From renaissance masters to contemporary bad boys, Westchester is home to art that awes, mystifies and even shocks.
Mother and Child Composition, c.2800-2700 B.C., Katona Museum of Art (Above)
Contemporary art is alive and well here. In the past two years, both the Katonah Museum of Art and the Neuberger Museum of Art at Purchase College hired new directors (Neil Watson at Katonah and Thom Collins at the Neuberger) who are attracting major contemporary artists, mounting terrific exhibitions. At the Neuberger, recent exhibits have included Renee Green’s Wavelinks, a video installation series that investigates the interactions people have with sound. It’s also shown the work of Ursula Von Rydingsvard, a very prominent sculptor who is represented by top galleries in New York, and Jim Dine, who gave a portfolio of 49 prints to the museum’s permanent collection.
Mural by Sol LeWitt, Katonah Museum of Art, (Above)
At the Katonah Museum of Art, past exhibitions have included a mural by Sol LeWitt created for the gallery. A recent exhibition of Cycladic art, featuring its female idols, was mounted with a companion exhibition,
Madonna by Neil Feigeles, Katonah Museum of Art (Above)
Wonder Women : Idols in Contemporary Art, featuring artworks by Audrey Flack, David Levinthal, and Andy Warhol. There was also a video installation, Love, by Tracey Moffat.
Work by Matt Callinan, Pelham Art Center (Above)
The three exhibits are all related to each other and that makes for a far more interesting museum experience than just seeing one show in isolation. There have also been terrific exhibits at the Pelham Art Center.
Work by Steve Novick, Pelham Art Center (Above)
The recent exhibit, Object of Design, featured a piece called Kaleidoscope House by photographer Laurie Simmons and architect Peter Wheelwright, whose works are each shown in major galleries. It’s like a modernist dollhouse.
An untitled ink on mylar by Brian Wood, The OSilas Gallery (Above)
The OSilas Gallery at Concordia College in Bronxville just opened in September. Its programming ranges form Renaissance masters to contemporary artists. In March, the gallery will feature the works of New York artist Joel Carreiro. In Peekskill, the Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art (HVCCA) always has interesting exhibitions. Its installations tend to have a certain edge and psychological impact. I’ve seen the controversial work of Damien Hirst (best known for his preserved, dissected animals) there as well as Mike and Doug Starn, twins who work collaboratively in photography. HVCCA has, at its core, the collection of Livia and Mark Straus, who are major collectors.
Work by Nicole Cherubini, Pelham Art Center (Above)
In addition to the lineup of temporary exhibits and shows, Westchester is home to some great permanent collections. The Pepsi sculpture garden in Purchase is one of my favorites, along with the newly reinstalled collection of American art across the street at the Neuberger Museum.
There are also commercial art galleries in several towns in Westchester. At Miranda Fine Arts in Port Chester, for example, you can see work by contemporary artists and by the owner, Patricia Miranda. In Larchmont, the Kenise Barnes Fine Art Gallery shows many New York artists. In March, it’ll be showing the works of David Konigsberg, an abstract landscape painter, and sculpture by Loren Eiferman, who makes her pieces out of found wood. In Katonah, at Candace Dwan’s photography gallery, I have purchased works by Lynn Geesaman and Neil Folberg.
Your Art Address Book
Candace Dwan Gallery
27 Katonah Ave, Katonah (914) 232-3966
www.perichgallery.com
Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art
1701 Main St, Peekskill (914) 788-7166
www.hvcca.com
Kenise Barnes Fine Art
1955 Palmer Ave, Larchmont (914) 834-8077
www.kbfa.com
Katonah Museum of Art
Route 22 at Jay St, Katonah (914) 232-9555
www.katonahmuseum.org
Neuberger Museum of Art
Purchase College, State University of New York
735 Anderson Hill Rd, Purchase (914) 251-6100 www.neuberger.org
OSilas Gallery Concordia College
171 White Plains Rd, Bronxville
(914) 337-9300 www.osilasgallery.org
Pelham Art Center
155 Fifth Ave, Pelham (914) 738-2525
www.pelhamartcenter.org
