Showing posts with label artists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label artists. Show all posts

Thursday, March 6, 2025

Roosevelt Island RIVAA Gallery Open Call For Artists To Participate In Upcoming Pride Month Exhibition Themed Pride & Prejudice - Express Your Interpretation Of Identity And Societal Perception With Painting, Photography, Sculpture, Digital And Mixed Media

Roosevelt Island will be celebrating Pride Month in June with RIVAA Gallery's annual LGBTQ+ artist exhibition. RIVAA Gallery is calling for artists to submit their ideas for participation in the exhibition. 

According to RIVAA Gallery:

We're thrilled to invite LGBTQ+ artists to participate in our upcoming exhibition themed "Pride & Prejudice" at RIVAA Gallery. This year's theme explores the topic of identity and societal perception, focusing on both/either side of the title's coin: the celebration of LGBTQ+ pride and the struggles against prejudice. 

It is also a nod to Jane Austen's celebrated novel. The exhibition is an open call for LGBTQ+ artists based in NYC & will feature works that reflect personal narratives, historical challenges, and visions of a more inclusive society. 

The exhibition will showcase a diverse range of mediums, including painting, photography, sculpture, digital and video art, and mixed media. Feel free to express your interpretation of PRIDE & PREJUDICE (you can focus on either one or contrast both, etc.) through your art.

Submission Guidelines:

  • Up to 5 pieces per artist.
  • Please upload photos of your art and post the link in this form.
  • Explain how your artwork relates to the theme "Pride & Prejudice."
  • Artwork must be ready to hang or set on a display surface.

Submission Details:

  • Submissions are free.
  • If your artwork is accepted, there is a $25 flat fee for participation.
  • Drop-off your accepted artwork in-person with the fee at RIVAA Gallery on May 29, 2025.

Important Dates:

  • Deadline for submissions: May 15, 2025
  • Exhibition dates: June 1-12, 2024
  • Opening Reception: Sunday, June 1, 2025 from 5 - 8PM
  • Artwork pick-up: June 12, 2025

Location:

  • RIVAA Gallery
  • 527 Main St, Roosevelt Island, NY 10044

For questions and submissions, please contact us at pride@rivaagallery.org

The submission form is here.

Here are some scenes from the RIVAA Gallery 2024 Pride Celebration exhibition

and more from the 2024 RIVAA Gallery Pride exhibition.

By ROOSEVELT ISLANDER at 5:00:00 PM 0 comments

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Friday, September 20, 2024

Q & A Interview With Roosevelt Island Artist Saundra Lamb Currently Showing Earth Sky And Above Painting Exhibition At RIVAA Gallery - Last Chance To See Her Romantic, Mysterious And Dreamlike Vision Of The Universe This Weekend

This weekend is your last chance to visit artist Saundra Lamb's 

Image By Esther Piaskowski Cohen
Earth Sky and Above exhibition of paintings at the RIVAA Gallery. According to RIVAA Gallery: 
Saundra Lamb looks at our world and beyond in her upcoming exhibition, Earth, Sky and Above at RIVAA Gallery. Join in her travels and share her dreamlike vision of our home, planet Earth, and its place in our universe. Her exhibition runs from August 30 - September 22, 2024....

Roosevelt Island resident and Gallery RIVAA member artist Laura Hussey interviewed Ms Lamb recently about her Earth Sky And Above exhibition in this question and answer format.

Q - Saundra, in your current exhibition at RIVAA Gallery you take on the entire universe. As a theme for paintings it is rather vast. What inspired you to tackle it and how did you know where to start? Judging by the paintings you appear to have a somewhat romantic, mysterious, and dreamlike feeling about space. Can you talk about your technique a bit to explain how you manage to convey that so well?
Image By Esther Piaskowski Cohen
A - In my universe paintings I was inspired by National Geographic Magazine. I had accompany my granddaughter to her dental appointment. While sitting in the waiting area, I noticed the magazine, which I am familiar with. I have always found it interesting. This day was no exception.I came across the article on the Hubble Telescope. I viewed the very colorful photos of the galaxy. I was fascinated, and I knew I wanted to paint my own depiction. I began watching the science programs for any material on the galaxy. I started taking pictures of the beautiful images. I have tried to show those images in my own way. I began each of these pieces by first painting the canvas black. Thinking this would allow for a more vibrant color tone. I began the first work based on what I liked and what I felt to be movement of the vivid colors, and did they give me a warm feeling. I actually gave it a try and brought it to completion.

Q - Some of the paintings have “figures” that look like people. Do you actually see that when you look at the sky, were you inspired by photographs or are the images solely from your imagination?

A - I often look at the Sky. My imagination is at work when I have images that look like people. My imagination is telling me, maybe those figures exist in space.

Q - Judging by the paintings you appear to have a somewhat romantic, mysterious, and dreamlike feeling about space. Can you talk about your technique a bit to explain how you manage to convey that so well?

Image By Esther Piaskowski Cohen

The other subject your paintings in the exhibition cover is nature, specifically landscape. You seem to imbue your landscapes, and especially trees with human qualities, a “personality”. It comes across that you identify very closely with trees and flowers beyond their function as part of the formal composition of a painting. Is my impression correct? If it is, would you explain a little further how you arrive at your landscapes? Are they purely from imagination or are you inspired by actual landscapes, particular settings, trees or flowers that inspire your feelings?

Image By Esther Piaskowski Cohen

A - Your impression of my landscapes is indeed correct, spot on. I think of Trees as a form of protection when the Sun is too hot, and as one of the original pillars of the earth. I do try to depict them in some sort of human form as though they interact with each other as humans do. I feel the same about Flowers. I love their beauty, fragrance, lively colors and the joy they bring to us. I try to show them n that light. All based on my imagination. However, I do get inspiration from actual landscapes. Has Roosevelt Island ever been the inspiration for any of your landscape paintings? Roosevelt Island has been and is the inspiration for some of the landscapes, in particular the Cherry Blossom Trees. I love it when they are in bloom.

Q - Do you ever put people or other figures in your landscapes? If not why don’t you?

A - I put imaginary images of people in some of my landscapes, but one must look closely to see them. They are sometimes hiding behind Trees.

Image By Esther Piaskowski Cohen

Q - How did you start painting? How did you come to be a member of RIVAA and how long have you been a member ?

A - I started painting in 1996 after meeting the late Arlene Jacoby, and taking lessons from Art Professor Valeriu Boborelu. I became a RIVAA member, per Arlene Jacoby's encouragement, and sometimes Art instructions. She saw some of my Trees and she liked them. At first I rejected the idea, telling her I'm not an Artist. She was very insistent and would not take no for an answer. I am grateful that she did not listen to me.

By ROOSEVELT ISLANDER at 3:36:00 PM 0 comments

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Thursday, July 11, 2024

You're Invited To Opening Reception For Strange Terrain Digital Paintings By Artist Tony Vita At The Octagon RIVAA Gallery Friday July 12 - Immerse Yourself In This Beautifully Surreal, Unique And Slightly Unsettling World Of Strange Terrain

You're invited to the opening reception for artist and local Roosevelt Island resident Tony Vita's new Strange Terrain: Digital Paintings exhibition at the Octagon RIVAA Gallery (888 Main Street).  

According to RIVAA Gallery:
Strange Terrain: Digital Paintings by Tony Vita

Reception: Friday, July 12 from 5 - 8PM

Exhibition Dates: July 1 - September 27, 2024

The Octagon


OPENING RECEPTION TOMORROW

Strange Terrain: Digital Paintings by Tony Vita

You are invited to the Octagon tomorrow, July 12, 2024 from 5-8 PM. The exhibition space is located at 888 Main Street on Roosevelt Island.

Once there you will encounter the beautifully surreal, unique and slightly unsettling digital paintings that comprise the world of Tony Vita’s latest exhibition, Strange Terrain.

Can’t make the opening? We will miss you! The good news is that you can immerse yourself in the absorbing world of Strange Terrain anytime from July 1- September 27, 2024 at the Octagon. You will be glad that you made the trip.

SUPPORT RIVAA

By ROOSEVELT ISLANDER at 8:43:00 PM 0 comments

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Friday, May 17, 2024

Q & A With Artist Jim Pignetti Currently Showing "The Unrelenting Eye" Exhibition At Roosevelt Island RIVAA Gallery - Describes Evolving Painting On Metal Surface Process And Creative RIVAA Community

The Roosevelt Island RIVAA Gallery is currently exhibiting the paintings of artist Jim Pignetti through Sunday May 26. 


According to RIVAA Gallery:
Immerse yourself in Jim Pignetti’s world.

His latest paintings – filled with intense color – explode, splash and drip their way across a silver-toned metal surface. “The Unrelenting Eye” challenges the viewer to explore how the cold, hard surface of metal and the energetic movement of paint are reconciled in a single painting that keeps the eye engaged and constantly moving.

The exhibition runs from May 3-26 at RIVAA Gallery, 527 Main Street, Roosevelt Island 10044. All are welcome, and entry is free.

Roosevelt Island resident and Gallery RIVAA member artist Laura Hussey interviewed Mr Pignetti earlier this week about his work in this question and answer format.

Q - Congratulations on your exhibition at RIVAA Gallery. Aside from the obvious fact that you own a business that sells metal what inspired your choice of material as the “canvas” for this series of paintings Inspired?

A - I needed something flat, and there were “drops” in the scrap barrel. With the early experiments, I noticed light bouncing off the surface, enabling the paint to float, and the playing began.

Q - Was this the first time that you painted on metal? Where did you draw your inspiration from?

A - Yes, this is my first substantial exploration of paint on metal. What kind of paint did you use?

Acrylic Paint – I prefer the brand, Golden.

Q - All the paintings seem to employ a similar technique with abstract imagery that uses drips and splashes on the metal surface yet you manage to make them all look different. How do you do that?

A - Over the six months that I did this series, and as a process painter, the technique would evolve, from standing on a ladder dropping, dripping pigment, to creating color washes which I then blew across the surface using fans, or altering inclines, and using whatever discovery I made along the way, including different viscosities concentrations, and fluidity. By the way, brushes are not used in these paintings . 

Q-  All your work has a lot of color. You didn’t, for example paint any in black and white. Would you comment on that?

A - No. I just didn’t use black and white. I might in the future… I did use complementary colors for one, Yellow/Blue.

Q - How do you choose the titles of your paintings ? Do they have a specific meaning?

A - No meaning. When it was time for naming, I free-associated a long list, writing them all down, woke up the next day and applied them to the paintings.

Q - When viewers comment on your paintings do you find that they understand what you are trying to convey.

A - Understand? Not sure. But I know that they feel what I’m doing. They tell me! The work is intended to be sensual; gesture expressing energy, feelings, and color tickling the retina. When I was mounting the exhibit, people would halt on the street, their eyes caught in the artwork. I knew something was happening!

Q - Do viewers reactions ever make you see your work in a new way or see things that you never thought of before?

A - Yes. One viewer showed me “gems” of pigment. And seeing the droplets floating on the shining aluminum, they did indeed seem gem-like.

Q - How long have you been painting?

A - Art making since I was a teen.

Q - Why did you want to be an artist ?

I didn’t want to be an artist. I just am an artist. 

Q -  How did you become a member of RIVAA?

A - I was in need of a creative community - I saw the artwork being exhibited at RIVAA, and felt it had a sensibility where I could be understood. It’s important for me to have the support of other creatives. RIVAA has become a place where as a board member, I give back, organizing art and music events for our larger community.

Q - If you could sum up these paintings in a few words, what would they be?

A - Painting is a way to be a more perfect and realized human being.

By ROOSEVELT ISLANDER at 3:04:00 PM 0 comments

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Friday, February 9, 2024

Scenes From Roosevelt Island Black History Month Celebration Exhibition Opening Reception At RIVAA Gallery, Meet The Heroes: Real & Imagined Artists - Black History Month Student Essay Contest & Jazzy Jam Session Too

This is the last weekend to check out the 2024 Roosevelt Island Black History Month celebration exhibition at RIVAA Gallery. According to RIVAA Gallery:

We are pleased to welcome you to our annual Black History Month exhibition. This year we are celebrating “Heroes: Real and Imagined".

The exhibition is curated by Micheline Hess, a Roosevelt Island resident. A comic creator, artist/illustrator and former RIVAA member, Micheline has reached out to artist/cartoonists for portrayals of their heroes from life or those heroes they have imagined and created. The exhibition opens on January 25 and will be on view at RIVAA Gallery, 527 Main Street, until February 11...

Here are some scenes from the January 27 RIVAA Gallery Black History Month Heroes: Real and Imagined exhibition opening reception.

Micheline Hess is a Roosevelt Island resident and and an artist/curator of the exhibition.

According to Ms Hess:

The name of the exhibit is Heroes: Real and Imagined. Basically what I was seeking to do was find a way to get people starting a discussion about Heroes that both exist in real life as well as the kind of Heroes they have created. as comic artists and illustrators and painters. Characters scenes that depict instances of heroism. In the way of the Arts bringing empowerment. Creating their own characters that they then write or draw their own adventures with... 

Meet the artists showcasing their work at RIVAA Gallery's 

Black History Month exhibition.

Also, Roosevelt Island's NY State Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright is celebrating Black History Month with a student essay contest

and the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) is celebrating with a Jazz concert.

By ROOSEVELT ISLANDER at 9:30:00 PM 0 comments

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Monday, December 4, 2023

"These Are The Faces Of Coler", Photo Mural By Artist Rachel Fawn Alban Unveiled At Roosevelt Island NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler Nursing Facility Last Week - One Of Nine New Murals Created By NYC HHC Community Mural Project

The NYC Health + Hospitals Corp reported on December 1:

NYC Health + Hospitals today unveiled a new mural as part of the Community Mural Project, run by the health system’s Arts in Medicine department.

NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler CEO Stephen Catullo, Artist Rachel Fawn Alban, NYC Health + Hospitals Arts in Medicine Program Director Monica Mariño, Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund Executive Director Rick Luftglass, and NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler Community Advisory Board Chairperson Judy Berdy celebrate the new mural at NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler.

The mural, Healing in Community at NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler, was developed by artist Rachel Fawn Alban through a series of photography workshops with community members, staff and patients. Healing in Community is one of nine new murals that have been created this year, building on the 26 murals created in the first wave of the Community Mural Project, which are featured in a new book, Healing Walls: New York City Health + Hospitals Community Mural Project 2019-2021. This program is made possible through the generous support of the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund.

Healing in Community is a tribute to the invaluable contributions of each person within the Coler community. Artist Rachel Fawn Alban conducted a series of visits at the facility engaging residents, volunteers, and staff in hands-on photography workshops. The culmination is a photomural featuring portraits of 34 members of the Coler community.

“Coler is an important long-term care and rehab facility in New York City’s public health system,” said Rick Luftglass, executive director of the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund. “This beautiful mural will provide joy and solace to everyone who lives at Coler and to all who visit. This is the first photo mural in the growing array of community murals throughout NYC Health + Hospitals, and we are proud to have supported its creation.”

“Artists play a critical role in public health,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Assistant Vice President of Arts in Medicine Larissa Trinder. “Our community mural artist, Rachel Fawn Alban, worked collaboratively with staff and residents to create a beautiful and lasting experience for their home, NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler. Her medium of using photos to layer in a narrative about life’s journey has left a meaningful and lasting impact on our staff and residents.” 

NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler Resident Ramon Medina looks at his portrait in the new mural
“These are the faces of Coler! This mural represents our diversity among professional staff and residents who embody strength, kindness, resilience and hope; essential elements in making our shared home the most unique place in the city,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler Chief Executive Officer Stephen Catullo, LNHA. “With this creative piece, community artist, Rachel Fawn Alban, has captured the essence of Coler’s spirit. These portraits of residents, clinicians, and many others, including our in-resident therapy dog, Momo, are all reminders that it takes a village to create a reliable support system built on trust, empathy and respect.”

“It has been an honor to work on this mural,” said muralist Rachel Fawn Alban. “I really enjoyed spending time on Roosevelt Island and getting to know everyone here during our photography workshops. It was important to me that the participants have their own meaningful, hands-on creative experiences with photography. The workshops also helped us develop familiarity and trust by the time I did the portraits. I think that resulted in stronger images and deeper engagement with the mural process and with each other. I am filled with gratitude to be a part of the Community Mural Project. I hope Healing in Community inspires warm feelings, pride, and connection for the people who live and work here every day.” 

Healing in Community, the new mural at NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler by artist Rachel Fawn Alban, features portraits of 34 members of the Coler community.

Rachel Fawn Alban (@fawn_photos), based in Newark, NJ, is a photographer, writer, and educator whose photography is informed by her background in Art Therapy. Her portrait-making approach is characterized by collaboration, a focus on healing, and sensitivity to trauma. She is primarily known for documenting public art and collaborating with visual artists.

The Community Mural Project is believed to be the country’s largest public hospital mural program since the 1930s, when the depression-era Works Progress Administration (WPA) commissioned murals in public buildings, including virtually every hospital in New York City’s public healthcare system. The WPA murals were the start of NYC Health + Hospitals art collection, which now is the city’s largest public art collection and includes more than 7,000 pieces of art of multiple disciplines. The art collection is used to enhance the healthcare environment, inspire creativity, promote wellness, increase access to the arts, and engage staff.

The Community Mural Project creates opportunities for hospital staff to collaborate with each other and with neighbors, relieve stress, and enhance the physical environment of the facilities. Healthcare worker burnout is a national health crisis, and the continuing COVID-19 pandemic has created mental health challenges across New York City, especially in low-income, immigrant and historically excluded communities, which are significant patient populations for NYC Health + Hospitals. 

The PBS News Hour reported on the NYC Health + Hospitals Community Mural Project in August 2022.

 

Also, NYC Media presents That's So New York Arts In Medicine report from June 2023.

By ROOSEVELT ISLANDER at 6:52:00 PM 0 comments

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Monday, May 15, 2023

Call For Queer Roosevelt Island Artists Of All Sorts To Exhibit Their Work For June Pride Festival At RIVAA Gallery - Opportunity To Bring Visibility Of LGBTQ+ Residents On Roosevelt Island

Roosevelt Island resident and artist Thom Heyer reports:

Greetings Queer Roosevelt Islanders

Are you an Artist, Painter, Sculptor, Photographer, Poet, Dancer, Singer, Musician, Performer, Storyteller or other?

Here is another community event that I'm working on with a fellow community member, Penny Gold. We were given the opportunity to bring visibility to the LGBTQ+ community on Roosevelt Island at RIVAA Gallery during Pride Month. 

RIVAA Gallery had June 26--July 2 available. We are putting out a call for local Queer Artists of all sorts to show their work at the Gallery for that week with an opening night & closing reception to promote visibility of our LGBTQ+ residents on Roosevelt Island. We will also be having events each day of that week at the Gallery with partnering local groups: from music to poetry to a documentary film. We have the support of RIOC and other politicos and local organizations.... 

If interested please contact ThomHeyer@gmail.com or GoldenPenny1987@gmail.com

By ROOSEVELT ISLANDER at 4:33:00 PM 0 comments

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