Artist Interview: Margaret Zox Brown

"In the Couch"

Intriguing: to make somebody greatly interested or curious.

An intrigue grows as I look at the paintings by artist Margaret Zox Brown. What is it that draws your eye to these colorful paintings? As you closely and continuously explore these works of art, which lie between representation and abstraction, trying to find the reason. Then, you find it! But it’s not on the canvas-it’s inside you, the feeling of the painting. 

Margaret Zox Brown in her studio

I met with the colorist painter Margaret Zox Brown to discuss her process more in depth. I wanted to better understand how she got so much feeling into her work. “All my paintings come from drawings,” she told me, and only when a drawing has a good shape or “journey” does she turn it into a painting. Brown never paints on a white canvas. She always does a wash of colors first that sets the mood for the piece. “The color comes from within me,” she explains. The background wash inspires her in term of color and shape for the remainder of the painting. In Brown’s fruit series she adds drips on the canvas called Spoon and Berries to describe the “sensuality of the fruit.” When viewing the painting you sense that and more. As you read through the piece, inside, you feel all the emotion it has to express. And every time you look, there is something new to discover.

Brown’s artwork has n0t always been so expressive. Her earlier paintings, in which she calls her “naive work,” is flat when it comes to emotion and is hard to relate to. Not until a teacher’s influence and a period of extreme abstractions did she finally find her current voice, or should I say depth of emotion, that drives her paintings today.

Art of lemons.

Currently Brown is working on a painting of lemons. As she talks about the technical elements that are considered in order to create the work of art- harmony, balance, symmetry, movement, texture, color, etc.-they all blend together seamlessly to create these emotional masterpieces. Only when the painting has fully developed its own “personality,” will it be done, she stated. That’s the point at which Brown says “I couldn’t do any better” and the painting is finished.

I asked Margaret if she had any final thoughts and she spoke of the epiphany she had with her painting, and her life. It has guided her to the work she’s doing now because she never gave up. The artist has learned a confidence and joyful livelihood the would not have been found without the journey she’s been on with her painting. Brown can’t believe that every day she gets to do what she loves. Her enthusiasm for painting is highly visible and emotionally felt within each painting. Like I stated before, intriguing!

*Final weekend to visit Margaret Zox Brown’s work @ Path Cafe, 131 Christopher St., brought to you by the American Art Gallery.

 

Great Nights

Thanks to everyone who showed up for the openings “NineteenEightyFour” and “Color, But No Apologies“. We had a great crowd, both nights, that was real enthusiastic about the artwork. Here are just a few pics from the events.

NineteenEightyFour

picture with artist Rachel Owens, and associates, in front of her hedge sculpture made of glass shards

curator David Komary speaking about Gerold Tagwerker's photographs

Color, But No Apologies

opening night pictures

opening night pictures

artist Evan Levine next to one of his large scale paintings featured in the show

Congratulations

Just wanted to say congratulations to Jeffrey Tranchell for being ArtCat’s top pick for shows already open. It’s a playful yet meaningful exhibit @ John Connelly Presents, 625 W 27th St., on view through 06/25.

Awesome Night

I just wanted to say thank you to artist Zofia Bogusz for inviting me to the opening of an amazing art show at Avenue A Sushi. Also thank you for introducing me to two of the artists showing, Valerie Vanone and Jonathan Fritz. Their work is incredible.

Congratulations

Just wanted to say a quick congratulations to +Kris Graves Projects for a wonderful opening last night. Your shows are always refreshingly unique. Luke Abiol’s large format photographs, called Winter’s Berlin, are a true conversation starter. With his use of texture and color–I could have solely talked about them all night. But, you can’t overlook Brian St. Cyr’s Lipton tea box sculptures and outlined figure pencil drawings. Well done and good luck with your upcoming exhibits at the NY Photo Fest and MadridFOTO Fair.

Remarkable Night

Shari Belafonte courtesy of Chair and the Maiden Gallery

The Chair and the Maiden Gallery does it again.

I always look forward to openings at the Chair and the Maiden gallery, and last night was no exception. If you want to know how an art show opening is done right, you should attend one of these. The experience begins as soon as you see the iconic white tent and red carpet set up outside the gallery; along with all the people that show up specifically for these events. As you enter the gallery, there in the window–where you expect to see a piece of visual art–is a DJ spinning off Latin beats. Along the walls hangs Shari Belafonte’s Postcards from Cuba. Belafonte represents the “effects of embargo and isolation of the Cuban people” in these tourist style photographs. She frames the pictorial representations in such a way that shows off the vibrant colors of the region.  Every time you look at them, you have a new favorite, and everyone’s favorite is different as well. Last, but definitely not least, you reach the back of the room where the drinks are being served. Though mostly it’s the gallery’s traditional cranberry vodka that is getting handed out.

When you turn back around to mingle with the friendly patrons of the establishment you can’t help but be happy that you are there. Specifically, the feelings you get are admiration and respect for such an upstanding organization. Every art institute should be as dedicated to helping their artists, like the community of support built here, as the Chair and the Maiden gallery.  This is a society in which I gladly support.

Openings of the week

Art show openings at galleries in New York City’s Manhattan and Brooklyn boroughs.

Openings

Thursday

Amanda Ross-Ho @ Mitchell-Innes & Nash, 534 W 26th St., 6-8 pm, www.miandn.com

André Butzer @ Metro Pictures, 519 W 24th St., 6-8 pm, www.metropicturesgallery.com

Karen Schifano and Paige Williams @ Blank Space Gallery, 511 W 25th St., Suite 204, 6-8 pm, www.blankspaceart.com

Bonnie Rychlak @ The Viewing Room, 551 W 21st St., #402, 6-8 pm

*Terry Rose and Carter Hodgkin @ Denise Bibro Fine Art, 529 W 20th St., 4th floor, 6-8 pm, www.denisebibrofineart.com

Khalid Kodi @ Skoto Gallery, 529 20th St., 5th floor, 6-8 pm, www.skotogallery.com

Beata Drozd @ Andre Zarre Gallery, 529 W 20th St., 6-8 pm, andrezarre.com

Guo Hongwei @ Chambers Fine Art, 522 W 19th St., 6-8 pm, www.chambersfineart.com

David Chaim Smith @ Cavin-Morris Gallery, 210 11 Ave., 2nd floor, 5:30-7:30 pm, www.cavinmorris.com

Erick Swenson @ James Cohan Gallery, 533 W 26th St., 6-8 pm, www.jamescohan.com

Jackie Gendel @ Jeff Bailey Gallery, 511 W 25th St., #207, 6-8 pm, www.baileygallery.com

Keita Sugiura and Anne Pibal @ Max Protetch, 511 W 22nd St., 6-8 pm, www.maxprotetch.com

Helen Dennis + Albert Fung @ 515 W 20th St., # 5E, 6-8 pm

Liz Engelhardt @ Studio 571 Projects, 551 W 21st St., Unit 204A, 6-9 pm, www.571projects.com

GRoUP SHoW @ Taxter & Spengemann Gallery, 123 E 12 St., 6-8 pm, taxterandspengemann.com

Arye Carmon @ Max Lang Gallery, 229 10th Ave., 5:30-8 pm, www.maxlanggallery.com

Kate Glicksberg @ Chashama, 30 W 8th St., 7-10 pm, www.chashama.org

Matt Campbell @ Gallery Hanahou, 611 Broadway, Suite 730, 7-9 pm, www.galleryhanahou.com

Jules de Balincourt @ Deitch Projects, 18 Wooster St., 6-8 pm, www.deitch.com

Timothy Linn @ Heskin Contemporary, 443 W 37th St., ground floor, 6-9 pm, www.heskincontemporary.com

Peter Sutherland @ Mountain Fold Gallery, 55 Fifth Ave., 18th floor, 7-9 pm, www.mfoldgallery.com

*Select Gender @ Farmani Gallery, 111 Front St., Suite 212, Brooklyn, 6-8:30 pm, farmanigallery.com

Face Raghava KK and Carlton Scott Strugill @ Giacobetti Paul Gallery, 111 Front St., No. 220, Brooklyn, 5-9 pm, giacobettipaul.com

Fernand D’Onofrio @ Henry Gregg Gallery, 111 Front St., Suite 226, 6-9 pm, henrygregggallery.com

Group show: Resonance @ Rabbitholestudio, 33 Washington St., (b/t Water and Plymouth), Brooklyn, 5-9 pm, www.rabbitholestudio.com

Friday

*The Art Bazaar @ The East Village, 349 E. 10th Street (btw Ave. B and Ave. C), 6pm- 8pm, also open Sat: 11 am-8 pm and Sun: 11 am-6 pm, www.artbazaar.tv

*Group show: Mirror, Mirror @ Postmasters Gallery, 459 W 19th St., 6-8 pm, www.postmastersart.com

Donald Baechler @ Cheim & Read, 547 W 25th St., 6-8 pm, www.cheimread.com

Adrian Paci @ Peter Blum Gallery, 526 W 29th St., 6-8 pm, www.peterblumgallery.com

Mark Wyse @ Wallspace Gallery, 619 W 27th St., ground floor, 6-8 pm, www.wallspacegallery.com

Nanna Debois Buhl, Meredith Nickie, Jaye Rhee, Ryan Roa, ericjhenderson takespictures, Benjamin Tiven @ Rush Arts Gallery, 526 W 26th St., Suite 311, 6-8 pm, www.rushartsgallery.org

Nancy Bechtol, Arlene Berger, Atousa Foorhooray, Valerie Grant, Guy Manning, Jim Pescott, Sandhyaa Shetty and Alix Travis @ Ico Gallery, 606 W 26th St., ground floor, 6-8 pm, www.icogallery.com

Jeff Burton @ Casey Kaplan Gallery, 525 W 21st St., 6-8 pm, www.caseykaplangallery.com

Group show: Talk Show @ Edward Thorp Gallery, 210 Eleventh Ave., 6th floor, 6-8 pm, www.edwardthorpgallery.com

animal ART @ Pavillon d’Art Contemporain, 137 Grand St. (between Crosby & Lafayette), 2nd floor, 6-9 pm, www.reference-art.com

Andrea Longacre @ Rental Gallery, 120 E Broadway, 6th floor, 6-8 pm, rental-gallery.com

Nathaniel C. Shannon @ Sacred Gallery, 424 Broadway, 2nd floor, 7-11 pm, www.sacredgallerynyc.com

Dan Asher, Amy Bennett, Toru Hayashi, Benjamin King, Tom McGrath, Yusuke Nishimura and Ofer Wolberger @ Kumukumu Gallery, 42 Rivington St., 6-8 pm, kumukumugallery.com

Walt Cassidy @ Invisible-Exports, 14A Orchard St., 6-8 pm, www.invisible-exports.com

Jennie Booth and Lakela Brown @ CCCP Gallery (Satellite State Room), 38 Marcy Ave (at Hope St.), Brooklyn, 6-8 pm, jahartny.tripod.com

Brandon Fonville, Cassandra Hooper, Joseph O’Neal and Joseph Strasser @ Spice Factory, 71 Washington Ave., Brooklyn, 6-10 pm, spicefactorygallery.com

Ben La Rocco & Craig Olson @ Galeria Janet Kurnatowski, 205 Norman Ave., Brooklyn, 7-9 pm, www.janetkurnatowskigallery.com

03 Filipa Castro & Guillaume Gilbert @ K&K, 109 Broadway, Brooklyn, 7-10 pm, kkbroadway.com

Dawn Clements @ The Boiler: Pierogi, 191 N 14th St., Brooklyn, 7-10 pm, www.pierogi2000.com

Deborah Brown @ STOREFRONT 16 Wilson Ave., ground floor, Brooklyn, 6-10 pm

Saturday

*Nic Rad @ RARE, 547 W 27 St., # 514, www.rare-gallery.com

Ethelyn Honig @ Ceres Gallery, 547 W 27th St., Suite 201, 2-6 pm, www.ceresgallery.org

Group show:The Girleye Show@ A Gathering of Tribes Gallery, 285 E 3rd St., 2nd floor, 7-10 pm, www.tribes.org

Group Show @ Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts Project Space, 323 W 39th St., 2nd floor, 6-8 pm, www.efanyc.org

*Group show: Bushwick Schlacht! Germany vs. USA @ 245 Boerum St., Brooklyn, 6-10 pm

Sunday

Group Show: Mean and Sneaking @ FiveMyles, 558 St. Johns Place, Brooklyn, 4-7 pm, www.fivemyles.org

*recommended

Weekend Appraisal

Friday wasn’t particularly a special night in the arts, it just happened to be the night with the most exhibition openings in which I wanted to attend. I started the night off in Chelsea at the Robert Mann Gallery. They were having an exhibit of Joe Deal’s West and West: Reimagining the Great Plains, and being from Kansas, naturally, I was interest. Not knowing what to expect, you walk into this small exhibit space and are immediately presented to a selection of iconic photographs. The quality of these pictures are timeless. Understanding the idea that the lens framed the photograph in a way a public surveyor would grid the land; they capture the essence of this vast, flat landscape. Representing a quietness, the works feel as if they are of historical importance. They truly epitomize the past, present, and future of this fixed plain.

Along my way to the next gallery I catch sight of “Stained Cithairon”, a large 142 x 320 inch painting by Elliott Hundley, in which I had to explore more. That is the best way to describe Hundley’s work, an exploration. It is the vastness of the artworks that draw your attention but then the minute detail has you combing the artwork, wanting to discover more. The formal, yet artistic, atmosphere at Andrea Rosen Gallery, was just right for such an exhibit that pushes the limits of collage and assemblage in these methodologically dramatic paintings and sculptures. It is easy to feel overwhelmed with such an exhibit, but Hundley finds a pleasant balance that keeps you from walking away inundated.

Weekend Appraisal

What an amazing weekend of art. There was so much to do and see, it was almost overwhelming. But the convenience of having the art world come together for an exceptional weekend is something a person in the arts can’t miss.

Day 1: I starting off the weekend early with the 1st Thursday Gallery Walk in Dumbo. I try not to miss out on this monthly event, especially this night because Kris Graves Projects was having an opening which included Ruben Natal-San Miguel’s “NY, NY: Concrete Jungle.” In this show Natal-San Miguel captures the real feeling of New York City in his photographs, he takes the pictures you wish you could take. Also part of the show is Greg Miller’s “Nashville.” These photographs are “very personal,” says Miller, since they are taken in his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee and forced him to confront the place where he grew-up. Overall, the atmosphere was energizing and so many people showed up-even though there were many other events they could have attended.

Day 2: Friday was going to be a day of attending the smaller art fairs but as soon as you start talking with the artists at the Fountain Art Fair, you don’t want to leave. And I didn’t. The fair was a little slow at first, but as the night drew on and the band began to play, the opening party drew you in and before you knew it, you are being asked to leave because the fair was suppose to close an hour and a half ago. Foundation is personable affair, or as their website states “a reckless abandon of the art fair.” What is great about a fair like that is, you get to talk to the artists directly and they will talk to you. Do not pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about because you all know that you do. I got a chance to speak to many up and coming artists including a painter, Evan Levine, and a photographer, Kristin Gamball, who were at the Art Bazaar booth. Levine was dubbed “New York’s Next Top Artist”, by the New York Times and Gamball’s new show of photo-grams, opening this Tuesday, March 9th, is sure to be a hit. Exhibits not to be missed were Allison Berkoy’s “In the Belly of the Lightship”- which had a creepy, haunted house feel to it- and the Murder Lounge- which wasn’t creepy at all but it was a calm, cool place to hang out. Lastly, but most decidedly not least, was the Leo Kesting Gallery’s booth, displaying Donna Cleary’s charcoal drawings. Cleary’s work clearly represents different emotions felt in a relationship between a woman and a man. Her highly detailed figure drawings have been stripped down to their underwear, which emphasize the feeling even more.

Undoubtedly this art fair was one to see. With it’s diverse collection of independent artist, you are sure to find something you liked. And who knows, the next major artist of our time could have been there.

Day 3: In needing of recuperation from the considerable about of fun had in the past few days, I used this day to just enjoy a large amount of amazing art at the Armory Show. This well know show is what the whole weekend of art fairs is centered around. With that in mind, this art fair is more for the well established artists, galleries, and dealers. You can since it in the air that this isn’t a community of well wishers- with a few exceptions- but a place for wheeling and dealing. So I knew that since I wasn’t a dealer looking to make a large purchase, I’d pretty much be left alone to look. Even though the T Magazine said “that this season’s fair was both safe and straightforward,” the art was still unique and grand. A few works of art that would fit into the unique category would be Jacob Hashomoto’s “Non Pattern’s Eventual Betrayal” at Rhona Hoffman Gallery, Anne-Karin Furnues “Portrait 31″, and Patrick Jacobs “Field with Fairy Ring Fungus” at Pierogi. In the grand section is Jesus Rafael Soto’s “Grand Mural” at Adler & Conkright Fine Art and Gottfried Helnwein’s “The Murur of the Innocents 3″ at Friedman Bena. But these are just a few out of hundreds of inspirational artworks that have to be seen in person, in order to be felt and understood. This show has a commanding presence that may not be agreeable but, it is respected.

Day 4: Sunday was the day to cram in as much artwork in the little time that was left of this monumental weekend. Starting the day off at Red Dot Art Fair is saying you started your day off right. As soon as you walk in the door you feel welcomed and at ease. You can tell right from the beginning that the gallery owners are very passionate about the artists they represent and the works of art they show. This show was a reminder of why you got involved in this business in the first, for the love of art- which is very present here. Emmanuel Fremin Gallery’s booth was full of powerful photographs that leave you in awe. From Thomas Barbey’s combined images that is purely darkroom magic to Sean Basil McGiver’s ”bold, racy images,” as stated by the gallery. Another moving artist that paints solely on feeling is Connie Firestone who is represented by Elisa Contemporary Art. Firestone begins her paintings buy covering the canvas with black paint, letting it dry, then applies translucent acrylic paints and metallic paints that gets wipe away to create her image. She usually doesn’t have a set plan to her paintings, she relies mostly on feeling alone to form her works of art. In total this art fair was a great find and is a must in years to come.

Next was onto Volta. When entering the Ace Hotel, where the fair is held, you get the feeling that this is an established art fair and not a solo project with the title “No Guts No Glory”. I would describe the fair as a miniature version of the well know Armory Show. With artists and galleries allowed in “regardless of [their] age” as the website quotes, but it is still invitation only in order to show there. Regardless of it’s contradictory ethics there was some unique and risky artwork to be seen, even more so than its counterpart. Gigi Scaria’s “Site Under Construction” at Videospace Gallery is undoubtedly risky. The three channel installation has 2 screens facing each other with a projection of someone having a telephone conversation with the person on the opposite screen. On the floor between the screens is another projection of a working man building a shelter for himself. You can’t help but get engrossed in the conversation of the two people standing on their balconies looking down, commenting on the man working below. This work of art, with the controversial feeling it relays in portrayal of social classes, is risky. Some may have high opinions about this issue and therefore dismiss it. But, the fact that it stirred up any feeling at all, makes it art worth mentioning. I wove through the rest of the booths, talking to some galleries and getting snubbed by others, and ended up with an over all indifferent feeling of the fair. It seems like they have something to prove and if they make it or not will only be seen in years to come.

Last stop of the day was once again The Armory Show. I wanted one last look-mostly to make sure I didn’t miss anything-before it closed. So the weekend ends in success, if your mind is swimming with art and your pockets are full of business cards. Already, I can’t wait to see what inspiring artwork next year fairs will bring.