East End Winter Salon Reinventing The Typical Gallery Experience

This winter, artists Robin Rice, Amy Pilkington and Sixtina Friedrich have decided to embark on an artistic East End adventure. In February, the trio will launch East End Winter Salon, an artist collaborative.

Crystal Jewelry Creatresse by Sixtina Friedrich. (Courtesy Photo)

“In recent years I have been trying to the transform the traditional idea of what a gallery space is,” noted Rice. “I have been a gallerist since 1990.”

East End Winter Salon’s first show, What We Love About the East End, will debut during an opening reception on Saturday, February 11th, from 5 to 8 p.m., and remain on view through Sunday, April 2nd. The exhibition will feature photography, crystal jewelry and textiles, all of which have been inspired by some aspect of the Hamptons. Most inspiration was drawn from the stunning beauty of the natural environment around us. East End Winter Salon shows an experimental concept combining an opportunity to purchase the presented works.

Each of the Salon founders will have works featured in the show. Pilkington will present handmade textile art and home furnishings, such as one-of-a-kind, individually dyed textiles that could be used to create home furnishings or as artwork, and textiles that were created from local rocks, wood and shells. Rice will present her impressive fine art photography and Friedrich will offer her exquisite jewelry. “My Bliss necklaces spiritually frequence different energies of Angels, Ascended Masters and Higher Dimensional Beings. I match the jewelry pieces with my clients’ energy fields,” Friedrich said. “The Crystal jewelry brings balance to a person’s energy and often procures experiences of joy and bliss. I choose the crystals and beads I work with carefully and also place the finished product on Crystal grids to optimize their positive impact and balancing effect.”

Amy Pilkington will present handmade textile art and home furnishings. (Courtesy Photo)

“My hope for this exhibition, What We Love About the East End, is that it functions, both, as a gallery for the three founders works and a space that brings together the community for collaboration,” shared Rice.

Woman in Chaps with Shadows, Hampton Classic, Bridgehampton 2007 by Robin Rice.

Set at Katherine Markel Fine Art, a historic house on Main Street in Bridgehampton, the founders wanted to re-create the space, which has served as a gallery, into a warm space that showcases the home’s history. “I have been imagining chic and warm home environments to compliment the works being exhibited, all created in the East End,” Rice explained. The show is set in an inviting salon style in order to promote talks and presentation among the inspired.

Katherine Markel Fine Art is located at 2418 Montauk Highway in Bridgehampton. For more information, visit www.eastendwintersalon.com.