Kehler Liddell opening Sunday afternoon

Kehler Liddell Gallery
873 Whalley Ave., New Haven, (203) 389-9555
In Sheep's Clothing: Art by Gale Zucker, Laurie Grace & Julie Fraenkel
Aug. 30—Sept. 28, 2008
Opening Reception: Sun., Sept. 7, 3—6 p.m.

Press release

Gale Zucker's photographs are from an ongoing portfolio of work She Shoots Sheep Shots, a wink at finding herself "camera-to-nostril" in up close fuzzy encounters with sheep while on assignment for travel magazine stories. Her appreciation of their human expressions, lumpy shapes and textures kept her entertained, while as an avid knitter, there was more: "I loved them for their coats". This led to her recently released book Shear Spirit: Ten Fiber Farms, Twenty Patterns and Miles of Yarn (Random House/Clarkson Potter) and another portfolio of work as she stayed on sheep, goat, and alpaca farms, sharing and documenting the lives of ranchers, farmers, fiber artist and their varied flocks across the country.

Laurie Grace's artwork (digital and mixed media painting) is inspired by the animals that continuously amaze her. With an appreciation for their innate beauty, grace and athleticism, her images of sheep, dogs, rabbits—not to mention a few roosters—function as a type of emotional mask or mirror of who we are as emotional beings. "Fear, loss, grief, terror, and joy are universal emotions and the line between human and animal becomes blurred as I try to articulate this common reality."

Julie Fraenkel (mixed media drawing and painting) uses a variety of media and styles to explore certain ideas and principles. With an "abiding interest in the physical embodiment of psychological states," her drawings and paintings include many animals, or combine people with sheep, wolves, rabbits, and chickens in both familiar and provocative narrative images. Her work is portrait and metaphor at once.

Shown together, these three Connecticut artists present a lively dialogue and engaging exhibition of photographs and paintings, where our experience of the animal world becomes alternately empathic, humorous, thought-provoking, and simply beautiful to look at.

There will be an opening reception on Sunday, Sept. 7, from 3—6 p.m. The public is invited to join the artists and community in celebration. No admission fee for gallery or reception.

There will be a book signing (Shear Spirit) and knitting get together on Wed., Sept. 17, from 7—9 p.m. Bring your knitting, piecework, embroidery and join author Gale Zucker, artists, Yarn LLC, and friends for an evening of shared inspiration and creativity. Free admission. Books for sale at gallery in advance or at event, light refreshments available for purchase. Call to reserve seat and/or book.

Artists Talks Thursday, September 25, 7—9 p.m.:
Gale Zucker: location photography-the adventures of working with animals and real people; Laurie Grace: inspiration and technique-combining digital tools with mixed media painting. Free admission, light refreshments available for purchase. Call to reserve seat and/or book.