April 4, 2023
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12:00 pm
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April 26, 2023
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4:00 pm
Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays in April from noon to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., The Open Gallery welcomes Andrew Chalfen to display his works in a show titled, “Andrew Chalfen: Mind Constructions.” Chalfen is a Philadelphia-based visual artist and musician whose work has appeared nationally, winning numerous awards and recognition through publications, including a collection of 84 whimsical pen and ink drawings titled “Look Up Coloring Book.” These works however are far more than just whimsy and, at times, defy easy descriptions.
Chalfen’s work displays his fascination with patterning and the way patterns radiate, ripple, pixelate, oscillate, cluster, construct and deconstruct. These patterns , he says, tend to reflect his state of mind in the studio as he creates, a topographical exploration of his thoughts and moods while he responds to these patterns. He explains, “Shapes often spill out over edges, suggesting unseen continuations beyond, while others seek containment…. I follow my instincts, deviate from them when necessary, and trust the process to guide the work to a successful outcome…” Chalfen’s artwork will be on display from April 4th– 26th, including on April 7th, at our First Friday event from 5-8 p.m.
An Artists’ Talk will be held at The Open Gallery, 329 Main Street, Vincennes, on April 25 at 4:00 p.m. Chalfen will be on hand to tell us about his creative process for this work and answer any questions about the pieces. The public is invited to attend.
The Open Gallery will open its 2023 gallery season with a unique exhibition of work by artist John Baeder, titled “Collecting John Baeder.” Baeder, who currently resides in Nashville, TN, has had a storied career in art for over 50 years, getting his big break with legendary gallerist Ivan Karp at the O.K. Harris gallery in SoHo in 1972, not long after Karp saw Baeder’s work during a studio visit. It wasn’t long after that, that graduate student Michael Mullen first saw Baeder’s work and contacted him, beginning a lifelong friendship. Mullen has been collecting his work ever since in a friendship that has spanned 40 years.
This exhibition features that collection, ranging from Baeder’s infamous diner watercolors, some of his photocollage pieces, his more recent vintage airplane paintings and matchbook paintings. Yale Professor of Art Vincent Scully wrote that it’s his emotional attachment to his subject matter that sets Baeder’s work apart from many of the other Photorealists: “John Baeder’s paintings seem to me to differ from most of those of his brilliant Magic-Realist contemporaries in that they are gentle, lyrical, and deeply in love with their subjects.” We think you will agree as you view this retrospective.
Please come by The Open Gallery on Friday, March 3, from 5-8 p.m. for our kick-off First Friday event. The show will run through the end of March. All the galleries will be exhibiting new work, so this event should be a great way to get out of the house and enjoy the company of good friends, good music and great art!
Ready to plan your trip to Knox County but not sure where to start? Start with one of the state or regional passports! They’re a great way to get to know Knox County and serve as a jumping-off point for all that we have to offer!