Monday Morning :: A few random notes on art

Monday morning. It has been so long since we all had to get up, get it together, and get out, that I was almost sure it would be hectic at best, and disastrous at worst.

It was neither thing. Smooth sailing; and now I am left home, alone, for the first time in over three weeks.

We have a lot of things cooking here, both literally and figuratively. When my tech-director helps me out tonight, I will be able to show you what we're working on, but today I will mention a few random other things.

This weekend was art-full for us.

Third Friday was surprisingly, encouragingly busy at the gallery, and a great send off for The Obama Show. We'd like to thank everyone who made the show such a success, not only in terms of how much of the show sold, but measured instead by the enthusiasm, energy and sense of community that surrounded us during it. And an enormous thank you to the artists who participated, and made it such a varied and inspiring show.

Saturday we had a busman's holiday: an opening reception for a show at Rutheny's Brook Street Gallery in Croton. The show, an exhibition by The Cathouse Associates, included two types of work: Not Shoes, shoes that had been altered by the artists with other elements, and Not Books, paperback sized blocks of wood with "covers" made from collaborative collages, and given invented (and inventive) titles and authors.

And on Sunday, we finally made it up to Katonah for the last day of the juried group show, which only happens once every three years. We were very impressed by the work, and loved the museum's setting, which reminded me of this museum, in Denmark. Well...without the view, and the cafe. But Katonah's sculpture garden will be lovely in the spring, and it's an easier drive from Tarrytown.

All of this got me thinking how in this economy which no one can stop talking about, perhaps the silver lining is that people will be forced to find culture and entertainment in the art world, at libraries, and at home. We spent a weekend-admittedly much fuller than we generally like-full of interesting, stimulating experiences, without spending much money.

One of my favorite pieces in the Katonah show was a piece by local artist Nancy Egol Nikkal, called Quote. She took some of the text of a December 2008 Interview magazine article and used it as the basis for a collage; this part, on the value of art, struck me as most timely:

"and it's something that not only speaks to who you are, but that transforms you into who you want to be...the financial markets may be in turmoil, but no matter what happens, we still have art."

More tomorrow. Thanks for reading.

tt