The BCK Fine Arts Gallery @ Montauk

“FATHERS and DAUGHTERS”

September 16-October 7, 2020,

Outdoor Opening Reception Thursday, September 17, 4:00-6:30 PM

87 South Euclid Ave. Montauk, NY

The BCK Fine Arts Gallery @Montauk will present its next exhibition, “FATHERS and DAUGHTERS”, September 16 – October 7, 2020. This group exhibition consists of the paintings of two men, Albert Kresch and Leland Bell, who met in New York City in the early 1940s. Accompanying these are the works of their daughters, Temma Bell and Elizabeth Kresch. Born decades apart, these two women followed the career paths shared by both their fathers and mothers.

Leland Bell was born in Cambridge, Maryland in 1922 and died in New York City in 1991.

In the early 1940s, he settled in New York City, where he met a group of young painters who were studying with Hans Hoffman. Bell never attended a school, he painted and visited museums and galleries, looked at paintings and read. Several of his paintings in this show are from his figure group. As stated by art historian Jennifer Samet, in her doctoral dissertation, “Bell would consistently use this same technique—echoing and balancing figural gesture—in his own Figure Group paintings, which he made from the late 1970s until his death in 1991…. arm gesture plays a prominent role, defining the triangulated space, accentuating a vertical line, directing our gaze to the center of the composition…The drama inherent in the gestures of the figures in Bell’s paintings seem to beg a narrative interpretation, but Bell also used gesture as a way to express movement.”

Albert Kresch, too, was born in 1922 in Scranton, PA. His family moved to New York in the 30's. He began studying figure drawing at the Brooklyn Museum, but soon enrolled in the Hans Hoffman School. Among his peers were Leland Bell, Louisa Mattiasdottir- Temma’s mother, Nell Blaine and Robert De Niro Sr. In 2002, a reviewer of one of his exhibitions at Salander-O’Reilly Galleries commented on his work saying that, “The surface is dry, thickly built up, with color carrying the expressive weight. Colors are bright, contrasting jolts of yellow, blue, orange and red, in jazzily geometric, off-kilter configurations. The scenes are sweetly modest, closely observed and loving evocations of summer and fall.” Albert Kresch remains a New York School painter who lives in Brooklyn, NY, and recently celebrated his 98th birthday.

Temma Bell studied at Boston University, Indiana University, and received a BFA from the Philadelphia College of Art. She was born in New York City and has lived there, as well as upstate New York, Paris, and Reykjavik. She has four daughters.

“For some four decades Bell has produced vividly hued, rapidly brushed landscapes, still lifes, and figure paintings, all painted from observation at her upstate sheep farm or in Iceland, her mother's native home. Bell's freeform application of paint combines lush strokes, thin washes, and partial scrapings-away of pigment….Mere picturesque description? Hardly-every color and shape has been weighed to convey how each object occupies its space, and its import for the whole image.”

Elizabeth Kresch, a Brooklyn born painter, grew up steeped in the rich lineages of poetry, art and jazz and started painting in the post punk music and art scene of the 1980s, New York. In an interview July 18, 2019, she was asked about her technique and replied, mine is a “Classic use of oil paint and turpentine. I don’t have a precise formula, I do what I need to, to get what I want on a canvas. So, I always draw first. Then I mix colors, sometimes right on the canvas. And I occasionally use a palette knife. Additionally, I scrub away with solvent now and then. I like a defined line and will often use heavy darks and lights.”4

Elizabeth Kresch sees herself as “equal parts observer, documentarian, dreamer and functional protector. She finds the shape, angle, color and conjures the subjects that populate the heady fascial flow of our worldwide creative pulse.” Elizabeth studied painting at the New York Studio School, Sarah-Lawrence College and Chautauqua Institute as well as Bennington College. She has one daughter.

This exhibition provides the viewer with the opportunity to compare and contrast the paintings of four individuals, each of whom was aware of and functioned in an art rich environment that influenced them in different ways over time. Albert Kresch and Leland Bell were colleagues and close friends, living and working in New York City, each absorbing - adapting or rejecting - in their own ways, the many different European and American influences of the post-World War II years. Their chance meeting led to a close, lifelong friendship, despite the early marriage of one and the later marriage of the other. The families, too, intermingled over the decades.

Both daughters had the benefit of being exposed to the artistic movements and controversies that influenced their parents’ generation, along with those that raged in their decades of growth and maturation. Again, each of these next generation painters has been exposed to and accepted, rejected or adapted a myriad of movements, philosophies, styles and subject matters. Here, in “FATHERS and DAUGHTERS”, is a small sample of the results, stretching from the 1940s to the current year.

Please join us for the outdoor Opening Reception on Thursday, September 17, 4:00-6:30 PM. All COVID protocols will be respected.

_____________________________

1. Samet, Jennifer Sachs. Painterly Representation in New York, 1945-1975. Dissertation, 2010.City University of New York. Graduate Center, p.103.

2.  Kimmelman, Michael. “Albert Kresch” ART IN REVIEW, April 26, 2002.

3.  Goodrich, John. “Temma Bell”. ART CRITICAL, May 1, 2003.

4 Cappetta, Angela. ”Elizabeth Kresch”. CONTEMPORARY ARTIST INTERVIEW SERIES. July 18, 2019.

The BCK Fine Arts Gallery @ Montauk “REFLECTIONS-Recent Works by Ed Smith”

Ed Smith - Sculptures

August 19 - September 10, 2020

OPENING RECEPTION,OUTDOORS, FRIDAY August 21, 4:00-6:30 PM                                      87 South Euclid Ave. Montauk, NY 11954 

The BCK Fine Arts Gallery @Montauk is pleased to present its third exhibition of the season, and its first show of the works of sculptor, Ed Smith. Here, Mr. Smith presents a collection of bronze torsos, small bronze figures, small terra cotta figures and torsos along with monographs and drawings, depicting both his process and versatility. Particularly striking are the patinas of the torsos, drawing attention to the power, motion and beauty of the figure.

This artist’s work displays a passion, vitality and commitment to the Mythology of Art. Throughout his career, Ed Smith has been known for his portrayal of the “heroic ideal”. His inspiration is drawn from the Classical Period of Greece, the Golden Age; a time period which drew its heroes and code of conduct, in part, from the writings of Homer.

There is considerable speculation as to why this modern sculptor is so focused on the past. Might it harken back to the impressionable time of the late 1950-60’s? Or could it be the challenges of addressing the current social and political ethics and values, with a deep respect for humanity? This search has left many bereft of role models in our society. Ed Smith, through his works, offers a reminder to his audience of the challenge of the individual, idealistic hero in a shifting time. This exhibition of Mr. Smith’s work has a message that could not be more relevant today!

Ed Smith, sculptor and teacher, is currently Gallery Director, Director of Marist Venice Biennale Program and Professor of Art at Marist College. He is a member of the National Academy, a Guggenheim Fellow in Sculpture and Drawing and an Associate member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors. He has also been selected by the National Archaeological Museum, Athens, for a special project, the results of which have, unfortunately, been delayed due to the pandemic.

Please join us at our Opening Reception, August 21, 2020 4:00-6:30 PM

Gallery Hours: Wednesday-Sundays, 12:00-5:30 PM; 

Monday by Appointment                                                                       631-594-1402 bckfineartsgallery.com

The BCK Fine Arts Gallery @Montauk Presents “As I See It”
Bruce Lieberman - Landscapes & Seascapes 

July 29– August 17, 2020

OPENING RECEPTION,OUTDOORS, FRIDAY JULY 31, 4:00-6:30 PM

The BCK Fine Arts Gallery @Montauk, 87 S. Euclid Ave., is pleased to welcome Bruce Lieberman back for, As I See It, a new exhibition of landscapes and seascapes. This longtime resident of Watermill does not need to stray far from his home to find his subject matter. The garden views he presents on canvas are an ever-changing riot of color. His seascapes capture the power and majesty of the ocean, inviting the viewer to experience both its beauty and its ferocity. In both venues, is in his elements-land and water. His compositions allow him to simultaneously be in and of nature. To him the transitions we experience from one phase of our lives to another, are our ongoing change of seasons; while, the fragility of being human is accompanied by the hopes of each new dawn.

Bruce Lieberman sees his work as a search for a modern vocabulary for his version of representational painting. To a large extent observational, he also has a strong attachment to modernist and abstract expressionist theories. Sensations and opportunities are simultaneously exploited by him, yet he always remains cognizant of color relationships, and the subtle, and not too subtle, harmonies that one imposes or that reveal themselves in the work. He is intimately involved in this process - the accumulated marks and the gestures that become form, while also being footprints - documenting the process of painting.

Join us at the BCK Fine Arts Gallery @ Montauk for the outdoor Opening Reception, weather permitting, on Friday July 31^st 4:00-6:30 PM, meet the artist and discover if you see your surroundings as he does.

As I See It will be on view from July 29, – August 17, 2020.

Gallery hours are 12:00-5:30 PM, Wednesday-Sunday, Mondays by Appoinment-631-594-1402

BCK FINE ARTS GALLERY

@MONTAUK PRESENTS

“LOCALES”

July 8 – 27, 2020

OPENING RECEPTION FRIDAY JULY 10, 4:00-6:30 PM 87 South Euclid Ave. Montauk, NY

There are many attractions that draw people to the East End of Long Island-the vast expanse of ocean, fishing, water sports, quaint hamlets and, most importantly, the striking vistas everywhere you turn. While scheduled long before COVID 19 became a part of our lives, LOCALES, the season’s opening exhibition for BCK Fine Arts Gallery @Montauk Gallery, offers all who have been on “pause” a unique opportunity to revisit familiar East End sites. This exhibition features two artists who present very different approaches to what they have observed for decades in these LOCALES.

Paton Miller has been a known figure in Southampton for over 40 years. Though not native to the area, he graduated from South Hampton College, stayed local and began his career as an artist and a teacher. His many shows, both solo and group, have been held at various galleries throughout the East End, New York City, other cities throughout the United States and internationally. His works are owned by the American Embassies in Abu Dhabi and Bogota, Columbia. They are also part of the collections at Guild Hall Museum, East Hampton, NY, Long Island Museum of Art, Stonybrook, NY, Muscarelle Museum of Art, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA and the Parrish Art Museum, Southampton, NY.

Janet Sawyer, too, has spent many years in Montauk, living and working both there and in Manhattan. Her time on the East End contributed to her affinity to the water, clearly shown in these playful paintings which depict a masterful use of vibrant colors. She was a founding student of the NY Studio School and received her MFA from Brooklyn College. She has exhibited continuously since l972 in New York City, Paris, Berlin, and various other American venues. Her work is in various collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, West Publishing, Gibbons PC, Sterling Corp., Bryn Mawr College, as well as private collections in the U.S. and Europe.

Join us at BCK Fine Arts Gallery for our Opening Reception on Friday, July 10 from 4:00-6:30 PM. Adherence to COVID restrictions will be required.                                     

The BCK Fine Arts Gallery @Montauk Presents “Preserved in Time”
A Collection of the Still Lifes of Five Artists

August 31 – September 16, 2019
87 South Euclid Ave. Montauk, NY 11954

The third show of the first season of BCK Fine Arts Gallery is a Still Life exhibition. As a genre, the origins of still life as an artform can be traced back to ancient times; but, it didn’t become a focal point in painting in Western Europe until the 16th/17th centuries in the Netherlands. Some artists today continue to specialize in this genre, others include it among their varied repertoires.
“Preserved in Time” displays the still life paintings of five artists. Each of whom utilize a variety of materials to create their works. Their selections of subject matter, observed in place or constructed, allows them to present certain qualities-color, light, form, texture, juxtaposition- that are important to them in their simultaneous portrayal of fragility and permanence. Their motivations emanate from their desire to have others see as they do. Common subject matter is depicted in such a way as to invite the viewer to share the transformation of the everyday object to a higher plane -one that lends itself to new understandings for both the artist and the audience.

Rita Baragona's first love is color. Luminous color comes from seeing the relationship of light and pigment color. Each color has a luminance created by both its intensity and value according to its inherent “see-ability”. By energizing the color mass with rhythmic edges, she makes the colors resonate with spectral energy. She feels closest to the sensation of light when colors sing in harmony. With this mind-set, color once thought of as abstract, becomes real to her.
William Barnes’ paintings and monotypes are of carefully examined found and arranged still lifes and landscapes. He is concerned with the nature of reality, probing underlying pictorial structure through rhythm, movement and the logic of color and light.

Colleen Franca paints exclusively from life employing traditional methods of direct observation using oil paint on canvas, board and paper. Her works are typically small as she is attracted to the intimacy that the small scale allows. Her still lifes focus on space, light and portray a sense of place and relationships. Whatever the subject matter is, for her, capturing the light is everything. It is always the light that she remembers most about any setting, it’s what draws her in and keeps her searching for things that are not immediately obvious.

Robert Franca values how direct perceptual experience is conveyed. He states, ...” I am in the business of recreating experiences”. In these perceptually based paintings, he paints to show others how he sees. It is an abbreviated naturalism, bypassing photographic aids, “borrowed” from quick studies of the actual; table-top events or glimpses of the outside world, whose function and proportions lend meaning to his environment.

Ginger Levant paints vivid and arresting images of flowers and still life objects.
Rich reds, yellows, greens and oranges explore the formation of flowers adjusted in saturations, creating luminosity. The work is thickly painted and embodies a sense of touch, as each stroke is defined. The paintings bring the viewer into the painting process by observing the inordinary in the ordinary. The power and emotion of each work is embodied by color, paint and the experience of seeing.

Please join us at the Opening Reception for the exhibition, “Preserved in Time”, at the BCK Fine Arts Gallery @Montauk on Saturday, August 31, from 5:30-8:00PM.

RECEPTION FOR “OPEN TABLE” AT BCK FINE ARTS GALLERY @MONTAUK

87 SOUTH EUCLID AVE.


SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 2019

FROM 5:30-8:00PM

The BCK Fine Arts Gallery @Montauk, a new commercial gallery, is pleased to present its second East End show, “Open Table”. The show will be available for viewing from Saturday, August 10 through Monday, August 26, Thursdays-Mondays 12:00-6:00PM.

“Open Table,” is a presentation of still life paintings that focuses upon food and offers a homage to our east end’s bountiful farms and fisheries. The East End has long been known for its creative chefs and the outstanding restaurants that offer their distinctive productions. Three artists, Lynn Kotula, John Goodman and Bruce Lieberman display a similar creativity and respect for the bounties of farm and sea; but, present that through a different medium.

Lynn Kotula is a NYC based artist. She has always painted from life, looking for a way to translate what she sees in the three-dimensional world to the two-dimensional world of the painting. Ms. Kotula loves the transformation of the seen to the language of color and shape. She wants her paintings to tell the non-verbal stories that she believes only paint can tell.

John Goodrich, originally from California, resides in Westchester but the bulk of his professional life revolves around NYC. John’s hope for his still lifes, landscapes, and figure paintings is that they characterize their subjects in ways unique to painting: through the rhythmic interactions of the forms they take on canvas. He looks to traditional painters, from Giotto to Chardin and Matisse, to show how cogently the pressures of lines and colors can animate a painting -- and while he must paint according to his own time and temperament, to him, such masters shine a light on the possibilities."

As a young man, Bruce Lieberman, a longtime resident of Watermill, developed a love of and a close tie to the sea and nature. Whether clamming, fishing, farming oysters or surfing, for work or play, his life has revolved around our local natural wonderland. Still a waterman, an avid surfer, fisherman and environmentalist, Bruce, and his family, tend their organic garden, which, coupled with those spoils of the sea, provide food for their family’s gourmet table and fodder for his paintings - some of which are included in this exhibition.

The still life for Bruce Lieberman is a story telling opportunity, full of personal symbolism, visual jokes and often metaphors. Among other things for the last 40 years, it has been auto- biographical, also allowing him to address environmental issues. His work speaks to the “transcendent religious experience of being in nature and the fragile nature of being human.” It is a conversation with and about painting. “In formal terms, they are always about the game of painting. A dance of flat shapes of color leading you rhythmically around in space on the surface, like a symphony -- of elements, of color, shapes and round forms”

BCK Fine Arts Gallery @Montauk, along with its artists, is pleased to invite you to their “Open Table”. Please join us and meet our artists.

The BCK Fine Arts Gallery @ Montauk
“LANGUAGES OF LANDSCAPES”
Selected Works from the Estates of Gretna Campbell and Louis Finkelstein:
July 20 - August 7, 2019

Opening Reception Saturday, July 20, 5:30-8:00 PM

87 South Euclid Ave. Montauk, NY

The estates of Gretna Campbell and Louis Finkelstein are a rich treasure trove of works that reflect the transition from natural realism to abstract expressionism and then back to very personal adaptations of the two methods. Although married and working in close proximity to each other for over 30 years, these two remarkable painters arrived at different conclusions, or languages, on how best to convey their observations of their settings in nature on canvas.

Gretna Campbell (1922-1987), a respected artist and influential teacher, was best known for her large landscapes. Her assimilation of divergent approaches, combined with her need to work directly from nature, yielded the vitality of brush and color that drove Gretna Campbell’s landscapes. While the manner in which she handled the paint was impacted by abstract expressionism, Gretna Campbell insisted upon remaining a painter who closely observed and intensely experienced the natural forms with which she surrounded herself. Her landscapes are both colorful and lyrical in their construction. They are deeply imbued with life – the life her eye experienced as she stood before the panorama of the natural world. In the works of Gretna Campbell presented in this show, her joy is evident in her observations of that natural world, as she saw it, in locations in New Jersey, Maine, Connecticut, Brazil and France.

Louis Finkelstein (1923-2000), too, was a respected artist and influential teacher, known for his articulate lectures and intense critiques. He also wrote on the subject of art. His publication of “Painterly Representation” clearly depicts his understandings of his own philosophies on the practices of creating art.

Louis Finkelstein recognized that his many years as an educator forced him to clarify his own thoughts on painting and the processes he followed to achieve his results. He saw his teaching and his production of art as inseparable, one informing the other in an ongoing process. Campbell and Finkelstein met as students and, therefore, were exposed to many of the same methodologies and theories throughout their educations. Despite the fact that Louis Finkelstein cited Gretna Campbell as one of the influences on his body of work, a myriad of impacts from other sources resulted in a different synthesis, when developing his own configurations.

The BCK Fine Arts Gallery @ Montauk is pleased to present selected works of Gretna Campbell and Louis Finkelstein, recognizing their many contributions to the “Languages of Landscapes”.