The Arts + Leisure project space
in East Harlem is currently presenting a collection of recent work by Jennifer
Sullivan for an exhibition titled House Cat.
For this show, Sullivan offers several vibrant and eclectic paintings,
collages, and other installations.
Of all the
paintings in the show, the one that stands out among the others is Big and Beautiful, which is a
large-scale portrait of Sullivan’s cat Queenie, who is a huge part of the
artist’s life. The beloved feline is portrayed with of several light and some
bold shades of green, brown, pink, blue and yellow against a multi-colored
background outlined with different shapes. Queenie poses in a manner that is
quite eminent with a self-assured expression on her face as an unusual black
shape that stands out from the bright colors and other shapes in the background
rests in front of her, perhaps symbolizing a mouse she has captured.
 |
| Big and Beautiful (2015) by Jennifer Sullivan |
A large-scale
collage known as Double Negative Purses also
includes images of felines but is much more dynamic. In the piece, magenta is
the dominant color with emerald green along the sides and splotches of dark
blue in the center. Two black purses with long straps are seen sprawled out on
the floor as an image of a water pitcher shaped like a cat on the right side of
the image looks on. Meanwhile, an actual cat (perhaps Queenie) looks on
curiously in the upper left corner.
Another
intriguing work that stands out is The
Only Way Out is Through, which is an installation of a wooden door covered
with different colors of paint and shards of broken piggy banks inspired by
Julian Schnabel’s iconic broken plate paintings. It was built on top of a door
in Sullivan’s apartment and the piggy banks used came from a collection
inherited by Sullivan’s mother who is also an artist.
The fragments serve as an homage to Sullivan’s personal influences
and art history influences and convey a sense of being “broken open.” At the
bottom of the door is a dog flap (or in Sullivan’s case, a cat flap).
The exhibition also includes an insightful short film
titled Window Kitty, which depicts
Sullivan, dressed as a bride curled up by the window inside her home in
Ridgewood, Queens. She emulates how a cat feels by scratching at the doors and
saying “hi” every 10 seconds or so. Jennifer Sullivan is an interdisciplinary artist who lives
and works in Ridgewood, NY (Queens) and has participated in numerous exhibits
locally and nationally.
At Arts + Leisure, 1571 Lexington Ave.
(between 100th and 101st streets), through Aug. 2. The space is open Wed.—Sun.
from 11 a.m.—6 p.m., or by appointment.
