December 15th, 2015 – January 24th, 2016
Opening Reception: Tuesday, December 15th, 2015
Artists: John Belardo, Dina Brodsky, Maya Brodsky, Cara DeAngelis, Michelle Doll, Peter Drake, Alonsa Guevara, John Jacobsmeyer, Laura Karetzky, David Kratz, Benjamin Martins, Margaret McCann, Jean-Pierre Roy, Melanie Vote, Mitra Walter
curated by Benjamin Martins and Melanie Vote
The Lodge Gallery is proud to present Between Us, an exhibition of works by four generations of New York Academy of Art (NYAA) alumni and faculty. The exhibition frames the Academy as a family with close bonds and generational debate and consists of works that express the relational dynamics present within all families. There exists a unique kinship at the Academy, an almost fraternal commonality, and an ongoing intergenerational discourse.
At the vanguard of figurative and representational art for over four decades, The New York Academy of Art was founded in 1982 by artists, scholars and patrons of the arts, including Andy Warhol. The Academy has since developed into a non-profit cultural institution housing the nation’s first graduate school of figurative art, a continuing education program, the region’s most in-depth figurative art library, an extensive exhibition and lecture series, and iconic New York City events such as Take Home a Nude and Tribeca Ball.
“There are a number things that make the Academy unique. The quality of the education that is offered is unparalleled, the professional opportunities that are generated for our students are mind-boggling and the work students are producing is fresh, vital and contemporary.” – Peter Drake, Dean of Academic Affairs, NYAA
During the opening reception a book signing for the Academy’s book, The Figure, which celebrates the impact the Academy has had on contemporary art, will take place with many of the contributing editors and artists participating including Jean-Pierre Roy, Peter Drake, Margaret McCann, and John Jacobsmeyer. “The Figure (published by Skira/Rizzoli) is an ambitious and overdue tome that fills a void: if you haven’t noticed, contemporary representation is coming on strong. The figure is the greatest subject of all — it will live as long as we do — and this stimulating book reminds us… If there ever was an art book that needed to become a major exhibition — or a maybe a salon — The Figure is it” (Hyperallergic). To conclude the exhibition, a salon evening will be held in January featuring a panel discussion and offering many of the artists in the exhibition with an opportunity to speak about the influence of the Academy and the relevance of representational and figurative art in a creative climate that has turned in their favor.
