November 5-28th, 2009 SHARON BARTEL-CLEMENTS THE SIDE OF THE ROAD
Paintings, drawings and confluent objects
Red Wave #1, oil & tire tracks on canvas, 48x60"
Press Release October 16th, 2009:
SHARON BARTEL-CLEMENTS The Side of the Road November 5-28th, 2009 Reception: Nov. 12th, 6-9P
Franklin 54 Gallery + projects is pleased to present an exhibition of new paintings, drawings and confluent objects by Sharon Bartel-Clements. “The Side of the Road” conjures up many meanings for us whether real or spiritual and leads us down many paths. Sharon has used actual tire tracks in her paintings and drawings to emphasize the imagery and it works well. As always her paintings are strong and lush with color and movement, painting only with her hands, she digs into these with emotional and energetic markings. The tracks take us up and through the pieces as in Spiracle Exchange #1 – a tumultuous piece where the eye moves in and out through waves of the journey meanwhile immersing us within an ocean of deep blue providing a calming balance. The artist’s use of the circle in this piece brings forth the significance of a beginning and end yet continually moving on and starting over. Red is a prominent color in many of the pieces echoing turmoil, bloodshed and hardship along with a tribal energy. As in life we are taking many roads, some good, some bad leading to enlightened experiences if we can let go and be part of them; this artist encourages us to do so with these works – the emotional connection is here.
The drawings in contrast to the dense paintings are light and airy giving the viewer yet another road to travel on through these imaginative landscapes. Confluent objects make up the remainder of the show including a ladder with a mirror for self-reflection, factices filled with objects that can be found by the side of the road and others relating to symbolic meanings. Whether driving by the side of the road, walking and exploring or traveling down one, Sharon gives a chance to contemplate all of these. Sharon Bartel-Clements lives and works in Santa Fe, NM; her works are included in major institutions internationally.
November gallery hours: Tues-Sat, 11-6
Spiracle Exchange #1
The Side of the Road
Events seen in passing. What's collected, destroyed or given away? What
is left behind or unfinished? What is taken? What is from the past?
What is from the future? Most importantly, what is from the present?
One can be on the road, take a detour, change course or direction, and
see things they wouldn't otherwise. The symbolic images and confluent
objects can make specific references to the real world and also
represent the hidden psyche, a side to the road lost in time and memory
The current exhibition of paintings, drawings and confluent objects
pose a query for the viewer by the artist. Although the title can be
seen as ambiguous, it may also allude to an ongoing quest and reflection
to life's journey.
Using three different mediums, it is the intention of the artist to
place emphasis on the meaning "The Side of the Road", Paintings and
drawings are seen to use "tracks" as part of the subject matter while
"real tracks" are included in the congruent objects.
As in previous works, painting with the hands is used as a kinetic
interaction. This interaction is the acquiring of tribal energies amid
its transference onto the canvas.
There needs to be a dialogue between the work of art and the viewer.
Interaction of ideas and questions can then be transformed to a
symbolic understanding.
Sharon Bartel Clements '09
Selected Exhibitions: *(solo shows) Vacation Venues, a group exhibition, Franklin 54 Gallery, New York, NY June 11- July 18, 2009 The Affordable Art Fair, The Metropolitan Pavilion, NY, June 12 – June 15, 2008 "Mostly White" a group exhibit, Franklin 54 Gallery, New York, NY, Nov 1, '07 – January 6, 2008 Made In the U.S.A., Blue Hill Cultural Center in Pearl River, NY, June 8 – Nov 20, 2007 *Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Collectors Gallery, "Abstract Works by Sharon Bartel-Clements", Buffalo, NY, Sep 15, Nov 3 2005 *Franklin 54 Gallery, “New Abstract Work: Sharon Bartel-Clements,” New York, NY 2005 The Painting Center, Painting Center Slide Registry, New York, NY (on-going, curated) Poughkeepsie Art Museum, “Point of View”, Poughkeepsie, NY 2004 Burchfield – Penny Art Center, “New York Collects Buffalo State”, Buffalo, NY 2004 Franklin 54 Gallery, “Abstract Painting; Sharon Bartel-Clements”, New York, NY 2004 National Association of Women Artists, “115th Annual Exhibition”, New York, NY 2004 Russian Cultural Center at Embassy of Russia, Washington, D.C. 2004 Gorohavaya 6 Gallery IASG, St. Petersburg, Russia 2003 Angels Gate Cultural Center, San Pedro, California, Annual All-Media, All-California Juried Exhibition 2003 *Cornell Medical Association, New York, NY 2003 *New York University, New York Medical Center, New York, NY 2003 *The Lobby Gallery, Equity Properties, “Oil & Mixed Media Painting" New York, NY 2002 National Association of Women Artist, Banana Factory, “113th Annual Exhibition”, Bethlehem, PA 2002 Lalit Kala Academy Galleries, National Gallery of Art, New Delhi, India 2002 Academy of Arts & Design, ISAG In China, Tsinghuo University, “The Capital Normal”, Beijing, China 2002
Selected Private & Corporate Collections: Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY Mercedes Benz of Edison, NJ Mr. & Mrs. Bob Turcotte, New York, NY Ms. Pinky Crabtree-Mackey, Greenwich, CT Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising, New York, NY Mr. & Mrs. Shau-Wai Lam, Summit, NJ Team Toyota Corp, Langhorn, PA Woodfield Lexus, Schaumburg, IL Master Oi Feilong, New York, NY & China Mr. & Mrs. Raymond Catena, Locust, NJ Pivec Advertising, Timonium, MD Mr. Phillip Munizo, Durham, NC Mr. & Mrs. Jamal Masburn, New Orleans, LA Mr. Joe Calabrese, Buffalo, NY Many private and public collections in the U.S.
Bibliography: “Downtown Delight”, The New York Sun Calendar Edition, sec II, April 15-17, 2005 Bill Canacci, “Modern Tribalism”, Home News Tribune, Asbury Park Press, New York Section, April 3, 2005 “Tesuque
Hills #2”, published article and illustration, New York Collects
Buffalo State, pgs 46 & 47, July 9 –Oct 3, Diane M. Koeppel and
Joan Bita Marotta, curator YACHTS International – May, 2004, Page 106, Bannenberg’s Signature Build Poughkeepsie Art Museum, “Point of View” Catalog “04, Poughkeepsie, NY Mary A. Durlak, “A State’s Worth of Art” “Door Darshai” (TV show) ISAG – May 17, 2002, New Delhi, India Sharon
Bartel-Clements, “After the Hunt”, published article and illustration,
The Manhattan Arts International Magazine, New York, NY Jeanne C. Wilkinson, “4 Abstract Artists Show Rewards of Discovery”, THE TRIBECA TRIB, November, 1999 Lois
Delaine, “Women Artists Exhibition”, at James E. Lewis Museum of Art,
“The Baltimore Afro-American,” Lifestyle, April 13 1999, Page B-4 Artist Work Profile, Prince George’s County Public Broadcasting, Channel 15, 1999 “Lalit Kala Academy’ 98 Catalog”, National Gallery of Art, New Delhi, India, 1998 Ferdinand Protzman, “Style”, Galleries; The Washington Post, August 2, 1997
Education: University of Maryland College Park, Maryland, W.C. Richardson, Patrick Craig, Post-Graduate Special Studies Program, 1992-94 Scottsdale School of Art, Scottsdale, Arizona, John Asaro, Instructor, 1991 Art Students League of New York, NY, Daniel Dickerson, Instructor, 1986-87 Laguna Beach School of Art, Post Graduate Studies Program, John Asaro, Instructor, 1982-83 Art Department, State University College at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, Bachelor of Science and Masters of Science Degree
Red Wave #1, oil & tire tracks on canvas, 48x60"
Spiracle Exchange #1