EXHIBITIONS / EVENTS

Two New Exhibitions:
Geometric &
A Dash Of Whimsey, The Art of Carol Rickey
 
Both Exhibitions plus special events:
Saturday, June 6 – Sunday, June 28, 2009
Opening Reception:
Sunday, June 7
1 PM – 3 PM

"I am very excited to be having my first solo exhibit. I've been in a lot of group shows, and having my own show is something I've always dreamed of." So says artist Carol Rickey as the Rockaway Artists Alliance opens both her exhibition, A Dash of Whimsy and Geometric and kicks off June in a big way. Both will open Saturday June 6, with Geometric running to Sunday June 28, and Ms. Rickey's show running to Sunday June 21. They will be showing in the sTudio 6 and sTudio 7 galleries respectively at Fort Tilden in the Rockaways.

An opening reception will be held to celebrate both shows on Sunday June 7 from 1-3pm. The artists will be on hand and there will also be refreshments, live entertainment and lively company.

Speaking of her work, Ms. Rickey says "I got interested in drawing some years ago, when I (saw) a sign in a store front window that said ‘Drawing Lessons, Inquire Within.' I was hooked from the first class! (Now) I do watercolor and oil paintings."

Ms. Rickey, who is fond of both classical music and the blues and studies ballet, continues "I'd like viewers to see the beauty in ordinary objects, and the whimsy in some of my still-lifes. I want my paintings to lift the spirit."

"My paintings have fresh, bright colors and a post-impressionistic style…I'm trying to do something unique." And with the vivid, engaging works in A Dash of Whimsy, she has.

Speaking of creating something new and the exhibition that embraces the patterns in lines and angles and shapes, photographer Joseph Abbate comments, "Geometric has taken me on a deviation from my usual path of florals and botanicals." And indeed his works, like the bright yellow, red and orange "Parallel Peppers" show the often surprising results. In "Plates & Pitchers Pattern" by Stephanie Volovar Sautner, unexpected patterns emerge in color and motion. At the same time Robert Robels, veering sharply away from corners and edges, creates shapes and images which fade in from shadow and mist, such as in "Reflections", or form out of the darkness in "Night Church."

Clearly RAA's Geometric steps beyond the simple world of circles, squares and pyramids and crosses some lines to get there. Or as painter Roy Secord explains the appeal of this exhibition, "(there is a) common geometric expression, common truth and common mystery. My work is about that common denominator, that something shared…and always about that underlying mystery."

Geometric artists include Penelope Atheras, Madeline Braisted, Michael Cohen, Sally Cumming, Robyn Davis, Philip Emelianov, Tim Ettinger, David Evans, Dan Guarino, Igor Gushchin, Dina Kaliko, Martha Elliot Killian, Ruth Kraiem, Denis Macrae, Gabrielle Mangano, Alyssa O'Shea, Ralph Petagna, Geoff Rawling, Renee Lee Rosenberg, Jessica Schulman and Yuri Yurov.

The Rockaway Artists Alliance invites all to come and enjoy Geometric and A Dash of Whimsy, feel the breeze, hear the waves and touch the edge of summer. For more information call (718) 474-0861, e-mail rockart116@aol.com . Regular gallery hours are Saturday 12-4p.m., Sunday 1-4 p.m. and by appointment. Open to all, the RAA meets regularly in sTudio 6 on the 2nd Monday of each month.

RAA works in partnership with the National Park Service at Gateway National Recreation Area and in part is supported by NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, JP Morgan Chase, The Independence Community Foundation and Brooklyn Brewery.

Fort Tilden, located in the Rockaways, is an historic and now decommissioned U.S. Army post. Today it is home to many cultural, community and sport activities and serves as a premier part of Gateway National Recreation Area, a unique urban national park that spans several boroughs and incorporates beaches, marshlands and bird and wildlife refuges. Winter and summer its beaches, fields and trails offer sanctuary to many a traveler.

Artist Carol Rickey poses with family and friends at the opening of her solo exhibition "A Dash of Whimsy"
photo by Dan Guarino

"The Magician" a captivating work by Carol Rickey
photo by Dan Guarino

Gallery visitors debate, discuss and enjoy the imaginative works on view.
photo by Dan Guarino

Even Ms. Rickey's calling cards show flair and a brush with talent.
photo by Dan Guarino

Even the younger sets joins in at the Sunday opening of the RAA's "Geometric" exhibition
photo by Dan Guarino

Intriguing artworks and viewers come together at RAA's "Geometric" exhibition
photo by Dan Guarino

"When Autumn Comes" by Roy Secord

"Vases" by Stephanie Sautner

Panda with a whale of a tail at the Scholars' Academy mini-exhibition in sTudio 7
photo by Dan Guarino

Noting the fine points of Learning From Nature -
A Student Exhibition
photo by Dan Guarino

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