Dena Schutzer illustrates 'Local Encounters' at Chelsea gallery show

The Bowery Gallery in Chelsea is currently presenting a collection of work by Dena Schutzer for the exhibition Local Encounters. For her second solo show at the gallery, Schutzer unveils paintings that are inspired by her astute observations of the people she comes across throughout her daily life in an urban environment.

One subject Schutzer illustrates often is that of people with jobs that are physically demanding, laboring away day in and day out. She captures the workers’ plight quite profoundly in Construction Workers Black, White, and Yellow by using black ink to portray the workers as they move around hauling heavy objects. Traces of yellow can also be seen in the painting, and the combination of black and yellow illustrates the notion of a thunderstorm occurring adding to the dynamic of the scene.

Meanwhile, images such as Workers Relaxing, Truck Drivers-Blue, or Construction Worker Against a Wall capture these workmen as they take their break, lounging around in the back of their trucks or at their construction sites looking at their smart phones. Schutzer also portrays local people in her neighborhood at their homes or on the streets. One painting titled Ben With Earbuds features a teenage boy wearing a sweater and jeans slouched on his bright red sofa with headphones hanging from one of his ears illustrating the life of a typical teenager. 

Similarly, Boy on Skateboard depicts a boy, most likely between 10 and 12 years old riding his skateboard which is sky blue, making it stand out against the monochromatic gray, sepia, and brown in the background. The boy is wearing a black T-shirt that displays a wide smiley face; in the background, a man and a woman can be seen by the steps of an apartment.

"Two Boys" (2014) by Dena Schutzer

Also of note is the painting Two Boys featuring two brothers, one of them who’s about six or seven years old and the other almost a teenager, sitting in the living room of their home dressed in blue suits as though they’re dressed to attend Sunday Mass.

Dena Schutzer is the Art Department Head at the Heschel High School in NYC. She has illustrated children’s books for Simon and Schuster, Knopf, and Scholastic among others, and her editorial illustrations have been published in newspapers and magazines including The NY Times, The New Yorker and Newsday.

At the Bowery Gallery 530 W. 25th St., through Apr. 18. The gallery is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Aaron Johnson's dynamic sock paintings on view in East Harlem

The Arts and Leisure project space in East Harlem is currently presenting a collection of works by Aaron Johnson for the show ¡Eso Si Que Es! (S.O.C.K.S), which roughly translates to “It is what it is!”

As part of the exhibition title might suggest, the recurring theme in Johnson’s paintings are the usage of socks in different contexts. When he got the idea for the project, Johnson contacted several friends through Facebook and asked if they could send him pairs or single socks in exchange for his drawings.

With the pairs of socks he received, Johnson incorporated them into his dynamic acrylic on linen paintings. For instance, one piece titled Snarler depicts a ghostlike creature with its eyes and mouth wide open forming a dramatic expression. Johnson uses dark colors such as mauve or crimson for this painting to convey notions of human fears and personal demons one might be battling internally.

 The socks are seen layered on the painting, and include white socks, which represent the creature’s teeth. Above its eyes are skulls on the top of its head bearing evil grins with white socks representing the teeth.

"Snarler" (2014) by Aaron Johnson

Another notable piece titled Clobber Head is quite action-packed as it depicts another mysterious lopsided creature, with two fists emerging from both sides of the image punching one of its eyes, which is pure white, appears to be popping out from the creature’s face. The mouth is wide open as though crying for help, and the throat is illustrated as several circles that very much look as though it could be a third eye.

About his work, Johnson has said “In a very real way, these works could not have been made without the contributions of other people, and metaphysically, it brought a sense of collective consciousness into the work.”

Aaron Johnson studied at from Hunter College where he received his MFA and lives and works in Brooklyn. His work is featured permanent collections at Museum of Modern Art, and other institutions across the country.

At Arts and Leisure, 1571 Lexington Ave. (between 100th and 101st streets), through Apr. 19. The space is open Wed.—Sun. from 11 a.m.—6 p.m., or by appointment.

Subodh Gupta illustrates 'Seven Billion Light Years' at Chelsea gallery

Hauser & Wirth’s Chelsea location is currently presenting an intriguing collection of sculptures, paintings, installations, and film by Subodh Gupta for the exhibition Seven Billion Light Years. Throughout his career, the New Delhi-based Gupta has been known to make use of ordinary objects to illustrate what daily life is like in India. 

The title of the show refers to the world’s current population of seven billion people and the relationship between human life and the mysterious cosmic universe. With this latest series of work, Gupta promotes the idea of looking at each of the world’s seven billion people as individuals rather than as just one colossal crowd.

Seven Billion Light Years

The focal point of the show is a series of paintings that also have the title Seven Billion Light Years that where Gupta uses different kitchen utensils to illustrate earthly scenes. One notable painting in this group illustrates the world as depicted on a black rusty part with patches of white depicting the different continents. Another intriguing painting in the series features an object very much resembling a giant mushroom made from metal with the bottom of the stem facing the viewer, and the rest of it is riddled with dents and creases.

Another notable installation in the show titled This is Not a Fountain consists of a large pile of pots, pans, sink pipes, and various other kitchen utensils heaped together in the middle of the room, perhaps conveying the notion of how easy it is to get lost in the crowd, like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

A more personal installation known as My Family Portrait consists of three small shelves holding several plates, bowls, spoons, and other utensils that likely bring back a sense of nostalgia to Gupta as it represents familiarity of domestic life.

At Hauser & Wirth, 511 W. 18th St., through Apr. 25. The gallery is open Tues.—Sat. from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

A new twist to a classic fairytale

Tim Burton’s rendition of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland stays true to the classic fairytale but offers more fantasy elements. What makes Burton’s adaption different than others is that he and screenwriter Linda Woolverton give it an added depth and a richer plot. Actress Mia Wasikowska fits the role of the young heroine like a glove with the perfect combination of grace, innocence, and curiosity. Alice still lives in England but is given the last name “Kingsley” and her family has arranged for her to be married to a young man named Hamish, to Alice’s dismay.The notion of the female protagonist in fairytales rejecting ideas of arranged marriage is a positive and familiar one but has never been part of any Alice in Wonderland version until now—and that’s certainly not a bad thing. 


The famous characters of wonderland are all the same but the story takes a different turn. Here, the 
creatures mistake Alice for another person called Alice who they hope will slay the Queen of Hearts’ 
(or the “Red Queen” as she is known) evil dragon with a secret, powerful sword. Woolverton 
introduces new characters. These include the Red Queen’s accomplice The Knave of Hearts (Crispin 
Glover) and the Red Queen’s good-hearted sister, The White Queen (Anne Hathaway). What 
the scene where Alice  falls down the rabbit hole. Sound editors Paul Apeted and Bill Banyai also 
put lively sounds to use with noises of leaves and tree branches blowing through the wind. Along the 
same lines, lighting editor Ben Aguillon makes some parts of this classic tale seem like it comes 
from a scene in an Edgar Allan Poe story, with the thick clouds and thorny trees in the forest.


It’s disappointing that the Red Queen, not particularly intimidating; she is designed like a little doll 
with a round porcelain, white face and wild red hair seeming to depict her as being jokingly evil 
rather than a truly fearful character. Furthermore, The Red Queen’s army of cards don’t look like 
your traditional deck of cards. The “cards” are brown instead of white and don’t have any designs 
like diamonds or spades. Johnny Depp is fantastic as The Mad Hatter, with his eccentric persona. 



Costume designer Colleen Atwood creatively dresses The Mad Hatter looking completely in 
character with his wild, curly red hair, bulging green eyes, and thick red eyebrows.Atwood also 
dresses The White Queen very gracefully, completely in white, has white hair and lives in a white 
kingdom with white steps and paths and even her servants are dressed in white. Overall, Burton’s 
perspective is refreshing but still doesn’t hold up to the standards of the traditional story.

Oldest Animal Shelter in New York City comes back to life after Sandy damage (originally published Oct. 29, 2012)

This past October, Hurricane Sandy ravaged hundreds of homes and places of business in the tri-state area. One facility that suffered greatly was the Bideawee animal shelter located in Manhattan within very close proximity to the East River. The water came gushing on to street level and it wasn’t long before it seeped in to the shelter’s basement sustaining up to four feet of water damage.

Valuable items such as medications, pet food, cat litter, bedding for the animals, and uniforms for the staff were ruined by the contaminated water. Appliances and electrical equipment such as the washers and dryers, and even the motor that operates the elevator became dysfunctional. While new washers and dryers have been added, the elevator still remains out of service, leaving staff members and potential adoptive families to walk up as many as six flights of stairs. 

When the storm hit, the animals were evacuated to the Bideawee animal shelter in Wantagh which had been operating via a generator that broke down after 11 straight days of use. Bideawee’s president and CEO Nancy Taylor estimates it will cost a minimum of $75,000 to replace the generator. Taylor describes the evacuation process by saying “We were basically camping with 100 animals (in Wantagh). I think the animals are thrilled to be back here.”

After nearly two weeks without power, Bideawee reopened its Manhattan location on November 17th, but the staff has been overwhelmed in trying to provide the proper care to all its cats and dogs again.The shelter has not rescued any new animals since the Hurricane because, as Taylor explained, “We’ve been so occupied with dealing with the problems that we had without taking on any more animals. So everybody here feels badly but we had our hands full. Between Bideawee’s three locations (in Manhattan, Wantagh, and Westhampton) have a total of 250 animals and for these past few weeks that’s all we’ve been able to deal with although we know that there is a tremendous need for pets, the need to get reunited with their owners.”

The cost of replacing all of the damaged equipment hasn’t been completely totaled up yet but Taylor speculates it will be in the region of hundreds of thousands of dollars. She is optimistic though and is grateful for all the generous donations the shelter has received so far. We sent out two online email blasts to everyone that we have email addresses for and people have responded very generously. 

We also told people about our needs on our Facebook page, we have almost 25,000 Facebook friends and those people responded generously as well,” she said. Taylor also points out that in the days following the hurricane, bedding and blankets for the animals were needed most urgently.

The Thompson Hotel group in New York City also lent a hand by providing bedding supplies, sheets, 

and towels. Taylor credits the group’s generosity in helping the staff re-stock and enabling 

Bideawee to re-open as quickly as it did. Others have donated greatly as well including one woman 

from Maryland who drove the distance to deliver piles of bedding and blankets for the cats and dogs.

Taylor knows of ways to protect a pet from harm in the event of another destructive natural disaster. “My advice to pet owners would be to get their pets micro-chipped so in the event that they do get separated from their pets, they can be reunited,” she said. Taylor also suggests that pet owners keep on hand important animal records, vaccination records, food, medicine, and “a familiar piece of bedding” as soon as the threat of another major hurricane occurs.

Bideawee wasn’t the only shelter that felt the effects of the storm. The Animal Haven shelter located in Manhattan’s Financial District, had no power for nearly a week following the storm, leaving refrigerated supplies such as vaccines and medications spoiled, according to a post from Animal Haven's official website. The shelter is in need of extra funding to replace these items and also to be able to accommodate the number of animals that have been transferred to Animal Haven from other severely damaged shelters.

  

The Humane Society of New York located near the Queensboro Bridge in Manhattan, has been struggling to provide space for recently displaced animals, especially those that are ill and need medical attention. According to a post on the on the The Humane Society’s of New York’s official website, the staff is facing the challenge of caring for more animals than they are accustomed to.  The shelter even went so far as to cancel a benefit auction to be re-scheduled next spring, according to a separate post on the shelter’s homepage.

These shelters need your help now. Please donate and do whatever you can to help these shelters give the best care to its animals as they deserve. See photos of Bideawee's recovery here.

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                                  The Bideawee Animal Shelter sustained major water damage
                                       when Hurricane Sandy struck on October 29, 2012
                                                     Video by Adalia Lopez

Lillie's Victorian establishment honors successful stage actress

The Victorian era undoubtedly had a lasting impact on cultural trends and one woman who was one of the most respected figures was a successful British stage actress known as Lillie Langtry.

She was such an inspiration that two Manhattan bars, one in Times Square and Union Square, bear her name. Lillie was a classic beauty and socialite of the late 19th century who was born on an Island off the coast of England called the Isle of Jersey in 1853. Lillie’s early years were quite eventful, she married Irish landowner Edward Langtry in 1874 at age 22, met Queen Victoria two years later, and bore a child all before coming to America in 1882 to pursue an acting career. Over the next several decades, Lillie had appears in numerous stage productions, became an American citizen, bought her own theater, and wrote a novel and an autobiography all before her death in 1929 at age 75.

Lillie Langtry as Cleopatra

The two Manhattan bars in Lillie’s namesake pay her remarkable homage with several eloquent portraits of her on the walls, the lavish cushions on the seats, the fancy Victorian furniture, and other antiquities that were procured from a mansion in Belfast, Ireland dating back to the 1800s. The bar also offers a fine selection of red and white wines coming from places all around the world that were acquired from the Langtry estate in California which Lillie founded herself in 1888.

There are many tasty cocktails, appetizers and entrees on the menu with many of them bearing her name. The cocktails include Lillie’s Manhattan with Irish whiskey, sweet vermouth, and bitters; Lillie’s Black Russian with Grey Goose vodka and a special liquor called Tia Maria topped with Guinness; and Lillie’s Pennie with Russian vodka, ginger beer, and fresh lemon juice.

The selection of burgers is also quite creative with items such as Lillie’s Burger with applewood smoked bacon, an egg, and an onion ring. Other tasty burgers include the Oscar Wilde with Oregon bleu cheese, applewood bacon, and crispy fried onions, or the Jean Marie with roasted Portobello mushrooms, peppers, goat cheese, and hummus. Besides burgers, other delectable entrees include Chicken Pot Pie, Shepherd’s Pie, Beer Battered Cod Fish, Mac and Cheese, and Vegetarian Quiche among many other delights.

Lillie's Times Square is located at 249 W. 49th St. (212) 957-4530, and Lillie's Union Square is located at 13 E. 17th St. (212) 337-1970.

Albert Hadjiganev captures nature's beauty at Soho gallery show

The Axelle Fine Arts Galerie in Soho is currently presenting a collection of paintings by French-Bulgarian artist Albert Hadjiganev in a self-titled exhibition. For his eleventh solo show at the gallery, Hadjiganev unveils several lush landscapes, seascapes, and still-life paintings where he captures the beauty and tranquility of nature and simple things in life. He also examines notions of light and dark, freedom and control, and beauty and sadness, which he illustrates with his bold brushstrokes and by using different shades of green, grey, and blue.

Some of these paintings also represent the idea of a light at the end of the tunnel. For instance, in 27 rue de Seine two green doors reveal a dark hallway that leads to a sunny backyard. Similarly, Chemin Mouille (meaning “wet path”) depicts a forest separated by a stream of water that eventually yields to bright sunlight in the distance, while Chemin Forestier (“forest path”) depicts a group of trees with the leaves casting shadows over a long road that will also offer lightness at the end.

Chemin mouille (2015, oil on canvas)

Also intriguing is Arbre Courbe (“curved tree”) which illustrates just that, a beautifully curved tree standing alone in a field with vibrant green leaves, while Les Beaux Jours (“a sunny day”) also features a smaller curved tree with light pink flowers growing in a small backyard with a dining table and chairs.

Another painting that exudes a calming sense of warmth and welcome is Matin-Brumeaux (“foggy morning”) with the sun shining over a group of trees behind clouds and fog which is illustrated through pale shades of grey, blue, and dark green.

At The Axelle Fine Arts Galerie, 472 West Broadway, through Apr. 5. The gallery is open from 10 a.m.—6 p.m. There will be an opening reception at the gallery Mar. 7 from 6—8 p.m.

Pierre Gonnord presents moving photographs at Chelsea gallery show

Hasted Kraeutler in Chelsea is presenting a collection of photographs by Pierre Gonnord for the show The Dream Goes Over The Time. Gonnord’s subjects include immigrants, gypsies, tribes, and clans living in communities that are off the beaten track. Gonnord adds an air of royalty to his subjects by capturing them against dark backgrounds from the waist up as they gaze intently at the camera.

The title of the exhibit comes from a poem by Federico Garcia Lorca with a line that reads The dream goes over the time floating like a sailboat as his subjects possess a combination of fragility and resilience. For instance, one poignant image titled Rogiero II depict a young boy evoking maturity beyond his years as he stares solemnly at the camera dressed in a suit resting his elbow on a table covered with cloth.

Another image titled Maximiliana features an elderly woman dressed in black with a vacant expression on her face as if she’s feeling numbness after experiencing the loss of a loved one.

Notions of love and nurturing are also evident such as in the image Maria Joao e Isaac depicting a woman nursing her twin babies as she stares out into the distance as if she’s looking out into the big world that her children will eventually have to face.

Gonnord also includes striking portrayals of animals, particularly horses, with images like Ortigao depicting a black horse and Vengador depicting a white horse and Gonnord captures their vulnerability that lies beneath their exuberant exterior.

 At Hasted Kraeutler, 537 W. 24th St., through Apr. 25. The gallery is open Tues.—Sat. from 11 a.m.—6 p.m.

Grier Torrence's paintings inspired by family on view at Chelsea gallery

The Bowery Gallery in Chelsea is currently presenting a series of paintings by Grier Torrence for a show titled Through the Notch.

For his second show at the gallery, Torrence offers several landscape, still-life, and figure compositions that revolve around his family and he emulates the style of his biggest influences including Van Gogh, Cezanne, and Gauguin.

One painting that stands out the most titled Through the Notch is a landscape painting that features members of his family gathered outdoors in the backyard of his or his family’s home. In the background there are hills, a lake, mountains, and the gradually darkening sky suggests it’s summertime, in the early evening hours.

"Through the Notch" (2013) by Grier Torrence

The people in the painting include a young woman standing alone, a preteen girl playing her guitar sitting next to a table holding a vase of assorted flowers, and another preteen girl and an older man standing across from each other with the family dog sitting between them. In this piece, Torrence is most likely capturing the relaxed atmosphere and his family comes together to enjoy the nice, warm, long days of summer.

Another intriguing work titled Dark Horse depicts two ballerinas dancing near the edge of a balcony looking over a harbor and various objects including a chessboard can be seen on the ground. On the other side of the pool is a statue of someone riding a horse and behind the statue is a river with a whole other city on the other side.

At The Bowery Gallery, 530 W. 25th St., through Mar. 21. The gallery is open Tues.—Sat. from 11 a.m.—6 p.m. There will be a closing reception at the gallery Sat., Mar. 21 from 5—7 p.m.