20115-01-15
January is a month of cold nights and warm openings, with large group shows being offered throughout the borough. Coming on the heels of "Crossing Brooklyn: Art from Bushwick, Bed-Stuy, and Beyond" at Brooklyn Museum (200 Eastern Parkway) (a fine exhibition that many felt did not go far enough toward exploring the variety of art produced here), many of these large salon affairs seem like proud rebuttals of a sort. At Centotto (250 Moore St. #108) artist/critic/curatorPaul D'Agostino assembles a 35+ artist survey from his home-based gallery's prior programming; including paintings, sculptural objects, photographs and more. During Momenta Art's (56 Bogart St.) winter break, January 5th-11th, you can catch a lively 80+ artist group show curated by the indomitable artist Julie Torres. Later in the month, catch the salon-show institution, "Side Show Nation III: Circle the Wagons," an annual party/labor of love put on by artist/gallerist Richard Timperio atSideshow Gallery (319 Bedford Ave). This year's show boasts over 600 artists in a mind-bending display of every type of work imaginable. See also "Paperazzi IV" at Janet Kurnatowski Gallery (205 Norman Ave.), opening on January 16th, for a dizzying survey of 130+ artists in a wide range of medium on paper. Two nights earlier on January 14th, attend "Open [C]all: The Artist's Studio," at BRIC Gallery (647 Fulton St.), a 150+ artist exhibition originating from an open call and sourced from BRIC'S online Contemporary Artist Registry. Another important event at BRIC this month is "Pioneers! O' Pioneers! A History of NY Artist Neighborhoods" on January 21st from 7-9 PM, wherein a panel discussion on the changing political, economic, and geographic landscapes of artist neighborhoods will include seminal NYC art figures Irving Sandler, Joyce and Maz Kozloff, Walter Robinson and Pierogi's own Joe Amrhein. (Joe Amrhein's works can be seen alongside artists Rita Valley, Rico Gatson, and William Powhida at Odetta Gallery (229 Cook St.) in "Pay to Play" opening January 16th, 6-8 PM). Other shows that need mentioning all fall along brilliantly hued lines (a chromatic burst of color is magic for the temperament these dark days of winter). Firstly, Gary Petersen'sexhilarating solo "Not now, but maybe later" at THEODORE:Art (56 Bogart St.) offers vibrant paintings that mix geometric, angled components with a 60's space age pop color sensibility. Several lush works are paired with two stunning mural installations on a carnation pink ground. Ignore the suggestion of the title; see it now! Also not to be missed is "Consumed": Kim Holleman and Joanne Ungar, two solo exhibitions atFront Room Gallery (147 Roebling St.) wherein each artist focuses on and repurposes the detritus and refuse of our disposable, consumer culture. Holleman's installation makes smart use of the glass-like qualities of resin and Ungar's new works suspend flattened packaging in layers of jewel-toned wax; revealing a clever interplay between compromised volume and translucent depth. The Parlor Bushwick (791 Bushwick Ave.) offers a three person show opening January 17th that will include the chromatic and fantastical figurations of talented painter Ryan Michael Ford. And Michael David's Life on Mars Gallery (56 Bogart St.) offers new and brilliantly hued abstractions from painter Fran O'Neill with pithy, textural treasures from painter Benjamin Pritchard in the project space (opens January 16th). —Enrico Gomez
