The Art of Remembering

ALTARED SPIRITS is an art exhibit in which seven Hudson Valley artists explore the liminal space between life and death. The artists present their interpretations of the different ways to communicate with and honor those who have passed away.

The show runs from Sunday September 19 to Sunday November 7, 2010 at the Outside In Piermont, a gallery featuring Hudson River artists. The gallery is located at 249 Ferdon Avenue in Piermont. NY. Open Thursdays through Sundays 11AM to 6PM. 
Website:  http://www.outsideinpiermont.webs.com


The show period encompasses the the start of the Chinese Autumn Moon Festival to the end of the Mexican Day of the Dead celebration. This time of the year, which is after harvest and before the start of winter, is when many cultures perceive the membrane between the living and dead to be the most permeable. There are many rituals, festivals and ceremonies to bridge the barrier and celebrate the cycle of life and death.

There will be a mid-show Artist Talk on Remembering Dead Fathers on Sunday October 17th. For the closing, there will be an Artist Talk on Transformations on Sunday, November 7th. Each event will feature a burning ceremony for public participation.

Why burnings? In many cultures, flame and the lighting of candles and incense are used to represent the transformation of the material to the spiritual. Group participation brings energy and adds layers of meaning to ceremonies. On the event days of the two Artist Talks, people may also write a message to a departed one on a piece of bark supplied by the gallery or burn a letter or an offering of Chinese Hell Money in the gallery’s wood stove.

At the show closing day at 4 PM, a large origami boat, filled with  notes and offerings contributed by the public during the run of the show will be launched towards the Hudson River.

The artwork varies from sculptural altars to photographic constructions. The artists are inspired by the religious and animistic references from Asian, African, Native American, Latin American, European and Jewish cultures.

The Seven Artists and featured pieces are:

Jennie Chien, Nyack (curator, sculptor), is building a Buddhist-inspired altar. She received the Rockland County Executive Award for Visual Artist in 2009. She has won over 25 awards for design and art and has an MBA from Stanford Business School.

John Badik, Haverstraw (sculptor), is constructing an outdoor stone cairn, a cement chiminea, and a ceramic tree table for this show. John is a native to Rockland and has been making ceramic art for over 25 years.

Marlene Krum-Sanders, Piermont (sculptor), creates gorgeously illustrative multi-media sculptures. Marlene is a professional illustrator and self-taught ceramicist.

Patricia Hickman, Haverstraw (sculptor), whose signature material is translucent animal gut, shows an encased circle of gekko mummies, reminding us of the beauty and ephemeral nature of life and time. Pat has exhibited internationally and received many awards and distinctions. She is a Professor Emeritus of Art at the University of Hawai’i and from 1990-2006 was Chair of the Fiber Program.

Ned Harris, New City (photographer, graphic artist), shows a grouping of three-dimensional photographic interpretations of Mexico’s Day of the Dead folk art, along with the actual pieces. Ned is a well-known figure in Rockland. He is an artist, curator, graphic designer, and photographer.

Patrice Gallwey Grant, Nyack (sculptor) constructs story tableaux in response to the energy she feels from natural and found materials. Patrice has been making art all her life.

Daniel Mack, Warwick (object maker, author, teacher) explores the forms, textures and deformities of the trees to re-present and re-member them. Daniel will be presenting a large group of imaginal artifacts he names Anima, which are made from water-worn bark, carved to reveal human-like features. His work is in many museums' permanent collections.

Future posts will cover the cultural influences of the artists and their individual works.