NANCY GESIMONDO CURATES LATEST EXHIBITION AT RAINFOREST ART FOUNDATION

The Rainforest Art Foundation is presenting Seas Trees Birds and Bees, an exhibition that according to artist/curator Nancy Gesimondo, “displays the interconnectedness of artistic vision in the age of the Anthropocene. Through a variety of different artistic practices these contemporary artist express a reverence for all things under the rocks and stars, the sky above and the earth beneath us. Each delicate flower is a gift to be cherished and preserved.” The opening reception was held on February 22 and will continue until Friday, April 5. 

 

Artists are abundant in the areas of Long Island City and Astoria. Long Island City Artists, (LIC-A), a non-profit organization, is based out of Plaxall Gallery, a 12,000 square foot gallery that opened in 2016. Neither Board member and artist Nancy Gesimondo, or artist Elsie Apacible realized that the Rainforest Arts Foundation existed in their own backyard…so to speak…until they were invited to the opening reception of the last exhibit, 80 and Still Going Strong.

Marlene T Yu is both a world-known artist and the founder of the Rainforest Art Foundation. Her husband, James is usually the curator.  “Global warming continues to be our greatest environmental hazard, causing destruction everywhere,” said Marlene. Her abstract artwork tends to depict energies in all of its forms and colors.  “Melting glaciers, rising sea levels, and forces of wind and fire are all too visible to ignore. My efforts in the Environmental Green Movement in art only provide a glimpse and appreciation for the awesomeness of the forces of nature.”  

Marlene and James invite artists to exhibit their themed related works set up in the large gallery and displayed a gratis.  James provides the printing of a color catalogue with information about the artists and photos of their artwork.  It is up to the curator to obtain the information and artwork photos of the featured artists.  As for the opening reception, James loves to cook and a hot and cold buffet of flavorful food fills the foreground.  I was unable to attend the reception but did go to the foundation to view the pieces.  

The first thing I noticed about this particular exhibit was that you saw the artists’ works in different areas, rather than simply next to the name and photo of the artist forcing you to allow your eyes to simply take in the artwork.   “I find it more interesting to arrange various artists work interspersed together so that it creates a dialog and a harmonious flow,” said Gesimondo . Each wall is a fresh celebration of colors and forms that play off of each other. I feel it helps the viewer ‘see’ the work better because details become more apparent as a result of the juxtapositions.”

As for her own works, Gesimondo called it “an exploration of materials found in nature that results in new visceral narratives.”  Much of her art is in the application of display boxes, here with the use of feathers, shells, seedpods and semi-precious stones. “The afterlife of these materials, some of which are remnants of once living creatures, aim to suggest the sense of mystery of an archeologist assembling vestiges of a distant past with no true reference of their origin.” At this event she has a flower display titled, “Homage to O’Keefe.”

Elsie Apacible’s  Koi, oil on canvas, was filled with purple and green. “The world is my biggest canvas. Patience, indeed, is a virtue that most helped me reach that truth.  Now living in New York City as a full-time artist, I wish to share my work as a tribute to not just my Asian heritage but my biggest love for Mother Earth.”.  

Casey Concelmo paints in what is called a “traditional egg tempera medium” and also using 23k gold leaf, All seven of his framed works would be best described as “miniature” being the size of 7x5 inches. Titles included: “and the land creatures crawl,” “The sea creatures gilde,” “Isn’t this beautiful,” and “The earth 
is very nice.”

Inspired from her photographs of flowers, Karen Kettering Dimit is the co-founder of LIC Arts Open, a multi-day festival in LIC.  Her motif is mosaic and stone sculptures. Is it common for her to get materials imported from Italy.  Her two pieces titled, “Pink Lily” and “Yellow Lily” makes use of Smalti, minerals (mixed media), shells, and Cotisso glass. 

South Korean born Hyobin Kwon specializes in Asian calligraphy and brush painting and views nature as “the most beautiful present” saying that the meaning of her work is to express what she feels “seeing the beautiful images and moments of the nature. Most Asian painting materials are from nature, such as rice paper, ink, natural pigments and brushes. Pottery also requires the use of clay which is extracted from the soil.  Recently, she has been working with shattered pieces of potteries turning the fragments into a piece of art. Three of her artistry includes the title of “Blue and White Impression:” Peony; Nature and Garden.

Using bits of nature, leaves, weeds, and bits of dried flowers Dianne Martin places them on an etching press to make monotypes which she them develops with other materials to create her finished images. “These bits of nature, delicate though they are, leaving a strong embossing in the paper during the print process which allows me the opportunity to record their image by gentle rubbing on the surface of the paper, a magical process of allowing them to ‘draw themselves.’”  Four of her pieces are: “Wild Fan;” Storm Fan;” “Flying Fan;” and “Not Red.” 

“My paintings stem from my love of nature and concert for the environment,” said artist Helaine Soller.”I seek to capture nature at a moment in time to connect everyday environments with its beauty, drama, and metaphors for lifecycles.”  Her style combines realism, expressionism and abstraction using what she terms as “lyrical and spontaneous brush strokes” working directly on the canvas.  Two of her art pieces are: Yellowstone Falls,” and “Water Lilies In Golden Lights” both using acrylics. 

Hillary Waters Fayle wishes to revive and salvage our connection to the natural world.  “I study rich hand craft traditions, using them in collaboration with found botanical and organic material.  In this way I symbolically bind nature and human touch. It is my hope to inspire a shifted perspective on the way we view the natural world, to explore and appreciate what is too often overlooked and to realize the potential for existence in balance with nature.”  Fayle’s work includes: Connection” and “Give/Take – Poplars I” both leaf like using mixed media. 

Without actually viewing the artworks, it is difficult to give much of a detailed description. Gesimondo composed the brochure to which artists’ descriptions and statements were not all completed or followed a pattern.  Although the artists are supposed to be all members of LIC-A, I did notice that at least one artist stated that she lives and works in Brooklyn and does not comment on her connection with LIC-A. Many of the artists’ descriptions involved their bio. It is my view of the artwork and relationship to both the theme and how they see themselves connected with the Rainforest Art Foundation that personally made a difference when I viewed the many pieces. Nevertheless, I did enjoy and appreciate looking at all of them. 

Here are two more artists.  Suzanne Stroebe’s artistry stands out due it being 3-D with the use of adornments and talismans. You can see her use of metal and wood in two of her works, “We used to Talk Underwater” and “Stargazers.” 

Brian Soliwoda, a visual and performance artist displays one of his pieces called, “NuBee” using mixed media.  

Friday, April 5, 6:30 pm, is the closing event with an installation by artist Day Shildkret who will create a Mandala of complex patterns of symmetry using elements he has collected in nature. It is considered to be a meditative ritual that is part of his Morning Altars series. The public is invited.  

Rainforest Art Foundation is free to the public and located at 36-58 37^th Street.  Hours: Tuesday – Friday, 1pm – 5pm. Phone: 917-682 3630. 

Photos provided by Dan Yu.

LIC-A DISCOVERS RAINFOREST ART FOUNDATION IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD

Artists are abundant in the areas of Long Island City and Astoria. Long Island City Artists, (LIC-A), a non-profit organization is based out of Plaxall Gallery, a 12,000 square foot gallery that opened in 2016. Neither Board member and artist Nancy Gesimondo, or artist Elsie Apacible realized that there was an arts foundation in their own backyard, namely the Rainforest Art Foundation until they were invited to the opening reception of an exhibit, 80 and Still Going Strong. Running through November 27, the focus is on artists over the age of 80 that are still active.  

 

What were their reactions to the gallery and meeting both Marlene and James Yu? “It was such a wonderful surprise to visit this gem of an art space amidst an industrial block of warehouses and a carwash,” said Gesimondo. “One can easily walk right by the simple modern three story building.  There is no obvious banner announcing its presence. Its understated soft white facade is punctuated by large decorative gates painted a cheerful chartreuse. Entering the building I sensed I was about to discover something very special.”

“James and Marlene Yu were so warm and welcoming. James immediately greeted me and my guest, fellow LIC artist Elsie Apacible, and he showed us to the buffet. There were several large round tables filled with artists and friends laughing and enjoying a meal. It was like being at an intimate family gathering. It was amazing to meet the artists, to see their work and learn of their long and accomplished careers.”

“Marlene was so friendly and vibrant.  After dinner she led us up to her studio on the third floor.  We packed into the small elevator totally unprepared when the doors opened to a vast open planned studio filled with several enormous paintings. Marlene's work is a joyful expression of her love of nature. Her color palate is as lush and lovely as nature itself, from the cosmos to the depths of the ocean and everything in between.  It was absolutely astonishing to comprehend how this petite woman created work of this scale.  Her many decades of making art is evident in the amount of paintings on display and on large movable walls that she herself pulls back and forth to show us one after another of her gorgeous paintings.” 

“I am delighted that both James and Marlene have asked me to curate an exhibition with LIC artists who also share a passion for nature and preserving the environment.  Elsie and I are looking forward to working with them soon. As a curator and board member of LIC Artists I can think of several artists whose work would be in harmony with the exhibition goals of the Rainforest Art Foundation.  LICA is very happy that discussions are underway for an upcoming exhibit.”
Elsie Apacible shared her reactions as well. “It was an amazing event as if my relatives got together; warm and welcoming. James and Marlene are an amazing host and hostess. Good team. It was a wakeup call for me to aim bigger, in terms of my artwork. Marlene is an inspiration. When we went to her gallery/studio, the amount of artwork that was displayed was mouth watering and jaw dropping. I almost could not believe how a tiny woman could make such an enormous amazing pieces. AMAZING work; both charged and full of energy and somehow put me to shame when I feel lazy and re-evaluate my work and accomplishment. I immediately put something in my canvas as soon as got home a small piece that could remind me of my experience with them.”

“I also hope that we can entice them to share the space for LIC Artists for few selected events as they are so concentrated on their goals in preserving the rainforest. As mine and Nancy's observation, the building is way too low key for the amount of energy and intention of the foundation. I am sure, we can contribute to give awareness for the same cause and maybe raise funds, or even for social reason because these people are so great.”