Quite a bit has been happening in The Hamptons. Gallery changes in the Hamptons art scene are only a small part of what's new. Catch up with some of the news involving artists, composers and members of the Hamptons art community at large.
Vered Gallery closed its doors in September after over 30 years in business and reformed as Janet Lehr Inc., remaining in half of its long-standing location in East Hampton Village. Occupying the larger space of the former two-gallery location, Janet Lehr has been the sole gallerist of Vered Gallery following Ruth Vered's retirement from the business several years ago. The exhibition program will continue representing modern and contemporary art. Janet Lehr Inc. is located at 68 Park Place, East Hampton, NY 11937. www.veredart.com.
Art dealer Damien A. Roman has launched a new gallery, Roman Fine Art, taking over the smaller exhibition space of the former Vered Gallery. Located next door to Janet Lehr Inc., Roman Fine Art will presented curated exhibitions of contemporary art year round in The Hamptons and continue its appearances at art fairs held nationally and internationally. The debut exhibition opened on October 8, 2016 with the exhibition "Get With The Program I", the first of a two-part introduction to the gallery's exhibition program. The group show features painting, photography and sculpture by a dozen contemporary artists working in a variety of media and genres. Click here for details. The show remains on view through November 13, 2016. "Get With The Program II" opens on November 12, 2016. Roman Fine Art is located at 66 Park Place, East Hampton, NY 11937. www.romanfineart.com.
Publicist John Stanislaus Wegorzewski died on September 11, 2016 at NYU Medical Center due to complications from cancer. He was 66 years old. "Johnny" Wegorzeswki was well-known in The Hamptons as half of the arts and entertainment PR duo for Alchimia Public Relations & Marketing, which he co-owned and ran with his life partner Edward Callaghan, who died in 2015 at 66 years old. A Memorial Mass was held for Wegorzewski on October 17, 2016 in Southampton, N.Y. The pair lived in Southampton and New York City.
Curator, art dealer and writer Klaus Kertess died on October 8, 2016. He was 76 years old. Kertess is survived by his long-time partner, artist Billy Sullivan. The pair lived in East Hampton and New York. Click here for details.
It turns out being an artist and art activist who has nature as muse carries some clout. Hope Sandrow's role as a professional artist and art activist granted her special standing in a lawsuit in a land zoning dispute. The ruling by the New York State Supreme Court allows Sandrow to be considered someone with legal standing as a person who would "suffer a direct injury which is in some way different from that of the public at large..." in her use and enjoyment of the Shinnecock Canal, according to the ruling by the court. The legal determination is part of court battle relating to a pending lawsuit of a proposed zoning change for property near the Shinnecock Canal in Hampton Bays, N.Y. that would allow the construction of 37 town houses and a redeveloped Canoe Place Inn. Sandrow was granted standing as part of a group lawsuit filed on behalf of Shinnecock Neighbors, according to the court ruling.
Instrument in the court's decision was Hope Sandrow long-standing commitment to preserving the environment of the East End and the way the Shinnecock Canal inspires her art, according to the ruling. Citing Hope Sandrow's environmental concerns as prominent theme in her art since the mid-1980s, as well as her incorporating art history into her work, helped sway the court's decision to grant her legal standing. So were Sandrow's efforts to educate the public on the importance of the area both environmentally and aesthetically, according to the court ruling. Click here to see Hope Sandrow's art.
Shelter Island composer Bruce Wolosoff is having a busy month. His ballet, "A Light in the Dark," with choreography by Ann Reinking and Melissa Thodos, is being performed at the Chicago Children's Theater from October 15 to 23, 2016. The piece combines dialogue, contemporary dance and an original score by Bruce Wolosoff to tell the story of Helen Keller.
The debut performance of "Night Paintings, Vol.1", was performed by pianist Blair McMillen at Western Connecticut College on October 5, 2016. The piece for piano and projections was inspired by (and includes) projected paintings of Journal, Nocturnal, 2014, by Margaret Garrett; La Nuit d'etoiles sur la Rhone, 1888, by Vincent van Gogh; Evening on Karl Johann, 1892, by Eduard Munch and I've Got It All Up Here, 2010 by David Salle.
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"Journal, Nocturnal" by Margaret Garrett, 2014. Acrylic on linen, 43 x 61 inches. Courtesy of the artist.
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When New York City launched its art scene in September, Hamptons artists were a part of it. Some of the artists who exhibited in New York City galleries in September or October 2016 include April Gornik (Danese / Corey); George Negroponte (Anita Rogers Gallery); Anne Sherwood Punyck (LIU Brooklyn's Salena Gallery); Bonnie Rychlak (LIU Brooklyn's Humanities Gallery); Lynda Benglis (Cheim & Read); Joan Semmel (Alexander Gray Associates) and Alan Shield (1944-2005) (Van Doren Waxter).
Also, Bryan Hunt (Half Gallery); Alfonso Ossorio (1916-1990) (Michael Rosenfeld Gallery); Ryan Wallace (Susan Inglett Gallery); Toni Ross (Ricco Maresca); John Chamberlain (1927-2011) (Jacob Lewis Gallery) and Christopher French (Dorsky Gallery Curatorial Programs). Artist Janet Goleas co-curated the group show "Black and White, and Re(a)d All Over: Part II" with Peter Hopkins at at ArtHelix gallery in Brooklyn.
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