Joan Vita Marotta, curator of public programs, selected works by both long-established and emerging artists for an exhibition that reaffirms our commitment to the diversity and strength of artists in our region. A total of 46 WNY artists were selected. Their works track stylistic and cultural developments, and speak to the issues of post-industrialism. A second look shows us their continued relevance and visionary power.
The principal 20th-century art movements were represented: Realism, Abstraction, Expressionism, and Conceptualism. Figural representation is often replaced by visceral kinetics. Distinctions between sculpture and craft are masterfully blurred. Photographs and other works on paper—technically brilliant—stretch the boundaries of their mediums. Beyond art history’s labels and technology are the voices of responsibility these artists share. Environmental abuses and concerns are the subjects of works by Christy Rupp, John Pfahl, Robert Hirsch, and Charles Agel; political intolerance and human rights indignities are referenced by Alberto Rey, Endi Poskovic, Juan Carlos Perdiguero, and Patricia Carter. Many of the pieces challenge our conventions and orthodoxies of what art should be, such as the works of Les Krims, Cindy Sherman, Paul Sharits, Robert Longo, and Charles Clough. They provoke and unsettle us, engaging us in self-exploration and psychological inquiry. We are uncomfortable as we come to terms with gender roles, sexuality, and the tormented side of the human condition. Complimenting the exhibition was a selection of experimental and narrative videos with similar themes by Andrew Deutsch, John Toth, Jody Lafond, Paul Sharits, and Robert Longo.
This exhibition is made possible by a grant from the Mary A. H. Rumsey Foundation.