On her way to developing an abstract, dripped-paint style that influenced Jackson Pollock in the 1940s, New York artist Janet Sobel painted scenes inspired by the shtetls of her native Ukraine. Now on view at Andrew Edlin Gallery, a selection of Sobel’s work shows her flattening of space and merger of a flowery landscape, patterned skirt and floral headdress in a way that flirts with all-over abstraction. (On view on the Lower East Side through Feb 22nd).
Colorful patterns of birds, swirling handprints resembling flowers, floating bodies and looping text fill this small, intense painting by Mexico-based artist Domenico Zindato. Though isolated in triangular fields bounded by lettering, the small, anonymous characters shoot rays from their fingertips, making them pulse with energy. (At Andrew Edlin Gallery on the Lower East Side through June 4th).
Amid monochromatic structures that recall real world shacks built with available resources, Beverly Buchanan also created a boldly colored house built as a studio and a home. This spirited building perfectly embodies Buchanan’s aim to make buildings that are survivors but communicate, in her words, ‘Here I am; I’m still here!’ (At Andrew Edlin Gallery on the Lower East Side through April 15th).
At the top of a stepped pile of dirt, a domed chamber houses bees (contained in the top of the structure by a screen) and offers visitors a place to sit for quiet contemplation. Artist Terence Koh explains that the ‘bee chapel’ came to him in a dream as a way of offering sanctuary to the beleaguered insects. (At Andrew Edlin Gallery on the Lower East Side through July 1st.)
Andrew Edlin Gallery’s riotous group show ‘Purple States’ stands out among summer group shows for its energy. It includes this fanciful yellow, ceramic birdcage by Elisabeth Kley resting on patterns of her creation while a nearby, a friendly saint by legendary folk artist and minister Howard Finster stands and gestures. (In Chelsea through August 22nd).
Elisabeth Kley, Large Yellow Birdcage, glazed ceramic, 2014 on Patterned Scrolls, ink on Japanese paper, 2014. Next to: paint on wood figure, St John, 1999 by Howard Finster. Shooting stars by Howard Finster, mixed media, 1983 is behind.
