William Ris Gallery Opens “FORMS & FIGURES”

March 16 to April 14, 2019

Opening Reception: Saturday, March 16, 2019 from 4 to 7 p.m.

Artist Talk: Saturday, April 6, 2019 from 2 to 4 p.m.

1291 Main Road, Jamesport, NY 11947

 

The William Ris Gallery is thrilled to present “FORMS & FIGURES” highlighting the creative energy of nine women artists -- Chris Ann Ambery, Deborah Brisker Burk, Shawn Ehlers, Madison Fender, Jan Guarino, Jennifer Hannaford, Margaret Minardi, Anne Sherwood Pundyk, and Susan M. Saunders. On view from March 16 through April 14, 2019.

It is without coincidence that the “FORMS & FIGURES” exhibition will be opening in the month which celebrates both International Women’s Day and National Women’s History Month. The #MeToo Movement has renewed awareness of not only women’s rights, but also recognizing the many accomplishments made by women, the arts notwithstanding.

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"1000 Hours" by Margaret Minardi. Mixed Media, 15 1/ 4 x 23 inches. Courtesy William Ris Gallery.

"1000 Hours" by Margaret Minardi. Mixed Media, 15 1/ 4 x 23 inches. Courtesy William Ris Gallery.

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Heading the fine arts scene on Long Island’s east end for three years since its move into the area, owner-curator Mary Cantone says, “I wanted to bring in new talented and remarkable women artists who I feel share a community, as well as world vision and sensibility.”

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"Heartscape Essence" by Deborah Briske Burk. Mixed Media on canvas, 24 x 18 inches. Courtesy William Ris Gallery.

"Heartscape Essence" by Deborah Briske Burk. Mixed Media on canvas, 24 x 18 inches. Courtesy William Ris Gallery.

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Repeat art collectors and visitors will be treated to artwork never seen in the gallery before with, as the exhibition title indicates, an emphasis on the human form and figures as its focal theme. Asked what led to the concept behind “FORMS & FIGURES,” Cantone shares, “I’ve always collected figure works. I find there’s an intimacy in them which I can identify with and am fascinated by the different interpretations and traditions which cross all backgrounds and borders making each of them so unique.”

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"In the Moment" by Jennifer Hannaford. Oil on linen, 60 x 48 inches. Courtesy William Ris Gallery.

"In the Moment" by Jennifer Hannaford. Oil on linen, 60 x 48 inches. Courtesy William Ris Gallery.

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Ambery, Brisker-Burk and Saunders are returning artists to William Ris Gallery and will be offering new works for the “FORMS & FIGURES” exhibition. This is the first time the Gallery will see works by Ehlers, Fender, Guarino, Hannaford, Minardi and Pundyk.

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"Resurrection I" by Madison Fender. Archival Photograph on wood with resin coat, 16 x 20 inches. Courtesy William Ris Gallery.

"Resurrection I" by Madison Fender. Archival Photograph on wood with resin coat, 16 x 20 inches. Courtesy William Ris Gallery.

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Ehlers, a former Ford/Elite model who has been photographed by Helmut Newton and Albert Watson amongst other name photographers, won the prestigious Prix de la Photographie (PX3) Gold Award in 2015 for her series "Women as Birds" which have never been shown and are included in the exhibition.

“I have a deep passion for Native American culture and their reverence for nature,” explains Ehlers of the concept behind the works in which she combines the medium of Polaroid photography and encaustic wax. “One of their beliefs is that birds are the connections between heaven and earth. Using women as birds demonstrates that we are messengers, better communicators and have a tendency to be more open to the spiritual and intuitive world.”

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"Bird of Paradise" by Shawn Ehlers. Polaroid with Encaustic Wax, 16 x 16 inches. Courtesy William Ris Gallery.

"Bird of Paradise" by Shawn Ehlers. Polaroid with Encaustic Wax, 16 x 16 inches. Courtesy William Ris Gallery.

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The exhibition includes Chris Ann Ambery’s joyously energetic original printworks, Deborah Brisker Burk’s colorful yet muted sensual paintings and Shawn Ehlers’ encaustic photographs that evoke primal yet dreamlike melancholy.

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"Freedom of Expression" by Chris Ann Ambery, 2014. Screenprint, 22 x 30 inches. Courtesy William Ris Gallery.

"Freedom of Expression" by Chris Ann Ambery, 2014. Screenprint, 22 x 30 inches. Courtesy William Ris Gallery.

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Intimate portraitures, stirring one’s wanderlust, spring to live through the lens of Madison Fender. The reverence and examined strokes of Jan Guarino’s paintings and the simultaneously sophisticated and playful images of Jennifer Hannaford’s underwater paintings contribute to the diversity of works in the show.

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"Loose Ends" by Jan Guarino. Watercolor, 15 x 11 inches. Courtesy William Ris Gallery.

"Loose Ends" by Jan Guarino. Watercolor, 15 x 11 inches. Courtesy William Ris Gallery.

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The intricately seamless merging of textile and wallpaper backgrounds to their subjects by Margaret Minardi; the textured breeziness of Anne Sherwood Pundyk’s paintings, and Susan M. Saunder’s multi-media layering both figurative and literally giving new life and meaning to the statued subjects, “FORMS & FIGURES” is a beautiful collection of works from women artists we should all know.

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"Merwoman" by Susan Saunders, 2019. Photomontage with Encaustic, 14 x 11 inches. Courtesy William Ris Gallery.

"Merwoman" by Susan Saunders, 2019. Photomontage with Encaustic, 14 x 11 inches. Courtesy William Ris Gallery.

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"Aqueous Flesh" by Anne Sherwood Pundyk, 2009. Oil and acrylic on linen, 63 x 60 inches. Courtesy William Ris Gallery.

"Aqueous Flesh" by Anne Sherwood Pundyk, 2009. Oil and acrylic on linen, 63 x 60 inches. Courtesy William Ris Gallery.

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William Ris Gallery exhibits “FORMS & FIGURES” from March 16 to April 14, 2019. An Opening Reception takes place on Saturday, March 16, 2019 from 4 to 7 p.m. An Artist Talk will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2019 from 2 to 4 p.m. The group show features art by Chris Ann Ambery, Deborah Brisker Burk, Shawn Ehlers, Madison Fender, Jan Guarino, Jennifer Hannaford, Margaret Minardi, Anne Sherwood Pundyk, and Susan M. Saunders.

William Ris Gallery is located at 1291 Main Road, Jamesport, NY 11947. For information, call 609-408-5203 or visit www.williamris.com.

 

 

 

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