ART @ Southampton Arts Center Hosts Two Exhibitions

“X-Ray #4,” hand applied black and white photo chemicals on X-Ray Film”Here

Southampton Arts Center will host two visual art exhibitions, “The Irrational Portrait Gallery: A Collaborative Portrait Project by Rick Wenner and FRESH,” and “Off The Block: NYFA Fellows” at Southampton Arts Center. Both exhibitions will be open from Thursday, June 26, 2014, through Sunday, July 20, from 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, and 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Twenty-one Long Island artists were photographed by the acclaimed portrait photographer, Rick Wenner, to make up “The Irrational Portrait Gallery.” They were then encouraged to confront, modify and manipulate the large format prints of themselves. The final pieces will be displayed in conjunction, as one complete body of work. The exhibition will explore how we view ourselves, how others see us and whether or not it makes any difference between what is real and what is unreal.

“What Would The Ancestor’s Say,” by Claire Watson

Curated by David Terry, Director of Programs and Curator at New York Foundation for the Arts, “Off The Block” will feature NYFA Fellows who live and work on Long Island including, Hiroyuki Hamada of East Hampton, Andreas Rentsch of Huntington and Claire Watson of Water Mill. Rentsch’s piece, “X-Ray,” consists of hand applied black and white photo chemicals on X-ray film. Watson will present works of leather gloves and thread mounted on muslin-covered foam core. Hamada’s works will include sculpture comprised of enamel, plaster, tar and wax.

“We are so proud that both of these shows feature artists who live and work on the East End,” said Director, Michele Thompson.

An opening wine reception with live music and the artists is scheduled for Saturday, June 28, 2014, at 5:00 p.m. in the gallery of Southampton Arts Center, located at 25 Jobs Lane.

The Southampton Arts Center provides a vibrant venue to present the highest quality programming to the entire community through partnerships with a diverse palette of world-class artists, performers, educators and cultural institutions.

For more information, please contact Allison Bourquin, at (631)-283-0967, or visit http://southamptoncenter.org/