A.I.R. Gallery is a popular venue for the visual arts located in Brooklyn. The gallery is currently presenting three exciting new art shows; “Pow! New Paintings” by Susan Bee, “Why does it end here?” by Elizabeth Hoy, and a group show called “Space/Craft” that features artists Tomoko Abe, Liz Ellen Hackl, Surbeck Biddle, and Jackie Welsh. All the exhibitions are on display until April 16.
Pow! New Paintings
“Pow! New Paintings” was inspired by 20th-century abstract paintings and the history of film. The artworks in this exhibition incorporate tension, humor, complexity and sensuality via assorted patterns, colors, and textures.
Susan Bee, the child of artists, has been making art since early childhood and earned a Masters degree in Creative Art. “This is my eighth solo show at A.I.R,” Susan stated. “It is great to be part of a historically important women’s cooperative gallery. We support each other and take risks to show political or experimental work.” Susan works intuitively and for this exhibit she focused on dramatic black and white film stills from the 1920s through the 1950s mixed with mediums like paints, crayons, and sand. “I like humor in art,” Susan said. “I think it is important for me to provide a way for the viewer to enjoy the images and to poke some fun at the seriousness of some the art tropes that I use.
So, there is a loving amount of irony in the work. I want tenderness but also am interested in ambiguity. The interpretation of the images is open and is left to the viewer. I suppose the ‘Pow! ‘painting is a favorite of mine. It’s the postcard for the show and shows a woman knocking out a man.”
Why Does It End Here?
“Why Does It End Here?” is Elizabeth Hoy’s first solo show in New York City.
Elizabeth is an A.I.R. Fellow who is using her exhibition as a way to comment on environmental destruction and renewal and the currently plight of the EPA which is under governmental attack. Elizabeth was inspired to become an Artist from her sister and brother-in-law and she is especially fond of non-for-profit art spaces that are usually run by artists.
For nearly a year, Elizabeth has been painting Superfund Sites in Maine, New York, and Vermont. “My first experience with Superfund sites was with a copper mine in Harborside, Maine,” she stated. “This mine is about a mile away from where I spent my childhood summers. My proximity to these sites pushed me to look into the EPA program and learn about the history of these highly-polluted places. These sites are EPA designated tragedies of the built environment and are places that have endured chronic abuse often by many parties over decades. Spending time there, I get to know and care more about the place and the people who live and work nearby. I hope that my artwork can bring attention to the Superfund program and to the human impact on the environment, both the detrimental impact we have and as well as the positive changes we can make.”
Space/Craft
“Space/Craft” is a group show featuring four artists—Liz Surbeck Biddle, Jackie Welsh, Ellen Hackl Fagan and Tomoko Abe—who decided to collaborate due to their shared interested in themes of playfulness, experimentation, and clay/ceramics.
Tomoko Abe’s pieces not only have a floating aspect to them but also appear to move across the surface like a flash in the solar system. Ellen Hackl Fagan’s work lately is experimenting with large hovering and floating flying carpet-like idea using only blues. Jackie Welsh’s installation has dangling cement and clay diatoms suspended in air. Liz Surbeck Biddle has high flying playful kites hanging near the ceiling made from bamboo and cyanotype printed paper with acrylic primary colors. She also is showing some all blue cyanotype framed pieces she experimented in a more traditional format.
Upcoming
A.I.R. Gallery is constantly seeking new work to exhibit and emerging and established artists to promote.
“We have many ways that artists can be a part of showing work A.I.R. such as membership, exhibition proposals, and open calls,” said Jacqueline Ferrante, the Associate Director and Director of Fellowship. “Currently, we have an open call for curators for our bi-annual CURRENTS exhibition and an open call for residents on Governors Island. All of this can be found on our website under the opportunities section.”
