The Art Scene: 01.05.12
New Shows at Vered
Vered Gallery in East Hampton has two shows on view in January. The gallery will continue the “Landscape/ Seascape” theme with works by Robert Dash, Wolf Kahn, Thomas Hart Benton, Balcomb Greene, Thomas Moran, and Milton Avery, among others. Mr. Kahn’s “Mammoth Vista,” a massive autumnal water view from 1992, is the centerpiece of that exhibit.
The gallery also has an installation of modern and contemporary art and vintage photographs. The artists include Larry Rivers, Frank Stella, Milton Avery, Dan Christensen, Hunt Slonem, and Tony Smith.
The photography includes early salt prints from the Crimean War of 1855. Roger Fenton’s images of sailing ships, a tented encampment, cattle, and a dizzying array of wharf buildings and commerce in the Balaclava Harbor is a prime example of early photography. Other photographers include Gustave le Gray, Eugene Atget, Lewis Hine, Aleksandr Rodchenko, Man Ray, and Irving Penn. The exhibit is on view through Jan. 25.
Nudes Warm Up the Monkey
The Crazy Monkey Gallery in Amagansett will open its third annual “Salon des Refuses” show tomorrow. The exhibit will feature nude figures, particularly edgy and provocative subjects.
The title refers to the exhibit that Napoleon III called for in 1863 as an alternate to the Paris Salon, which rejected paintings such as Manet’s “Déjeuner sur l’Herbe,” as being too scandalous.
Artists have been invited to contribute works to the exhibit, so the content is not known in advance, however, the past two exhibits have included revealing and sexually charged works that, although not crude, might be inappropriate for general audiences.
A reception will be held on Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m.
New Year, New Art
Richard Demato Gallery in Sag Harbor will celebrate the new year with an exhibit opening on Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m.
For those still in the holiday spirit, the gallery will offer champagne and other surprises. One such surprise will be a raffle for patrons who have previously purchased at the gallery, in which the winner will receive a work by one of the gallery artists.
The artists on view will be Xiaolu, Joe Concra, Michael Carson, and Ben Hengst. Xiaolu combines abstract expressionism and figurative style with unnatural color. Mr. Concra paints a world of illusion, fantasy, and possibility, in his words. Mr. Carson’s work is primarily figurative with some abstracted elements. He is inspired by architectural interiors and fashion. Mr. Hengst grew up in the theater and is influenced by it in his compositions. “There is always an element of playfulness that runs throughout my work,” according to the artist.
Janet Culbertson
In New York City
Accola Grieffen Gallery will show the work of Janet Culbertson, a Shelter Island artist, in an exhibit titled “Possible Peril,” beginning next Thursday with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. It will remain on view through Feb. 18.
Ms. Culbertson’s paintings and drawings are often imbued with a concern for ecology. By mixing mica and iridescent pigments with her paints, the artist simulates the appearance of broken glass, mine tailings, and oil spills. Primates often appear amid these threatening landscapes as poignant reminders of the many species we have threatened in striving for a rich future with little mind to sustainability, according to a press release.