Exhibits

Curated By Keara Neilsen

“Newburgh Now: A Group Exhibition on our City of Creatives” is a group show of artists who represent our experience of both living in Newburgh and the experience of working within the growing artist body in street art. These are independent artists’ whose work forefront cultural changes, reflecting the city’s most modern and ever-changing persona. Passion, anger, excitement, and curiosity can be seen and heard in our artist’s work. 

Newburgh has both a long rooted and emerging body of artists who are influenced by the places we share in city living, and in this show we will highlight such spaces, events, people, and moments in our collective history. Street art has always been the voice of the people, one we cannot drown out or ignore. Its persistence and presence is a mark of community and life. Many such artists work long and hard to make their existence known, and here we will loudly present their efforts to capture and create. 

We are proud to present photographs by Erika Norton-Urie and Randy Calderone; paintings by Naomi Berkery, Nikki Salvestrini, and Keara Neilsen; collage by Elizabeth Arnold; and audio-visuals by James Turner and The Collektiv.  

From the Curator: “In deriving GRIT’s first exhibit for the year, I had one main focus: starting our community off in a personal, celebratory manner. In these turbulent times I find it most important to connect with our roots and environment, to honor those who have worked for Newburgh to become the place that we can live in and those documenting the process. Newburgh has blessed many of my days with new artwork and artist events to explore, and I would like to use this show to give back. I am a firm believer in the importance of finding meaning in our most local spheres, in creating allyship with our neighbors, and in appreciating the beauty of our backyards. I do hope this show will be a heartwarming and nostalgic curation that all ages and backgrounds can admire. Thank you to GRIT Gallery for giving me this opportunity to share my love for the arts with my neighborhood.” 

Featured Artists:

Erika Norton-Urie is a photographer of environments and emotional states. She aims to capture the world around her as it is changed by humans, species extinction, climate change, and the loss of human life due to war. Norton-Urie has been a Newburgh resident for almost 10 years, witnessing the struggle for change and corporate intervention that has persisted in our community. She is an advocate for accessible living resources such as affordable food and housing. Norton-Urie describes her photographic focus on the natural world as historical, a snapshot of a moment no longer tangible, but always appreciable. Her practice of spontaneous shooting is highly influenced by nature and her mother’s wildlife painting. Shared experiences, community, and collective empathy are all qualities reinforced by Norton-Urie’s work. Find More on Erika Norton-Urie at her website. https://erikanortonuriephotography.com/about-2/. 

Naomi Berkery is a painter and fine artist whose work celebrates authenticity and visual expression through an emotional journey towards self acceptance. Berkery has been teaching visual arts to over 300 students with special needs in NYC. Today she lives in the town of Newburgh, actively involving herself in the bustling art community here in the Hudson Valley area, while working out of her studio at Safe Harbors in conjunction with The Ann Street Gallery in Newburgh. Berkery’s artwork plays with representation, the different modes of “self,” and emotive portraiture through manipulation of materials, textures, lines and color. She is most influenced by the fusion of city meeting nature, her own take on growth, relationships, trauma, and spirituality. “Each piece of my work represents a moment, a conversation, something I left unsaid, a thought, a feeling, a reaction, a fantasy, a recollection, a festering snippet of my inner dialogue.” Find more on Naomi Berkery on her Instagram: @naomi_berkery_art 

Randy Calderone is a photographer and educator based in Beacon, New York. He has been photographing life around the United States and beyond for almost two decades. His work explores the beauty, tragedy, and resilience of humanity in the neighborhoods of urban America. He has resided in and made photographs in the cities of New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Hartford, before moving to the Hudson Valley in 2017. Calderone’s artistic practice largely draws upon the traditions of documentary photography with some elements of street photography incorporated in as well. His photographs are closely tied to the identity of the place where they are taken, and he strives to create a visual narrative that captures the feel of each location. The vast majority of his photographs are set in urban environments. “I feed off their energy, and their density means that the chances for spontaneous encounters are heightened while I’m on foot,” and “Newburgh has become the city that I find myself drawn to photographing the most often.” Find more on Randy Calderone at his website. https://www.randycalderonephotography.com/. 

Keara Neilsen is a photographer and painter living in Newburgh, NY. She is a full-time senior student in the BA Art History program at SUNY New Paltz. Neilsen has been photographing the people and places around her for almost 10 years, now narrowing her focus to convey intimate and detail-oriented images. Born and raised in New York, Neilsen’s creative journey has been inspired and refreshed by the variety of landscapes and waterfronts our state has to offer. Engaging with her most local and present community has informed her artistic interests in translation and representation. Her work echoes resiliency, responding to the struggles of climate change and economic instability, making her street art paintings and nature-scape photography act as digital conservations of the environment. Find Keara Neilsen’s work on her instagram: @ginger0artist

Featuring guided wine tasting with acclaimed wine maker Kristop Brown (more information below)

“River Reflections” is a special exhibition of Maria Lago’s expressionist masterworks, celebrating the special union of Newburgh and Beacon through a simultaneous exhibition of artworks. The works reflect a bridge of two cities connected through spirit and united by nature.

More about Maria Lago: Born in Asturias, Spain and a career spanning over four decades, I have explored a variety of mediums and methods to create my art. 

My abstract expressionist paintings and sculptures are a testament to my creative process, built through layering materials such as burlap, clay, oil and acrylic paint, cement, and plaster. By reusing scraps from old paintings, I sew pieces of canvas together, representing attachments, connections, and the past. This process, akin to archaeology, visually represents the passage of time, blending past and present to create a symbolic language.

The juxtaposition of primal symbols and textures with contemporary artistic techniques represents my exploration of the cosmic duality that surrounds us. As we embrace modern technology and scientific advancements, we must not forget the mystical and spiritual elements that have shaped human consciousness for millennia. My artwork serves as a reminder of the profound mysteries that continue to puzzle us as we search for meaning in the universe.

Growing up near prehistoric caves in northern Spain deeply influenced me. The Paleolithic art and Celtic symbology I encountered in those ancient sites continue to resonate in my work. I interpret and recreate this imagery, inviting viewers to embark on a visual odyssey—a meditative exploration that transcends the boundaries of time and space.

Visit https://www.marialago.com and the Studio 502 location – 502 Main Street, Beacon NY, 12508

GRIT Gallery Presents Collaboration Between Mixed-Media Artist David Lionheart and Acclaimed Winemaker Kristop Brown

“The Art of Vindaris”

Brown’s first wine in his personal line VINDARIS, will showcase a red blend from NYS and will feature label art designed by Lionheart; a collaboration celebrated with a guided tasting and art exhibit.

For the event, Lionheart has created a series of works in his signature mixed-media approach, utilizing metal, fabrics, and vibrant colors marked by unique textures that evoke emotion. One piece will be recreated for the label of a wine made by acclaimed winemaker Kristop Brown, who is known for his work at Robibero Winery in New Paltz and other top vineyards, but is branching out to start his own personal line.

Guided tasting during the opening reception on October 26th from 3pm-7pm.

Lula Lukas • Lou Patrou • Piper Levine

August 3 through September 15, 2024

Art can have a major impact on our lives, starting from a simple sketch on a blank piece of paper. One of the most accessible and approachable mediums can also be the most important bridge to an artist’s lifetime of expression. Whether we are sketching places, characters, or words, we are beginning an empowering journey for ourselves that will last a lifetime.

This group show features NY-based sketch artist Lula Lukas, blending the vibrant traditions of her Romani and Sicilian heritage. Lula has navigated life’s complexities through art, finding solace and expression in the dynamic world of comics and digital media. The profound loss of her parents in 2010 led Lula to yoga, where she discovered a deep connection to her roots and a powerful source of healing. Inspired by this resurgence, she mastered digital art, aiming to weave together diverse narratives. 

This show also features Lou Patrou, an American-born artist who lives in the greater New York City region in the Hudson Valley, NY. Lou has a portfolio of work that spans over four decades, composed primarily of faces and designs. Lou has since created three lifestyle and apparel brands from his catalog of images and is working with licensing agents in the US, Japan, South America, and the EU.

We are proud to feature a first time exhibitor Piper Levine. Piper is a mixed media artist who likes to experiment with lots of materials in paintings, utilizing a number of different textiles: lace, buttons, fabrics of all sorts, needle and thread. She is interested in creating worlds that contain characters portraying familiar emotions, that may be vulnerable or intimate, using paint and textiles to supplement and build a strong mood. Materials and paint facilitate these sensitive feelings that cannot always be described with words.

Come visit the show that will enhance the heart and the home through photography, sculpture, furniture, and painting. Everything in the gallery will be ready to bring home! Welcome in spring with this fantastic exhibit that can make a positive and timeless impact in so many places in your life.

Featuring

• • Internationally published photographer Doron Gild, a Hudson Valley-based Portrait Photographer whose work is conveyed through a distinct cinematographic lens. Every project he embarks upon is meticulously organized, planned, executed and structured to give a strong impact. Doron has created his own style of portraiture, featuring a particularly deep and rich palette with a focused passion for capturing people in their own environment, creating a portrait within a portrait. For commissions and body of work, visit www.dorongild.com.

• Sculptor, painter, and furniture maker Rick Parenti, who brings over 45 years of experience to our gallery. The space will be filled with exotic woods in the shape of tables, chairs, and functional sculptures. Every finish is unique, elegant, and ready for your home. Owner of Woodjoin Company, Rick is as serious about his business as he is about his art. For more information, visit www.woodjoin.com.

• A magnificent collection of birds by multi-medium artist Steven Strauss. The color and dynamic nature of birds and their plumage yielded a perfect subject match to this painterly puzzle. The bird paintings are built up layer by layer, each layer alternating between spray paint and oil paint. The series continues to inspire me to create and appreciate color and paint application as well as these fascinating creatures. For more information, visit www.thespringatelier.com/birds.

• The latest flowers collection by David Lionheart titled “Sight Beyond Sight”. This focus has been inspired by the following of the heart even when the vision is not yet fully clarified. The journey toward the large and complex works draws you right up to the surface of the canvas to appreciate the intricate color, texture, and joy from this mystical garden. For more of Dave’s work, visit https://www.davidlionheart.art.

The Pull is an artistic representation of Lionheart’s two-year experience collecting and playing one of the world’s most recognizable games. “I found so much inspiration from seeing the joy and excitement that the cards and characters brought to the community of collectors of all ages,” Lionheart said. “I pulled a card valued at $200 while opening my very first pack at Silver Sun game shop in Montgomery, NY. I was hooked after that. There is such a strong dedication to preserving vintage collectibles and an electrifying excitement at the brink of every new release. It literally ‘Pulls’ you in.”

The exhibit is composed of larger-than-life, fully textured paintings of the iconic characters as well an earth-friendly sculptural experience re-purposing the bi-product of the collecting process: wrappers, boxes, packaging, etc.

In an effort to share the game with the community, Lionheart and his team will be donating over 5,000 cards to kids who want to collect, play, and learn the game but might not have access or the financial means to do so. There will be scheduled art classes run out of the gallery, focused around engaging the community in exploring their own artistic representation of the timeless characters.

There will be a Kids-Collectors marketplace where original signed art prints will be available for trade using the original game cards as currency. This will give our youth an understanding and opportunity to begin collecting art at a young age using a currency they have access to in the cards.

Join us for the opening reception on January 6, 2024, from 1 pm to 8 pm for an experience you will not want to miss. Visit www.davidlionheart.art for more information.

Artist Statement

There have always been two words written on the walls of my studio – adaptability and resilience. I’ve been interested in these two hopeful words from the very beginning of my artistic practice, particularly as they relate to the environment, but also as a credo to live by as I’ve navigated complexity and constant change.

In 2020, I felt that hope was lost. That year began with wildfires in Australia and ended with over 300,000 people dying in the U.S. from COVID-19. The entire globe was united in suffering, caught up in a pandemic that seemed never-ending. Democracy was fighting for its life, our collective truth had all but vanished, and the unrelenting news of species loss, floods and wildfires made any flicker of hope go dark.

We’re still struggling with complex systems undergoing rapid transformation, and we haven’t solved many of the problems we face as a species. Still though, as I stood in my yard this past summer breathing in smoke that drifted into New York from Canada, I felt a strange new kind of obstinate hope. Because of all that we’ve been through these past few years, we’re beginning to understand the connectivity of everything on the planet. We are starting to trace our complex problems back to their origin, back to the source, and in doing so, we may be able to see the answers more clearly. There is no corner of the globe where one can hide from a pandemic, sea level rise, or microplastics. The planting of a monoculture forest designed for clearcutting in Canada (or burning) affects us all. The loss of a species breaks all our hearts.

‘My most recent work is populated with endangered birds from the Red List, pollinators struggling from habitat loss, sea life intertwined with plastics, and animals being protected in biospheres around the country. Every day, I fight against the feeling of powerlessness by choosing hope, and I use my skills as an artist to illustrate our challenges through the prism of beauty. In the end, my work is about interconnectedness; it is an act of devotion, and it is my finest effort to create an ode to the Great Mother.

Carolyn specializes in abstract figurative storytelling. “Defining shapes and mixing my paint is my exploration and what I have found is that shapes give energy and color gives life.”

Joining Carolyn is her son and painter Ethan Bogart exhibiting “Under the Influence” A visual tour of New Orleans Symbolism. For nearly a decade, Ethan Bogart has explored the visual narratives within his beloved hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana.

The works of art will ask you to keep climbing higher within yourself as well as the world around you. There is so much to see, we just have to be willing to go.

About Bob Giolito

Bob Giolito has been photographing his friends climbing and skiing since 1992. At age 19, his first camera was a Kodak 35 mm point and shoot which accompanied him on a 95-day NOLS wilderness expedition in the Fall of 1994. Following NOLS, Bob purchased his first  SLR film 35mm-80mm which accompanied him on many climbs and ski descents.  In the late 1990’s Bob’s first photos were published in The Complete Climber’s Handbook written by Jerry Cinnamon and published by Raged Mountain Press Mc-Graw Hill. Today, Bob has all but replaced his film SLR with a digital 18mm- 55mm SLR when traveling in the backcountry.  Truth be told, Bob prefers the simplicity of his old film camera to capture friends in adventure landscapes. Bob explains, “Taking photos of friends climbing and skiing has helped me shape my vision of what is possible in life. I love developing a relationship between people and terrain, tying the relationship between experience, friendship, and adventure in my photos.”

About David Lionheart

Mixed media artist David Lionheart uses his keen sense of depth and spatial awareness to create abstract works, enhanced by color and texture. He employs a variety of unexpected materials to create layers of dimension, including oil paints, spray paints, and industrial materials, which results in a sculptural quality in his canvas and wood pieces. In his large-scale compositions, he demonstrates a unique understanding of the power of movement over a canvas, versus representing a specific subject. This creates a powerful suggestive journey that walks the viewer over every square inch of the piece.

Born in the City of Newburgh, NY, and raised by a single mother, David faced immeasurable challenges and traumas at an early age. He credits his mother’s indomitable strength and influence for guiding him through extreme adversity. Now he’s on a mission to teach others the potential any one person has to be a positive force for themselves and others.

David has overcome the horrific effects of sexual abuse, the catastrophic pain of a loved one’s suicide, the early struggles of life in a broken home, and the limitations of severe financial distress. With intense commitment to his own healing, David learned to view his struggles as blessings that taught him the value of adversity, and allow him to help others navigate their own challenging paths.

Today, David is the founder of the 501(c)(3) Play For Your Freedom. He utilizes wellness workshops to get veterans out of hospital rooms or secluded lifestyles and back into their lives in whatever capacity they can. He is also a powerful speaker on trauma, adversity, and triumph.

“David is a firm believer that everyone has the ability to be a force in this world, and he is using his own life to exemplify that belief. His message of resilience, gratitude, and hope is profoundly moving. He is not above allowing himself to be raw and real, and his audiences are often found in stunned silence moments before erupting into applause.” – Barbara Allen, Co Founder of American Snippets

It’s to be blessed if one can have a sense of wonder when looking at the elements and objects of everyday existence. The silhouette of the leaves of a houseplant on the windowsill, the geometry of a jay’s feather, the complexities of a common flower—these all offer definitions of beauty that are endless, sometimes even overwhelming. 

What’s most amazing and challenging is when elements in nature approach a state of true chaos—when the geometry that governs natural elements gets so complex that it actually breaks down, which, theoretically, can’t happen. Think of clouds and violent water events, for example. Then, beauty becomes a momentary, transitory thing, totally different from what we normally perceive. 

The challenge to a photographer—to any creative person, really—is to be able to recognize, translate and transform these elements or moments into something that conveys to someone else the sense of wonderment we originally had.

Works from 18 artists who have captured unique stories worth telling through their visual art.

This new exhibit explores the visual portrayal in many mediums. The artists put on display the varied stories behind the portraits. How they characterize and interpret their subjects. And how they are uniquely connected to the artists lives.

The first solo art show of painter Evan Samuelson of Beacon will be on display from July 9^th through September 18^th.

The show, titled “Primordial Substance”, is a collection of 17 oil paintings. Depictions of the human form or expressive floral displays appear on oversized canvas or wood panels, with sizes such as 38”x 50” and an impressive 66”x 102”.

Considering his own work as generally in the surreal minimalist style, Samuelson also says “working larger has always felt natural. I like that the preliminary lines and strokes utilize more of a full-body motion.  It can also be viewed from further away and seems to create an immersive experience for the viewer”.

The artist’s statement about this show: “My work expresses emotionally charged forms from an altered perspective. Implicit to that is the desire to foster a deeper awareness of what it is that truly connects us. Playing with repetition, shape, and tone I hope to blur the boundaries which have been taught and accepted. Working towards an association with, and acceptance of, the underlying oneness of being.” Samuelson explains his technique “Most paintings begin with sketched form followed by an imprimatura to tone the canvas. I then apply the grisaille method to achieve a fully monochromatic composition. More recent work is finished with layers of glaze for vibrant color. A final coat of varnish achieves a consistent sheen.”

Regarding his personal journey and development as an artist, Samuelson says: “Art has provided a means of enhanced self-awareness and self-preservation. It was manifesting through trauma and internal struggle. As I began to venture into readings that dissected these topics, a love of philosophy and psychology began to take shape. I have been developing and applying these concepts to my paintings ever since. The idea of a deeper connection and mode of being is all-encompassing and drives me to learn more every day. Accepting that all of these things are not necessarily gained but already exist within is so beautiful. The love and absolute beauty that resonates at our deepest levels. The parts of being that feel just as they should.”

Samuelson, who grew up on the South Shore of Long Island, has lived in Beacon for the last six years. In that time, he has shown paintings at Catalyst Gallery in Beacon, BAU Gallery in Beacon, and Hudson Beach Glass Art Gallery in Beacon.