Arts & Entertainment
Sara Nightingale Gallery Takes Over Bridgehampton and Sagaponack Spaces For January
The Sara Nightingale Gallery of Shelter Island moves into Kathryn Markel Fine Arts gallery in Bridgehampton temporarily and hosts an art show at a house in Sagaponack.
Jan. 1 brought with it a new year and an art party marking an unexpected gallery switch. For January only, the Sara Nightingale Gallery of Shelter Island is taking over the Kathryn Markel Fine Arts gallery space in Bridgehampton.
Launching the Bridgehampton arrival with a New Year’s Day party seemed perfect to welcome 2011 and draw attention to the gallery’s temporary home, Sara Nightingale said in a recent interview.
“I figured people may need something to do on New Year’s Day,” she said. “Having a party was a great way to bring people together and look at some art.”
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The group show focuses on gallery artists. The line-up includes Eric Dever, Maggie Simonelli, Christian Little, Charles Ly and Sue McNally. Works by Gus Yero, Janet Goleas and Sara Genn are part of the show. New to the gallery is Manuel Pardo. He has two eye-catching figurative works made with gel roll with glitter. The show is open weekends and by appointment.
In curating the show, Nightingale chose artworks to complement those exhibited by Kathryn Markel Fine Arts, which has a selection of art located upstairs at the gallery. To match sensibilities, she avoided works that were jarring or conceptual, she said.
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“Kathryn Markel Fine Arts shows beautiful art,” Nightingale said. “I’m trying to echo her aesthetic in the organization of this show.”
The show nods to her Shelter Island gallery, since all the artists have art available there too. Sara Nightingale Gallery opened on Shelter Island in 2009. Before then, the gallery was located in Water Mill for 10 years. It closed in October 2008 when the building was put up for sale. In spring 2009, the gallery moved to Shelter Island. It’s located next door to the Boltax Gallery and across the street from Mosquito Hawk Gallery.
The Sara Nightingale Gallery is also opening an art exhibition this month in collaboration with Reinhardt & O'Brien Contracting, whose office occupies Nightingale's former gallery space. The exhibition will be located in a modern home designed by architects Keenan/Riley in The Houses at Sagaponac development. The art opening and an open house will be held Jan. 15 from 6 to 8 p.m. at 421 Wainscott Harbor Rd in Wainscott.
The Bridgehampton show features subtle abstract paintings by Eric Dever. The works are rendered in whites and grays. There are abstract paintings by Maggie Simonelli. Her multi-media paintings use metal leaf, encaustics (beeswax), cosmetics and other material to make her energetic works.
Eye-catching art seems to dominant the show. Gus Yero’s composition features colorful circles wrapped around each other and accented by ovals of yellow. Motion is made by expressive lines in compositions made by Janet Goleas. Sue McNally landscapes depart from typical green vistas and give viewers something to ponder.
The gallery switch resulted from casual conversations between the two gallery owners. Markel wanted to remain for the winter in New York City, where she has a second gallery, and Nightingale was looking for a way to leave Shelter Island when the island was quiet. Allowing another gallery to occupy the space was preferable to having a vacancy, Markel said.
“I don’t like the idea of an empty space on Main Street,” she said. “I didn’t want to do that to Bridgehampton.”
In October 2010, photographer Robin Rice occupied the gallery while Markel was out of town. Markel will re-open her Bridgehampton gallery herself for the season in mid-February. The gallery is located at 2418 Montauk Hwy, Bridgehampton. See www.markelfinearts.com for details.
From April 30 to May 7, the gallery will be the site for ’s 3rd Annual Juried Competition & Show. Markel said she is open to having other non-profits make use of the space in unique ways.
Sara Nightingale Gallery at Kathryn Market Fine Arts in Bridgehampton remains through Jan 31. Art at The Houses at Sagaponac can be seen through Feb. 13 by appointment. Exhibiting artists include Eric Dever, Maggie Simonelli, Steve Miller, Christian Little and others. No reservations are necessary for the opening on Jan 15. For appointments, call 631-793-2256.
The Sara Nightingale Gallery in Shelter Island is open by appointment. For information, visit www.saranightingale.com. It opens for the season in May.
A solo show by Jeri Eisenberg opens at Markel's New York City gallery on Jan. 20 and runs through Feb. 26.
