(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- As proof that Studio Montclair, Inc. never sleeps, the gallery has announced an around-the-clock, in-person viewing opportunity that still respects the need for social distancing. This “InSide Out” exhibit is updated to feature the work of five innovative new artists in the windows of Studio Montclair Gallery, 127 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair, NJ. Their work provides much-needed creative invigoration to the town of Montclair from mid-July through August 30.
According to Studio Montclair Executive Director Susanna Baker, “It is wonderful to see phase two of inSide Out installed, the artwork continues to be exciting and thought-provoking. We are happy to collaborate with Fresh Air Montclair, and hope we are one of your stops as you visit the art displayed throughout the town of Montclair.”
Peter Allen - Wood and Clay Sculpture of 2020. Since 1990, Allen has worked in his Harding Township, NJ studio with a variety of mediums and subjects, including oil paintings that combine figure and landscape; works on paper; sculpture in bronze, clay, steel, and stone; and installations. During a 40-year career he has focused on discovering new art methods and practices and has worked as a curator and instructor. The installation for this exhibit consists of ceramic and wood sculptures. The wood has been collected over a period of 5 to 10 years and is used to build an environment for his ceramic sculptures.
Lisa Hirkaler - Pieta. Fascinated by the convergence of perception and expression, Hirkaler focuses in her work on the boundaries between external habitat and internal landscape. With a strong grounding in fiber arts, she recently began diving more deeply into her own practice in traditional arts. Oil painting offers her a vehicle for meditative expression and a place to play with processes.
Armisey Smith - Side-eye, Pink-eye. Armisey Smith, a native of Brooklyn, NY, received a BFA in Illustration from Parsons School of Design and an MPS in Arts and Cultural Management from Pratt Institute. Her work has been exhibited in galleries throughout the tri-state area and she has been the lead artist on several public art mural projects in New Jersey. In addition, she is an arts educator, illustrator, and curator. Smith’s series “Side-eye, Pink-eye” discusses and illuminates her frustration with the cavalier attitudes regarding Covid-19 and racial inequality. Says Smith, “This series confronts the inability of the establishment to recognize the systematic oppression of people of color on all levels.”
Soussen - Concrete Tapestry. According to artist Soussen, “As moody as my works are during their production, they are equally unpretentious once they’re finished.” Digital or analog, Soussen’s work can be “experienced.” She is a self-educated artist whose current focus is concrete tapestries--work that incorporates cement, marble dust, and lime putty. Her use of augmented reality adds an innovative means of expression and an extra twist.
Peter Tilgner - Moon Flowers. Tilgner’s photographic work has been exhibited in over 70 exhibitions in the United States and Europe. He has also curated exhibitions for the City Without Walls Gallery, Newark, NJ; the “Cuba Today Through the Eyes Of Eleven Photographers” exhibition, Monmouth Museum, Monmouth, NJ, and the LCJ Gallery, Rutgers Center for Law & Justice. Says Tilgner, “As a photographic artist I aim to create new visions of what is possible by merging digital images employing PhotoShop technology.” His Moon Flower series was created from a collection of images photographed at the New York and New Jersey Botanical Gardens and the thermal pools of Yellowstone National Park.
Juror: Elie Porter Trubert has been the Executive Director of The Center for Contemporary Art in Bedminster since 2011 and previously ran the development departments at the Visual Art Center of New Jersey and the Hunterdon Art Museum. She has a BA in Studio Art from Kenyon College, studied at Tyler School of Art in Rome, and participated in the Whitney Museum Independent Study Program in New York. A New Jersey native, she lives and makes art in Lebanon Township.
About Fresh Air Montclair Exhibitions:
Studio Montclair is collaborating with Fresh Air Montclair Exhibitions, a joint project between Clerestory Fine Art, 73 See Gallery and Design Studio and the Montclair Center BID. It hopes to activate Montclair's sidewalks with engaging, informative and stimulating works of art and encourage use and enjoyment of the commercial district.
Studio Montclair is an inclusive, nationwide non-profit organization of exhibiting, professional and emerging artists and others interested in the visual arts. The mission of the organization is to promote culture, education, equality, and tolerance through art. Studio Montclair is committed to diversity at every level. Founded in 1997, the organization includes over 500 members from around the United States, as well as Europe and Asia.
IMAGES FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: Armisey Smith: Side-eye, Pink-eye; Lisa Hirkaler: Pieta; Soussen: Concrete Tapestry; Peter Allen: Wood & Clay Sculpture of 2020
