One in a Year
The Painting Center is pleased to present the online exhibition titled, "One in a Year" curated by Kathy Cantwell and Shazzi Thomas.
This exhibition features 100 artists who are including work that reflects how they used art as a tool to explore, develop and practice creativity as a means to wellness during 2020.
2020 was a difficult kind of year. Artists have responded to various crises by making art at home, isolating in their studios, or creating art on the street. There has been no shortage of artistic expression, most would say it has been therapeutic. While the world is changing, making art is something you can control, and for an artist it is self-care. The process of creating art can reduce stress, ease anxiety, and provide healing in hard times.
Artists include: Luciana Abait, Zakariya Abdul-Qadir, Robin Adsit, Jessica Alazraki, Liz Alderman, Lauren Allhouse, Fern Apfel, Liz Atlas, Ann Marie Auricchio, Reem Bassous, Anna Berghuis, Beth Billups, Honor Bowman Hall, Leigh Brooklyn, Maria Calzada, Alexander Churchill, Emily Clement, Cat Crotchett, Mary DeVincentis, Holly Downing, Heather Drayzen, Myra Eastman, James Ebersole, Ingrid Ellison, Patricia Fabricant, Kate Fauvell, Diane Fitch, Connar Foley, Kathryn Freeman, Katie Garth, Hilary Goldblatt, Lauren Wallis Hall, Elizabeth Ashton Hallett, Kirstine Reiner Hansen, Julie Harman Dovan, Richard Hatter, Aaron Hauck, Maggie Hinton, Linda Hirschman, Timon I, Deborah Kapoor, Krysti Keener, Barbara Kemp Cowlin, Susan Keown, Danielle Kimzey, Pam Klein, Percy Kleinops, Rebecca Klementovich, Gabe Langholtz, Barbara Laube, Renee Lauzon, Juyin Judy Lee, Anne Lindberg, Stela Mandel, Christina Massey, Kathleen Migliore-Newton, Ann Moody, Joe Morzuch, Therese Mulgrew, James Mullen, John Drew Munro, Christopher Musina, Douglas Newton, Alison Nokes, Jenniffer Omaitz, Micheal Ousley, Crystal Paris, Theresa Passarello, Stephanie Penn-Virot, MaryPat Porinchak, Mary Proenza, Catherine Ramey, Lynda Ray, Lily Raymond, Jodi Reeb, Marie Riccio, Alan Richards, Elizabeth Riley, Beverly Rippel, Scott Roberts, Guy Romagna, Mark Rosenthal, Marybeth Rothman, Jo Ann Rothschild, Lori Rounds, Liz Runsdorff Smith, K Sarrantonio, Patrick Schmidt, Eileen Senner, Kim Sheridan, Suzan Shutan, Julie Snidle, Emily Somoskey, Kari Souders, Rebecca Spivack, Tricia Townes, Shawn Watrous, Gail Winbury, Caitlin Winner and Becky Yazdan.
Alexander Churchill's "Love in the Time of Anxiety 11 (Untitled Girl)" depicts a woman carefully rendered in greyscale staring longingly out her window, mask dangling off one ear, bloodshot eyes, coffee spilling out of her Bernie mug while footage of Trump plays on the telivision inside her home. While anonymous, the subject of the painting emotes a longing and anxiety that we've all experienced at some point this past year, however the neon flora that surrounds her suggests a brighter future.
"Love in the Time of Anxiety 11 (Untitled Girl)" - Alexander Churchill
Connor Follay’s Orwell is set in an ambiguous rural landscape, with a glowing moon radiating in the background. What would otherwise be a serene night landscape reminiscent of traditional Americana is livened by two splashing girls in a hot tub in heightened expression. This scene depicts both the complexities of residing in an isolated agrarian community and the romance of Vermont.
"Orwell" - Connar Foley
As more and more time passes, it is still painfully apparent that getting used to these unprecedented times is no easy task. Katherine Garth’s Public Language is a clever addition to a street window. Rendered in the artist’s handwriting as vinyl text, it is a way to contextualize life as one goes about their day, a quick reminder of the wild reality we now inhibit.
"Public Language" - Katherine Garth
In Covid times, having a sense of humor is an important tool to preserve any sliver of sanity we still might posess. Kathryn Freeman masterfully and comically paints the interior of an apartment where she engages in a game of chess with a cat. On the wall hangs a portait of her alone, in the nude, gazing out her window. Life during the global pandemic has become slower, leaving us plenty of time for daydreaming out our windows, taking afternoon naps, and paying ample attention to our pets.
"Staying Home, 7 pm with Hopper and Bonnard" - Kathryn Freeman
Gabe Langholtz has developed a distinct style of painting that is true to the human spirit. In Shit Got Real, we see two everyday objects that have taken on new significance in the past year: hand sanitizer and toilet paper. The subject of this painting holds these objects with care, triumphant to have gotten them from grocery stores that ran out of stock early into the pandemic.
"Shit Got Real" - Gabe Langholtz
Covid has dwindled any excess from our lives, bringing us to our most vulnerable selves. Hatter addresses this vulnerability in a straightforward photograph of his living quarters as he shelters at home. The photograph is simple and does not need to be anything more than what it is. We see rumpled sheets that suggest the photographer’s presence in bed, a water bottle, even a small Elmo stuffed animal on the chair - nothing but the essentials.
“Alone, Sheltering in my Room” - Richard Hatter
2020 was a very politically charged year. Tensions ran high, culminating with the November election. Covid Diaries #7 Vote - Make a Plan depicts numerous groups of our polarized country all in one composition, blurring the lines between political cartoon and fine art and touching upon one of the most significant events of the year.
“Covid Diaries #7 - Vote Make a Plan” - Myra Eastman
Masked contains layers of wood, tar, paint, and other forms of media, alternating between opacities and transparencies in shades of black and navy and red. Masks are the number one accessory for everyone, and they are a way to stay safe. It is ironic that we wear masks more than ever in a time when we are also more vulnerable than ever with each other.
“Masked” - Rebecca Spivack
Scott Robert’s surrealistic, colorful dreamscape, The Mile Away Milestone, shows a bandaged ‘lucky’ hare sitting on top of a tortoise. It beautifully illustrates the magic of slowing down, and the benefits it can provide us. 2020 has forced us to appreciate the beauty of having long term goals, for better or for worse. Through the classic symbolism of the turtle and the hare, we are prompted to consider the benefits of slowing our pace and trying to enjoy the moment as best we can.
“The Mile Away Milestone” - Scott Roberts
“Coming Through” by Krysti Keener speaks to the fractured state of the United States and the division over race relations, law enforcement and political parties. The police barrier and metal locker keep us at a distance while the flowers memorialize this humanitarian crisis and remind of us our connection to nature.
“Coming Through” - Krysti Keener
