by what appears to be their hair against a deep blue background.

"NorthSouthEastWest" (2014) by Luisa Rabbia

Rabbia also presents pieces where she draws outlines of faces on rocks that she’s found. One sculpture titled Sunrise features a face lying on its side, and another face with the eyes closed, gently kissing the cheek of the face lying on its side. A similar, untitled sculpture features a figure sleeping, the face, a very light blue, with the hand over the mouth.

A diptych titled Sottopelle and another untitled piece feature distorted faces connected by intertwining roots. The facial skin symbolizes exaggerated psychological states. Similarly, a four-panel drawing titled NorthSouthEastWest features a group of roots floating on a violet-colored oval shape. 

At Peter Blum Gallery, 20 W. 57th St., through Feb. 7. The gallery is open Tues.—Fri. from 10 a.m.—6 p.m., and Sat. from 11 a.m.—6 p.m.

Paintings reflecting Buddhist teachings on view at Soho gallery

The June Kelly Gallery in Soho is currently presenting a series of recent paintings by Su-Li Hung for the exhibition River, Tree, Buddha. As the title of the show suggests, Hung’s paintings revolve around the Buddha’s teachings and philosophies. 

Hung seeks to capture how important Buddhist practices can be, especially in turbulent times. The most striking work in the show is Golden Buddha which is an up-close portrait of the Buddha’s face conveying his wisdom and peaceful ways with the calmness in his eyes and his placid expression.

"Golden Buddha" (2014) by Su-Li Hung

Another notable work is Pink Cherry Tree which resembles a stained glass window where a bare tree is seen stretching out her many branches can be seen against a multi-colored background where pink is the dominant color. Similarly, Gingko Tree depicts a bare tree with scarcely thin branches against a gold background.

The trees in Hung’s paintings refer to a Bodhi tree under which the Buddha is believed to have sat under waiting for enlightenment in the sixth century B.C. She also illustrates the life cycle of the trees as it sheds its leaves in the fall and blooms its flowers again in the springtime. “The tree grows, leaves come, go, and return, evoking for me new inspiration with each season,” she says. Hung also illustrates the rivers as constantly, but calmly flowing day and night with works titled River.

At The June Kelly Gallery, 166 Mercer St., through Jan. 20th. The gallery is open Tues.—Sat. from 11 a.m.—6 p.m.

Satirical works by Francois Anton featured at Soho gallery

The Axelle Fine Arts Galerie in Soho is currently presenting a collection of works by Francois Anton for an exhibition titled Le Voyageur Immobile. For this show, Anton presents oil paintings that are humorous and satirical and are inspired by the stories and characters featured in newspaper comics where he juxtaposes the realities of adult life with the carefree spirit of childhood.

The characters seen in these works are middle-aged men bespectacled men very much resembling Anton, and therefore are very likely to represent his persona. One of the funniest works in the show titled Crazy Sheep illustrates a meadow where a middle-aged man is playing a game of leap frog by jumping over a sheep who appears to be laughing at the man. Another sheep can be seen far behind them staring at them in shock. L’oeuf ou la poule is a quirky, inquisitive, and amusing piece depicting a group of six businessmen gathered behind a desk where a chicken is standing in the center on a piece of fabric next to an egg. 

"Crazy Sheep" by Francois Anton

Three of the men in the front row stare at the chicken very curiously as though pondering the question What came first, the chicken or the egg? The three men in the back row are looking away, very intensely engaged in thought, and behind them is a series of writings and diagrams perhaps illustrating the complex thoughts going on in their heads.

Anton offers several paintings in this show that tell a story by being shown in sequential order. These include Historie sans parole depicting a man teaching his dog how to fetch, Le crac boum huuue! depicting a man playing with a jack-in-the-box toy, and Rencontre du troisiemme type depicting a man crossing paths with someone else driving an oddly shaped car.

Despite the playful nature of his works, there remains an element of bleak existentialism resembling the style of British painter, Francis Bacon. Anton’s works are witty observations on innocence, the modern world, and what it means to “grow up.”

At The Axelle Fine Arts Galerie, 472 West Broadway, through Dec. 31. The gallery is open from 10 a.m.—6 p.m. There will be a reception for the artist at the gallery Dec. 13 from 6—8 p.m.

Manhattan animal shelter needs your help this holiday season

These cold winter months can be brutal for many homeless animals, especially cats and kittens who often try to find warmth underneath parked vehicles. This may have very well been the case for Merry, a young kitten who arrived at the Bideawee animal shelter in Manhattan with multiple wounds and a seriously infected open fracture on her left front leg. If that isn’t bad enough, the Bideawee staff also found some gravel deeply embedded up to her armpit, leading them to believe that she may have been hit and them dragged underneath a car. Poor Merry had to be rushed into emergency surgery to amputate her leg, and will more than likely require additional surgery to heal wounds on her left hind leg. 

As the holiday season is all about giving to others and helping those in need, the staff at Bideawee will be truly grateful for donations this year to meet the expenses of caring for Merry, in addition to caring for the many cats and dogs who have nowhere to come home to yet. If you can find it in your heart to do so, please consider supporting the shelter to keep animals happy, safe, and warm this season. Bideawee, 410 East 38th St., (212) 532-6395. The shelter is open Tuesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., Wednesdays and Thursdays from Noon until 7 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

David Mollett's and Jessie Hedden's woodcuts and paintings at Chelsea gallery

The Bowery Gallery in Chelsea is currently presenting a joint exhibition works by David Mollett and Jessie Hedden of drawings, paintings, and woodcuts. For their fourth solo exhibition at the gallery both artists present works that capture their appreciation for nature. 

David Mollett’s part of the show consists of paintings and woodcuts illustrating the wilderness of Alaska. In one of his works titled Hulahula River Mountainside, he uses a fine mix of light and dark colors and different patterns to highlight the different shades of light setting on the mountains. A similar piece titled Sable Pass features bright green and some light orange colored hills that smoothly transition into the burgundy-colored mountains seen in the distance.

“Painted outdoors, these wilderness landscapes were created in the Alaska Range near Denali National Park and around the Fairbanks area. Volatile wet weather this past summer made for constantly changing light which created an opportunity for repeated reworking of each painting. The works in this exhibition are part of my ongoing quest for unified expression, space and light,” explains Mollett.

"Hulahula River Mountainside" (2004) by David Mollett

"Zigzag, Rhythmic Delight" (2014) by Jessie Hedden

Jessie Hedden’s part of the show consists of landscape and still life paintings and abstract collages. One notable mixed media collage titled Matthew’s Beach features several multi-colored square and rectangular cut outs, representing seashells that are all grouped together on a tan colored background, representing sand. 

One of Hedden’s notable still-life oil paintings titled Zigzag, Rhythmic Delight features a vase of flowers placed on a coffee table with a tablecloth with a colorful pattern of stripes and other intriguing designs that blends right in with the funky, zigzag pattern on the floor. On one side of the painting is a sky blue wall that serves a backdrop and compliments the pink flowers, while on the other side of the painting is a bookshelf.

“In these intensely colored works, the unique qualities of each form relates to the whole, contributing to a charged, overall space. “The challenge lies in "getting the gestural and rhythmic sequences of marks and colors to occupy the rectangle in a meaningful way,” explains Hedden.

David Mollett is an Associate Professor of Drawing, Painting and Printmaking at the University of Alaska and Jessie Hedden is a longtime adjunct professor there as well. They also own and operate the Well Street Art Company studios and art gallery space in Fairbanks, Alaska.

At The Bowery Gallery, 530 W. 25th St., through Dec. 20. The gallery is open Tues.—Sat. from 11 a.m.—6 p.m.

Picasso's portrayals of wife and muse Jacqueline at the Pace Gallery

Picasso has long been regarded as one of the most influential and visionary painters of the 20th century, but there was someone in his life who was influential to him as well. The Pace Gallery’s two Manhattan locations are currently presenting Picasso and Jacqueline which includes nearly 140 works illustrating his beloved muse, Jacqueline Roque, who would later become his wife. These paintings were completed in the 1950s and 1960s during the last two decades of Picasso’s life.

He met Jacqueline in 1953 when he was 72 and she was 27, and began living together the following year. Picasso’s earliest painting of his muse titled Jacqueline with Flowers is an eloquent introduction of new finesse to his signature style. He captures her grace, poise, and beauty by showing her vigilant expression, elongated neck, and elongated fingers, and wearing a black and yellow dress filled with curved shapes, as she sits in front of a group of white roses.

"Jacqueline with Flowers" (1954)

The show includes eleven works from Picasso’s Les Femmes d’Alger (The Woman of Algiers) which was a series completed between 1954-1955 and was inspired by Eugene Delacroix’s 1834 painting of the same name. Like the original work, Picasso’s version depicts two women in sitting in their apartment in Algeria flaunting their curvaceous figures. Delacroix’s version depicted four women including one colored woman, and another woman smoking from a hookah pipe. Picasso’s version depicts two women, one of whom is holding a cigarette and has no face, and the other one is completely nude with her blue skin likely representing a woman of color.

The exhibition also includes personal works such as Jacqueline Dressed as a Bride Full Face I celebrating the couple’s wedding, and Jacqueline with Paloma and Catherine illustrating Jacqueline with Catherine Hutin, her daughter from her first marriage, and Picasso’s daughter Paloma. These masterful paintings came from Picasso and Jacqueline Roque estate, as well as loans from many private collections from museums including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and MoMA in New York, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.

At The Pace Gallery, 32 E. 57th St., and 534 W. 25th St., through Jan. 10. Both locations are open Tues.—Sat. from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Kara Walker's 'Afterword' to Domino sugar sphinx show on view at Chelsea gallery

Renowned contemporary artist Kara Walker is currently presenting a series of drawings for the show Afterword at the Sikkema & Jenkins Co. The works in the show are based on Walker’s famous exhibition this past spring and summer of her giant sphinx made from 80 tons of hardened blocks of white sugar that was on display at the former Domino Sugar factory in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

For this show Walker presents a series of paintings, sketches, collages, videos, and notes that are precisely an “afterword” to her previous sphinx installation. 

Afterword is divided into three sections. One section consists of notes and sketches that Walker began working on as she was coming up with the idea for her grandiose masterpiece. In the main section of the gallery is an installation of a fist whose gesture recalls the Afro-Brazilian “figa” which represents good luck and protection against harm. Walker also presents two watercolor works including one titled A Terrible Vacation which was inspired by J.M.W. Turner’s 1840 painting The Slave Ship depicting a ship violently being tossed around through an uproarious storm and many passengers who have been ejected fight for survival.

"Untitled" (2013-2014) by Kara Walker

There are also a couple of video installations, one of them titled An Audience takes a look at those who visited the sphinx at the Domino Sugar Refinery an hour before closing time on the final day. Another video titled Rhapsody, is a six-minute ballet of mechanical industriousness and destruction which depicts the sphinx being dismantled, and it’s set to the music of Emmanuel Chabrier’s España. Walker compares Rhapsody to an “an industrial age orchestral warhorse, the bombast and moxie of which suggests the quixotic folly of dreaming up big things that don’t (or can’t) last.” Kara Walker is best known for her works that revolve around themes of race, gender, sexuality, and violence that have appeared at numerous gallery shows and museums exhibitions around the world.

At the Sikkema & Jenkins Co. Gallery, 530 W. 22nd St., through Jan. 17. The gallery is open Tues.--Sat. from 10 a.m.—6 p.m.

Katherine Bradford's mixed media paintings at East Harlem project space

The Arts and Leisure project space in East Harlem is currently presenting a collection of works by Katherine Bradford for the exhibition Shelf Paintings. For this show, Bradford offers several paintings made from materials such as acrylics, cardboard, wood, clay, and paper mache. With this particular series of paintings, she integrates the styles of artists Philip Guston, Howard Hodgkin, and Malcolm Morley and she nicely blends hot and cool colors together. In one piece called Phoenix, Bradford captures the warmth of the sunshine by using colors that such as pink which smoothly turns to orange which then turns to yellow. 

"Phoenix" (2014) by Katherine Bradford

The light shines upon a curved structure resembling a mountain with several multi-colored round objects, including one pink one sitting on top of a cylinder. Another piece titled Aqua Blocks, depicts several blocks stacked one on top of another. Some of the blocks have colors like red and green, while others are black and white; the bold colors serve as a contrast to the sky blue background. 

One painting where Bradford uses more monochromatic tones is White Preserver which illustrates a windowsill with several round objects on top and bright light is shining through the oval-shaped window with a silver piece of metal in its center. 

Bradford’s dedication and her keen color sense is evident in all of her works that are very rich in depth and feeling. She splits her time between New York and Brunswick, Maine and her work has been featured in several museum and gallery shows across the country.

At Arts and Leisure, 1571 Lexington Ave. (between 100th and 101st streets), through Dec. 14. The gallery is open Wed.—Sun. from 11 a.m.—6 p.m., or by appointment.

Michael Scoggins illustrates of the ups and downs of life in new show

The Freight & Volume gallery in Chelsea is currently presenting a unique and meaningful collection of works by Michael Scoggins in an exhibition titled If you can’t say something nice. . . Some of the works in this show revolve around negative aspects of life such as embarrassment, failure, anxiety, and self-disapproval, while other works revolve around positive aspects of life such as success and self-confidence. Scoggins conveys these moments onto large sheets of lined paper and chalkboards which gives the viewer the sense of being back in grade school and learning how to cope with the joys and challenges of growing up.

One highlight of this show is Best Art, which features a drawing on a lined sheet of paper of a giant yellow trophy in the center displaying the words “#1 Best Art” with the text on the top of the page reading “Congratulations!” and the text bottom of the page reads “Voted Best Artist in the World 7 Years in a Row.” 

"Best Art" (2014) by Michael Scoggins

The piece effectively captures the joy that a student, or anyone, would feel receiving high praise for his or her hard work and having something spectacular to show for it.

Another work in the show titled I’m Still Redeemable perfectly illustrates how a person can learn from his or her mistakes or recover from disappointing moments in life. On a large chalkboard, there are several words and phrases that appear partially erased or crossed out; right in the center of the blackboard amidst the chaos clearly read the words “I’m still redeemable.”

Other works in the show reflect personal memories from the artist’s youth and adolescent years. For instance, One Trick Pony is a work on lined paper; the phrase “One Trick Pony” was one that was tossed at Scoggins during a graduate school critique, and those words are written 25 times on the page, while an expressive chalkboard piece titled Oh, This Messy Heart features those words smack in the center, while several words and phrases behind in are partially erased or crossed out. About his chalkboard works, Scoggins says “The chalkboard is ephemeral in nature,” “I'm building up layers of history, and also thinking about memories, and how they're flexible and change over time. The viewer is only getting part of the story; I hope they'll complete the missing parts.”

At Freight & Volume, 530 W. 24th St., through Dec. 13. The gallery is open Tues.—Sat. from 11 a.m.—6 p.m.

Julio Valdez's paintings inspired by Cuban music at Soho gallery

The June Kelly Gallery in Soho is currently presenting a series of new paintings by Julio Valdez for the exhibition Para Soñar el Sol. The title of the show translates to “In Order to Dream the Sun” and was borrowed from the song Sueno de Una Noche Verano (“Midsummer Night’s Dream”) by Cuban songwriter Silvio Rodriguez whose lyrics serve as a major inspiration for Valdez’s subjects.

Valdez’s paintings are ethereal portrayals of the calmness of the sea in the stillness of the night. The sea is a metaphor for dreaminess and creativity and this is illustrated especially well in Dreaming Boy III which depicts a young boy floating in the water with his eyes close as though he is floating along a sea of dreams.

"Dreaming Boy III" (2012) by Julio Valdez

A similar image titled Skaneateles features two young children and their mother standing in the water surrounded by an assorted collection of flowers. The young girl is clearly shown in the foreground wearing a t-shirt while her younger sibling and her mother, especially the mother, appear to be somewhat faded out as though they are in the midst of a daydream.

In another piece titled Oficiante del Mar II depicts the shadow of a man raising his arms and two sea creatures. In all of his works, Valdez beautifully captures the ripples and waves in the sea in all of his works, creating a world where nature and consciousness mingle, where the serenity of the tropics meets the reality of life on land, and where dreams of travel to distant lands are balanced with the idea that there’s no place like home.

At The June Kelly Gallery, 166 Mercer St., through Dec. 9th. The gallery is open Tues.—Sat. from 11 a.m.—6 p.m.

Cristina Vergano illustrates 'The Laws of Attraction' at Lower East Side gallery

The Woodward Gallery on the Lower East Side is currently presenting a collection of paintings by Cristina Vergano for an exhibition titled The Laws of Attraction. Wildlife creatures in their natural environment trying to reproduce to keep the life cycle moving are the subject of Vergano’s latest series of works. She depicts these animals as being aggressive toward one and other, which the artist has said is a metaphor illustrating the struggle many people face in life to attract someone and eventually produce new offspring.

One notable image, titled The Laws of Attraction I, features a tiger and an alligator who appear excited in the heat of the moment. The tiger has its paws positioned on the alligators tail as the alligator swerves his body around, and the two creatures exchange looks with their jaws wide open.

"The Laws of Attraction" (2014) by Cristina Vergano 

In another painting titled The Laws of Attraction XXIII, three zebras appear to be vehemently engaged in a sexual act, while Laws of Attraction XC portrays an eager monkey in a tree, holding a hummingbird that he captured while being surrounded by two other hummingbirds and butterflies. 

Similarly, Laws of Attraction XXI depicts a parrot on a tree branch, flamboyantly flapping its wings and lifting his chest to stave off a horde of hummingbirds. Though Vergano’s wild animals are in confrontation, the winner of these struggles is not revealed. The works in this show also touch on the idea that all humans have an inner warrior that rises to confront life’s challenges, and Vergano has said that, “The fight is a vital expression of passion, the essence of life itself.” 

At the Woodward Gallery, 133 Eldridge St., through Dec. 21. The gallery is open Tues.—Sat. from 11 a.m.—6 p.m., and Sundays from 12p.m.—5 p.m.

Paintings inspired by classic Chinese novel on view at Chelsea gallery

The Chambers Fine Art gallery in Chelsea is currently presenting Transformation, an exhibition featuring recent works by Wu Jian’an. While he often works with paper cut-outs, Wu also experiments with other materials such as metal and ox hide.

The most prominent piece in the show is the painting Nirvana of the White Ape where the artist derives inspiration from the 16th Century Ming Dynasty novel Journey to the West. Wu creates an environment by using watercolors and colored wax to convey his interpretation of the legendary story about adventures of a Tang Dynasty priest called Sanzang and his three disciples, Monkey, Pig, and Friar Sand, as they travel west in search of Buddhist Sutra, and conquering evil spirits along the way.

"Nirvana of the White Apes" (2014) by Wi Jian'an

These paintings are accompanied by a group of recent paper-cut works that illustrate his fascination with patterns of connectivity and using various element to reveal mysterious truths. Wu’s Faces series depict the animals in the names of each work. For instance, in Faces Oriole, he uses multiple layers of hand dyed wax paper and cotton thread to portray various creatures such as snakes, fish, birds, and enlarged faces clustered together in the shape of a bird’s head. These characters are laid out in symmetrical form with both halves of the shape delineating the same design on each side.

Two other works in the show 88 Color Balls and 792 Overlapping Color Balls, are both watercolor paintings of multi-colored circles grouped together so closely that they overlap causing the colors to blend smoothly and forming eloquent patterns. There are also unique patterns found within each circle as well. For instance, in 88 Color Balls some of the things that can be seen in each circle include spirals, triangles, zigzags, small dots varying in size resembling micro-organisms, and one circle even contains a Jewish star. Wu Jia’an’s fascination with mythological and enigma are undoubtedly conveyed with this latest body of work.

At Chambers Fine Art, 522 W. 19th St., through Dec. 20. The gallery is open Tues.—Sat. from 10 a.m.—6 p.m.

Pat Passlof's paintings from the 1950s on view at Chelsea gallery

Pat Passlof’s works are currently on view at a Chelsea gallery for the exhibition Paintings From the 1950s. The show offers the late Abstract Expressionist painter’s classic masterpieces that created as a rising artist throughout the entire 1950s decade. Passlof grew up in New York City and studied at Black Mountain College where she worked alongside Williem de Kooning who was one of her most important influences and who introduced her to her future husband, fellow Abstract Expressionist painter Milton Resnick.

By 1951, Passlof became known on the New York City art scene while working at a studio on Tenth Street in Manhattan, and participated in several group exhibitions. Willem de Kooning, Milton Resnick, Hans Hoffman, Ad Reinhardt, and Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollack among others were all part of the budding Abstract Expressionist scene in New York. Passlof’s early works are vivid and tumultuous and inspiration from her contemporaries is quite evident.

"Chestnut Street" (1955) by Pat Passloff

One poignant work from this show titled March Bird, depicts a small bird standing off the edge of a building or cliff while looking down into a stream of water, capturing the creature’s ambivalence about starting out on to new adventures. 

In another work titled Theatre, we see a contrast in background color with sky blue on one side, overpowered by the magenta on the other side. In an intriguing piece titled Wall, the face of human figure can be seen shouting at an indistinct object. Passlof makes use of many colors such as light pink, pale yellow, gold, red, green, sky blue, and navy blue.

At The Elizabeth Harris Gallery, 529 W. 20th St., through Dec. 20. The gallery is open Tues.—Sat. from 11 a.m.—6 p.m.

Herb Fixler's eloquent photographs featured at Midtown health club

An upscale health club in Manhattan is presenting a stunning exhibition in its art gallery space that offers work by local and international artists. This current show features eloquent and ethereal photographs by Herb Fixler, taken throughout New York City and desirable places across the country and around the world. Some of these images are in black and white while others are in color.

The works in this show include both rural and urban landscapes, as well as portraits of people in certain environments and situations. For instance, photograph titled Down and Out on Park Avenue portrays a homeless individual bundled up in the snow with a cardboard box in front of him in hopes of receiving contributions from those walking by. 

One of Fixler’s more iconic photographs Brooklyn Waterfront features the beauty of the Brooklyn Bridge lit up at night with the bright lights of the borough on the other side and the moon peeking out behind the clouds. Another iconic image in the show Winter Dreams I was taken inside Central Park in the Wintertime with snow completely covering the ground and trees. Groups of people wearing colorful coats can be seen in the distance and in the foreground a family of a father and two kids are playing in the snow. The picture was taken near the southern end of the park as the two towers representing the Time Warner Center in Columbus Circle can be seen in the background.

"Winter Dreams I" by Herb Fixler

While Fixler resides in New York City, he is also an avid traveler having visited places such as South Carolina, France, Italy, Cambodia, and Thailand just to name a few. Notable works taken in the U.S. include Moonrise At Hurricane Ridge taken at Olympic National Park in Washington State depicting a full moon rising over the mountains, Botany Bay Trees taken by the ocean at Botany Bay in Edisto Beach shortly after sunrise, and illustrating the still water of the famous lake in the Adirondack Mountains, with Whiteface Mountain shown in the background. Other landscape photographs taken outside the U.S. include Fishing at Kaew Pond taken in Thailand, and the black and white Angkor Wat illustrating the historic Cambodian site reflected in a small body of water.

At The Manhattan Athletic Club Gallery, 277 Park Ave. (between 47th and 48th streets) through Nov. 30. The gallery is open Mon.—Fri. from 5:30 a.m.—10 p.m., and Sat.—Sun. from 9 a.m.—6 p.m.

Ezra Johnson's dynamic display of works featured at Chelsea gallery

Ezra Johnson has unveiled his latest collection of paintings, sculptures, animations, and other installations for his debut exhibition titled It’s Under the Thingy at the Freight & Volume gallery in Chelsea. The works in this show bring out Johnson’s dynamic and innovative approach that he delivers to his intriguing creations. He uses a wide variety of materials to capture this energy.

Perhaps the most intriguing installation in this show is the installation 3 Shelves of Dish Cloths in which several colorful ceramic slabs resembling sponges are lined up in rows along shelves. Johnson’s inspiration for this piece came from viewing a sculpture of three kitchen sponges. He re-created these forms by twisting and contorting them to give them unique shapes, which he then glazed and fired. According to Johnson, these unusual sponges are meant to make an amusing statement on hard work and effort one must apply in life.

"3 Shelves of Dish Cloths" by Ezra Johnson 

Another intriguing installation, Slumping Toward Bethlehem, features a giant mattress, with design of multi-colored squares painted on it that’s presented to be rising from the floor with one of the upper corners slightly bent inward. The installation pays homage to the styles of Richard Serra and Claes Oldenburg. Johnson’s paintings include elements, which he refers to as “wave forms” or “intertwined limbs.” 

They convey energy and vibrancy with swift brushstrokes and bright colors, and some are done in collage form with images that are cut up and then glued back together. One notable painting Hammering the Screws features a skinny, silhouetted human figure holding an indistinct object as he stands over a glass table. Another untitled mixed-media collage features strips of paper, some skinny and some wide, laid out on a background that’s half orange and half tan-colored.

At Freight & Volume, 530 W. 24th St., through Nov. 1. The gallery is open Tues.—Sat. from 11 a.m.—6 p.m.

"A View From the Heart" features high quality photographs by Oystein Johnsen

The Trygve Lie Gallery, located on the lower level of the Norwegian Seaman Church in Midtown East, is currently presenting a collection of photographs by Oystein Johnsen. The exhibit, titled A View From My Heart, includes pictures that Johnsen has taken from around his Norwegian homeland, images of models, and captivating stills of water. 

Animals are also a popular subject of Johnsen’s as one intriguing image called Heifers at Sunset features four cows standing in a row on a pile of snow with two of the cows looking at the camera, and the other two with their heads tilted to the side. Birds are another favorite subject of Johnsen’s and images like Morning Bird depicts a duck sitting in the pond, eyeing the tail of another duck hidingunder the water. The duck’s reflection in the water is quite clear and the trees and plants in the distance are somewhat blurred, contrasting with the crisp focus of the duck and long stalks of grass in the foreground. 

"Heifers at Sunset" by Oystein Johnsen

Other notable sights of Norwegian life include Ice Castle depicting the ground and a group of willow trees completely covered in ice, and Pathway at World’s End that features a guiding light shining on a clear path in the forest. Johnsen’s photographs of nude models are honest, and capture raw emotion such as in Reflection, featuring a nude woman lying on her side with her back turned toward the viewer, and as the title of the photograph indicates, her reflection can be seen from beneath her. The images of ice sculptures are intriguing as well and appear in shapes such as a heart or a human figure. Johnsen captures the essence of simple, natural beauty at its core with these extraordinary photographs.

At the Trygve Lie Gallery, 317 East 52nd St., through Oct. 28. The gallery is open Tues.—Sat. from 12 p.m.—5 p.m.

Artist illustrates unjust world masked by color

The Klein Sun Gallery in Chelsea is currently presenting several new painted sculptures, photographs, and lightboxes by Liu Bolin for his exhibition titled A Colorful World?.

The works in this show reflect the many colorful advertisements, and consumer goods that mask our understanding of oppression and justice in today’s world.

One notable work in this show is a sculpture called In Junk Food No. 3 that’s shaped like a fist and is covered in wrappers of various types of cigarettes, drinks, chips, and candy. The fist represents the overbearing and misleading influence these foods have; they’re presented in bright colorful packages to convey that it tastes good and will make one happy when in reality, it could hurt one’s health. The colorful packaging is used to make the product appealing and will therefore lead to financial gain for the companies.

"In Junk Food No. 3" (2014) by Liu Bolin

A similar piece titled Security Check No. 1 depicts a man standing on a platform with his feet hip-distance apart and raising his arms as if he’s being screened by security at an airport or other important checkpoint. He too, is covered in wrappers of junk food and cigarette packaging, but presenting it this way, in the form of a person being screened, represents injustice occurring daily. Using the full-body scanners as a measure to ensure safety can be invasive to a person’s privacy, and fails to serve its purpose as proven with the recent disasters of the Malaysian Airliner MH370 and MH17, as well as the Algerie Flight AH5017.

Bolin’s series of photographs titled Cancer Village addresses the effects of the destructive illness and how little is being done in local communities to raise awareness and to help prevent it. One of the largest photographs in the series features a group of 23 villagers camouflaged into a backdrop of an area of farmland with an ominous chemical factory in the background. The people in the photograph have all been affected by an increase in cancer’s death rate, and their invisibility is a symbol of how they in their positions as factory workers are being ignored by the upper class.

At the Klein Sun Gallery, 525 W. 25th St., through Nov. 1. The gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Seasonal scenes around Brooklyn featured at Chelsea gallery

The Bowery Gallery in Chelsea is currently presenting a collection of oil paintings by Nagib Nahas for the show Street Views. Nahas’ paintings depict scenes taken from different times of day and different times of the year mostly around his neighborhood of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. He beautifully illustrates the warm sunlight shining upon the Verrazano Bridge which contrast with the shadows of buildings, houses, and parked cars. Similarly, Yellow House and Ochre Tree, gloriously renders the sun shining on the front of a deep-yellow colored townhouse situated between two other homes, one of which has a tree in front of it with brightly colored autumn leaves.

Bridge View (2014) by Nagib Nahas

Other images such as Boothbay, Pink Bike shows us a family’s backyard in the summertime surrounded by vibrant green trees with a bright pink motorbike parked near the driveway. Another summertime image, Ogunquit, June illustrates two cars in the driveway of a campground or a hiking trail parked next to each other, one facing forward, the other turned back with the trunk open.

Nahas highlights the springtime with Early Spring that shows us cars in the parking lot of a housing project with trees unveiling bright green leaves and violet-colored flowers blooming after a long winter season. Finally, Nahas portrays winter in Patches of Snow featuring bare trees and patches of snow on the sidewalk, hence the name of the painting.

At The Bowery Gallery, 530 W. 25th St., through Sept. 27. The gallery is open Tues.—Sat. from 11 a.m.—6 p.m.

Donna Cleary's new installation featured at Ayza Wine and Chocolate Bar

A new art installation at a popular West Village wine and dessert bar is catching the eye of many neighborhood residents. Featured on display inside the Ayza Wine and Chocolate Bar’s window is an installation by artist Donna Cleary called Helix.  This intriguing work of art features a giant, spiraled black and yellow tube snaking its way around a mannequin with a brown dress. The tube can be seen entering through her chest and exiting through a hole located in the lower part of the dress, while another hole in the chest has a candle pointing from it.

Cleary’s body of work consists of sculptures, collages, works on paper, and mixed media installations. She often collects objects most of which have been broken or thrown away and combines them with natural elements such as those growing on trees in the forest. Cleary see trash as a symbol of a disposable society and a material culture.

"Helix" by Donna Cleary

Helix was selected this month to be part of Ayzart, an art space at Ayza’s West Village location. Ayzart was established in February 2013 with the intention of highlighting both emerging and established artists’ creativity within a small space, and bringing their art out into the open blending in with urban life. The bar itself is known for serving up the most original variations of wine and chocolate treats such as their Peppermint Chocolate Martini made with Godiva chocolate liquor and Peppermint Schnapps, or their Silky Chocolate Mousse. 

Ayza has locations in both the West Village and one in West Midtown just a few blocks away from Macy’s and Penn Station. At Ayza Wine and Chocolate Bar, One Seventh Ave. South, through Aug. 29.

Japanese artists with diverse careers present digital works at the Pace Gallery

A group of Japanese artists known as teamLab are currently presenting a compilation of digital works for the exhibition Ultra Subjective Space at The Pace Gallery. Founded in 2001 by Toshiyuki Inoke and several college classmates, teamLab is comprised of individuals strive to find a balance between technology, art, commerce, and creativity. Their talents range from animation, performance, fashion design, mathematics, and medical science.

The works in this show revolve around the notion of spatial awareness. For instance, one piece titled Crows are chased and the chasing crows are destined to be chased as well. Division in Perspective—Light in Dark, makes use of “Itano Circus,” a special Japanese animation technique crated by Ichiro Itano. The name “Itano Circus” describes the artist’s unique style of flight choreography. The piece illustrates a mythical three-legged crow known as Yatagarasu, who flies up into space followed by more swarms of crows.

Other works in the show include Flower and Corpse Glitch Set of 12 tells the story of Japanese Civilization, as well as instances of natural disaster, war, and rebirth. Similarly, Ever Blossoming Life Gold and Dark illustrates images of flowers in their stages of life from blooming, to wilting, to shedding their petals.

"Ever Blossoming Life (Gold)" (2014)

Universe of Water Particles captures a powerful scene of a waterfall descending down five vertically stacked monitors, while Cold Life, by the calligrapher Sisyu conveys the meaning of life through a series of brushstrokes that grow and transform into a tree that eventually gives way to new life.

TeamLab has exhibited extensively throughout Asia and abroad.

At The Pace Gallery’s locations at 508 and 510 W. 25th St., through Aug. 15. The gallery is open Mon.—Thurs. from 10 a.m.—6 p.m., and Fri from 10 a.m.—4 p.m.

Wendy White pays tribute to Spain at East Harlem project space

A project space in East Harlem is currently featuring a show by Wendy White titled Madrid Me Mata.

For this show, White presents work that pays tribute to the Galeria Moriarty in Madrid, and Spanish culture in general. These include mostly large-scale paintings hung on a wall in a circular frame with text painted on the front.

These works evoke the spirit of La Movida Madrelina, a movement that originated in Spain in the 1980s that embraced freedom of expression and transgression from the taboos imposed by General Franco during his reign from 1939—1975.

White captures the time period with memorabilia such as magazine covers and film posters that honoring the influential Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar. White also gives her viewers a taste of Spanish sports such as futobal (a form of football), and the popularity of the World Cup in the States this year. This comes across in works such as La Luna de Madrid and Real Madrid.

"La Luna de Madrid" (2014) by Wendy White

In 1984, the futobal team “Real Madrid” won the UEFA Cup, with a group of players known as La Quinta del Buitre (The Vulture Squad) whose athletic style highlighted Madrid’s independence. The painting Real Madrid reflects this with the number 84 painted in bright yellow, against green strokes of paint. The piece is secured in a gold frame, shaped like a crown representing royalty.

La Luna de Madrid, represents futobal and Spain’s lively culture; the inspiration came from a magazine of the same name. The painting features what appears to be an image of a bird standing on the edge of a cliff with its chest raised and long paint strokes behind it representing wings. In the upper left corner is a sticker of a soccer ball positioned directly over an obscured image of a net. The soccer ball represents the moon shining its light over the city.

 At Arts and Leisure, 1571 Lexington Ave. (between 100 and 101 streets), through Sept. 1. The gallery is open Wed.—Sun. from 11 a.m.—6 p.m., or by appointment.

Hank Blaustein's gift for design and keen observations are evident in latest show

A series of sketches and watercolor paintings by Hank Blaustein are currently on view in Chelsea. The exhibition, Drawn to Life: A Sketchbook Diary, features eloquent and detailed works by Blaustein who has been drawing his observations of the world around him, from the moment he could hold a pencil.

Blaustein’s subjects are people, places, and various aspects of life that catch his eye. He re-creates what he sees exactly how he sees them, and effectively captures the soul and personality.

One notable watercolor piece, Budapest Chess and Budapest Baths depicts a group of four men outside, presumably on a hot summer day as they all appear topless. Two of the men are sitting at one table playing in a game of chess; one man has a stern expression on his face while the other looks very bored.

One of the other men in the image is looking over the bored man’s shoulder, and the fourth man is sitting at a neighboring table where he’s resting his foot and watching the other two men finish the game. Blaustein excels greatly at capturing the relaxed ambience of the scene.

"Chess Budapest Baths" by Hank Blaustein

Other notable works in the show include 7th Avenue Sterling Place where Blaustein brings to life an elegant complex of apartments on a peaceful street corner, and Teatro Massimo Palermo that features a man in the audience of a theater with his arm draped over the balcony as he listens to and watches the performance.

Blaustein is a native of Brooklyn and is a frequent traveler to many places across the country and around the world. He is constantly inspired by the world around him whether it's in his hometown or on his many adventures. He has won many awards in group shows such as the Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit, and he’s had solo shows at Gallery at Lincoln Center and A.M. Adler, in New York, and Morgan State University in Baltimore. 

In addition, Blaustein is a popular choice for editorial and book illustration with his work being featured in major publications such as Grant’s Interest Rate Observer and Barron’s, as well as the New York Times, the Village Voice, Newsday, the Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, and the New Yorker. 

At The Blue Mountain Gallery, 530 W. 25th St., through Jul. 26. The gallery is open Tues.—Sat. from 11 a.m.—6 p.m.