Shows open Sun., Feb. 23, at Silvermine Arts Center

Silvermine Guild Art Center
1037 Silvermine Rd., New Canaan, (203) 966-9700
Jistin Wiest: Dreams Waking
Ashley Andrews and Natasha Karpinskaia: The Art of Mark Making
The Gabor Peterdi International Print Collection
Feb. 23—Apr. 5, 2014.
Opening Reception: Sun., Feb. 23, 2—4 p.m.

Press release from Silvermine Arts Center

Silvermine Arts Center, located in New Canaan, CT will be opening a new set of exhibits February 23rd, including the dreamlike imaginings of Justin Wiest; the collaborative exploration of Abstract Expressionism by Ashley Andrews and Natasha Karpinskaia; and Selections from the Gabor Peterdi International Print Collection. The shows run from Feb. 23—Apr. 5, and there will be an opening reception on Sunday., Feb. 23, from 2—4 p.m.

In Justin Wiest's Dreams Waking, the artist will present paintings which seek to elevate furniture to the role of a primary character. "I’m enjoying the freedom to experiment and search for the limits of painting by scrubbing at the film of familiarity," says Wiest of his current work. While objects are traditionally used as props in portrait painting, here they become an active part of the narrative. People and their environment are involved in a complex story that invites us to look past, as the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote, "The mist of familiarity (which) obscures from us the wonder of our being."

Justin Wiest: "The Doctors"

In The Art of Mark Making, Ashley Andrews and Natasha Karpinskaia collaborate on a series of paintings that revisit Abstract Expressionism. "We intend to show the positive effect of teaming up to make new intriguing marks," the artists said of their partnership. The paintings become a dialogue between the artists, as one begins by making her marks and the other responds. As the process repeats, the marks are changed until they no longer belong to Andrews or Karpinskaia alone, instead becoming something exciting and new.

In 2012, Silvermine Galleries officially named its print collection The Gabor Peterdi International Print Collection, in honor of Silvermine’s print collection founder, Gabor Peterdi. Peterdi started the printmaking department at Yale University and, in 1956, established the National Print Biennial competition at Silvermine. For many years, from the beginning of the competition, the award winning print was purchased forming a permanent print collection. In subsequent years, additional prints were added to the collection via donations and bequests. Recent efforts have enabled the Galleries to conserve the collection, while actively growing its holdings.

Last year, The Gabor Peterdi International Print Collection received several significant works by renowned artists. A Josef Albers piece was purchased with funds honoring the late Guild Member, Tina Rohrer. In addition, we received a Robert Cottingham screened print, and a Gabor Peterdi Print donated by the Gabor Peterdi Estate. This year Silvermine has seen continued growth in the print collection donations and this February's exhibition will be the second show this year highlighting selections from the print collection with recent acquisitions by James Flora, Charles Hinman, and Liliana Porter.