LIFE AND LOVE
Opening: Sat, Feb 7 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Exhibition: Feb 7 – March 4th, 2015
On Saturday, February 7th, Flower Pepper Gallery is pleased to present Life And Love, a collection of new works by Ania Tomicka, Desiree Fessler, Erika Sanada, Graham Curran, KiSung Koh, Susanne Apgar, Robert Yancy, and Roland Tamayo. Each participating artist will exhibit 6 pieces, a small cohesive body of work, 2 large and 4 small. These capsule collections will help provide the viewer with a more accurate understanding of each artist’s perspective.
All of the artists in Life And Love have been chosen for the inherent beauty of their work as well as their passionate portrayals of the trials that befall all life’s creatures. Erika Sanada’s flawless ceramic sculptures are oddly endearing, and symbolic of her struggles overcoming a childhood of bullying and anxiety. “My work reflects the weird and the creepy. I am fascinated with the dark side. ‘Odd Things’ is my current body of work and I use ceramic for making bizarre creatures. They have extra body parts such as multiple arms, legs, teeth and ears. These are how I express my sensitive mind. There are two reasons I create misshapen and abnormal work. One is my bitter childhood and the second is my constant anxieties.” - Erika Sanada
Whilst Roland Tamayo’s works explore his love for his children, and the childlike wonder and feelings of nostalgia they awaken in him. “The work for this show is inspired by my children and some of the things that bring us together. The ‘Watcher’ series reflect my children, wide-eyed and open to absorb and ingest the world around them. My boys are at a time where they are learning and growing so much, and as a parent it's wonderful to see. I'm also thrilled that they are enjoying things that I loved as a kid. Having them in my life has really brought out the inner child inside of me. Painting Star Destroyers combined with some our favorite foods such as pizza brings joy to them and myself, and hopefully that joy translates through each piece.” - Roland Tamayo
Whether with a sense of wit and whimsy, or a romantic and mysterious longing, the expression of emotion is palpable. Says of Life And Love artist Susanne Apgar, “I aim to express the meanings and emotions of what makes us human and explore how humans foolishly meddle and tamper with themselves and animals on a genetic, physical and psychological level. We persist in being human, despite tinkering dangerously with ourselves and others.”
The reception is open to the public and on view until March 4th, 2015. For purchase inquiries, or to request a VIP preview please email contact@flower-pepper.com
Artists:
Ania Tomicka, Desiree Fessler, Erika Sanada, Graham Curran, KiSung Koh, Susanne Apgar, Robert Yancy, Roland Tamayo
Participating artist Susanne Apgar will be joining us for the Opening from Canada, along with several local artists. Opening: Saturday, February 7th from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm See About Us page for parking info.
Special Window Installation by Amy Van Gilder and participating artist Roland Tamayo
Amy Van Gilder was one of the earliest designers in the NY Muppet Workshop, hired during the first season of The Muppet Show. She left Henson for a time in the early 1980s to start a family, but returned to work on Muppets Tonight. She also had a cameo alongside Jim Henson in The Great Muppet Caper, as a patron of The Dubonnet Club. She was later hired by The Walt Disney Company in the Imagineering Department, where she currently helps with integrating the newly acquired Muppets property into their theme parks. Her achievements there include design and theming concepts for Lucky the Dinosaur, the first in a series of free-roving Audio-Animatronics in Disney’s Living Character Initiative, which would later include the Muppet Mobile Labs. Amy Van Gilder’s children are journalist Sonia van Gilder Cooke and photographer Bartholomew Cooke. Sonia van Gilder Cooke mentioned her mother as her “role model” in an interview with The Sunday Times of London.
amyvangilder@gmail.com