Written by Michael Goldstein for THE ARTISTS FORUM MAGAZINE
Edited by Amos White V for THE ARTISTS FORUM, INC
Photo: Michael Goldstein
REVIEWER RATING:
4.5 out of 5 stars
CITY LIVES
NEW YORK, NY (November 25, 2015) Opening Reception, November 24, 2019 – As you walk into City Lives, the latest exhibition curated by Michael Klein and hosted by the Shirley Fiterman Art Center, you are immediately greeted by Priscilla’s Stadler’s collection of colors titled Fragile City. This multicolored arrangement of drapes crowded together like the tall buildings of Manhattan set the stage for the city’s colorful abstract showcased in the creations of 23 unique artists. And just as the name implies, I believe that Stadler is emphasizing the mortality of man-made architecture and how nothing really lasts forever, no matter how nice the colors are.
Two more artists that must be mentioned here are Cary Leibowitz and her latexed wood panel sculpture, Big ½ Pound of Hot Dog. I love this thing. It’s so simplistic in its execution and immensely nostalgic for any New Yorker. And then there’s Kathy Forer’s terracotta piece, Avenue, a brilliant work that really explores the hectic nature of city life, thousands of cars in traffic frozen in time.
There was also Sally Davies, with her latest collection of photographs, a majority of them showcasing the environment down in the East Village. I’ve had the pleasure of covering Davies’ work before, and have previously remarked that her work makes you feel like an alien visiting another planet, watching realms of silence and community dominating the environment within the portrait. That analysis still holds true in this batch of photographs, and her focus mainly on buildings instead of people, actually help enhance the tourism of the first person experience. You find yourself entranced by just how fresh and crisp the world is within these frames.
City Lives successfully captures the city that never sleeps, because it never wants to. There are too many expressions, be it minimalist or abstract, to count. But, hey… that’s the city for you — a literal melting pot of shapes and colors.
For more information about City Lives and the Shirley Fiterman Art Center, visit: bmcc.cuny.edu/sfac/city-lives
