“Waterscape” at Nancy Hoffman Gallery

July 9-August 27, 2003

This is to let you know that the summer exhibition for Nancy Hoffman Gallery is entitled “Waterscape” and includes paintings, watercolors and photographs, many of which have been created for this exhibition.  Included in the show are David Bierk, Debra Bloomfield, Carolyn Brady, Rupert Deese, Mark Depman, Don Eddy, Michael Gregory, Gregory Raymond Halili, Claire Khalil, James Lahey, Lynn McCarty, Ken Moylan, Frank Owen, Scott Prior, Joseph Raffael and Ben Schonzeit.

Ken Moylan’s signature window in mahogany veneer opens onto a waterscape in his Minnesota backyard of Minnehaha Creek.  This creek, which means laughing water in Sioux, empties into the Mississippi River.  Painted in oil, the creek reflects lush weeping willow trees—a romantic vista which emits an aura of the early American landscape painters.  Scott Prior’s Floodplain in Spring is of a flooded bog near the artist’s home.  A curtain of trees, foreground and back in powerful vertical parade, anchors the mists rising off the waters.  Spring approaches in the early budding of leaves on trees; the painting glows in its umber and golden palette.  Joseph Raffael’s Eternal Pond of green, blue and tan water shimmers with golden light as the water of his own carp pond swirls with rings and bubbles on the surface.  Reed leaves and grasses line the bottom edge of the pond filled with swimming koi, and the school of red fish gives the pond a Chinese flair in the midst of life’s eternal flow.  Gregory Halili’s watercolor in miniature scale, Summer Tears, is of Central Park’s Bethesda Fountain and its flowing waters, a heartbeat spot in the Park, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year.  While painted for this show, it is imbued with nostalgia in its sepia tones.

Carolyn Brady’s recent watercolor Peonies and Lilies: Blonde features water in still life, filling vases with heady monumental bouquets, and pitchers incised with patterns.  Water is a vehicle for shimmering light, color and reflection.  Don Eddy’s recent painting Hesychia Tide is a pure, tranquil spot at water’s edge.  Nothing stirs but the water rippling gently in the tide, a quintes-sential moment of peace.  Blue waters reveal leaves below and mosses grow on rocks, remind-ing one of the proximity of the shore, in this pure waterscape.  Michael Gregory’s Alluve joins water and sky in a long horizontal oil on panel.  Fingers of a bay reveal sparkling lights of what appears to be a city in the distance, separating the blue of the waters from the blue of the sky, with clouds parting, opening to a ray of light. 

These are only a few of the works included in this celebration of summer.

Nancy Hoffman Gallery summer hours:

July Tuesday through Saturday 10am to 5pm
August Monday through Friday 10am to 5pm

For additional information and/or photographs, please call 212-966-6676.