Studio Montclair announces “Back Story,” a group exhibition on view from May 4 to August 12, 2016, showcasing art’s storytelling impact through visual media and the artists’ own language. This exhibit takes place in Studio Montclair’s Galleries at Academy Square, the SMI Gallery @ Academy Square and the SMI Virginia S. Block Gallery, located on the first and second floors of 33 Plymouth Street in Montclair. All are invited to the opening reception on Friday, May 20, from 7 to 9 pm. The galleries are open to the public 7 am to 7 pm Monday through Friday.
Exhibition Description
The exhibit includes creations from 24 artists. By exploring their art and words, the viewer will discover the inspirational backstories and artistic evolution that led to each completed piece.
“Many of the works reflect creating beauty from pain by victims of such moving topics as 9/11, Hurricane Sandy, abuse, cancer, and displacement,” noted exhibit co-curator Gina Murray. “Others express their love of nature, relationships, and the creative act through the artists’ chosen mediums.”
Studio Montclair gallery director and “Back Story” co-curator Lynne Toye is excited to present this collection of work. “Their stories and selected works represent the full range of the human condition and create a compelling show,” Toye said.
Participating Artists
Kate Albright, Catherine Asher, Francesca Azzara, Santiago Cohen, Shari Epstein, William Gallo, Joan Gantz, Stanley Gavidia, Donna Grande, Evelyn Graves, Shakira Howard, Carole Lane, Eric Levin, Julie Levine, Maria Mijares, Nell Painter, Laura Petrovich-Cheney, John Piccoli, Kim Schmitt Thomas, Leona Seufert, Heidi Sussman, Kiyomi Taylor, Athanasia Ward, Edward Ward, Florence Weisz
Click here for the exhibition catalog.
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Curators’ Statement
Artistic expression has always been a means for artists to say something about a personal experience or make observations about the world around them. The work presented in “Back Story” explores a variety of topics including nature, displacement, health, tragedy, and identity. Whereas the viewer is typically left to independently interpret an artist’s work, the narratives in this exhibit help to shape and inform the viewer’s experience.
The back stories presented alongside the works are an invitation to discover each artist’s mindset and intention during the creative process. Here, a collection of talented artists from across the state of New Jersey have their say and, in so doing, teach us something about what we see.
Gina Casolaro Murray, Lynne Toye 2016
About Gina Casolaro Murray: A professional artist for over thirty years, with a Master’s Degree in Studio Art and a Ph.D. in Adult Education, sculptor Gina Casolaro Murray has shown her work nationally in galleries, the Montgomery Art Museum, the Washington State Museum of Art and in juried shows throughout her career. She has curated and juried numerous exhibitions as a gallery manager for over five years as well as two years in her role as president of the Women’s Art Caucus Palouse Chapter. Ms. Murray continues to explore new themes using kiln formed glass in the strong sensuous style present in her creations.
About Lynne Toye: Lynne Toye is an artist and curator with a passion for all forms of the arts who believes in sharing her love of visual arts through mentoring and finding opportunities for artists to show their work. Having earned a B.S. in Systems Engineering from the University of Virginia and an MBA from The Wharton School of Business, she studied art at Moore College of Art and Design, The Art Students League in New York City, and the Featherstone Arts Center on Martha’s Vineyard. Her contemporary landscape images, evoking a strong sense of place, have been shown in juried shows across the tri-state area. Ms. Toye currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Jazz House Kids, a non-profit arts education organization in Montclair. She has been a member of Studio Montclair for six years.
OPENING NIGHT!