January 2 - 27, 2007
Main Gallery & Project Room

Curated by Janet Y. Larose
Reception: Thursday, January 4, 2007, 6 - 8 PM

“Out Looking In; In Looking Out: Urbanism: New York City” presents urban landscape painting in the tradition of the Ashcan School. Paintings by: Douglas Anderson, Violet Baxter, Robert Birmelin, Domenick DiPietrantonio, Barbara Friedman, Arthur Hammer, Daniel Hauben, Elizabeth O’Reilly, Doug Parry, Elinore Schnurr, Diane Sipprelle, P.C. Smith, and Dylan Williams.

Press Release | Panel Discussion

The Painting Center is pleased to present “Out Looking In; In Looking Out: Urbanism: New York City” an exhibit curated by Janet Y. Larose, focusing on urban landscape painting in the tradition of the Ashcan School. The painters represented are: Douglas Anderson, Violet Baxter, Robert Birmelin, Domenick DiPietrantonio, Barbara Friedman, Arthur Hammer, Daniel Hauben, Elizabeth O’Reilly, Doug Parry, Elinore Schnurr, Diane Sipprelle, P.C. Smith, and Dylan Williams.

New York City presents artists with timeless variety. Though times may bring change, aspects of the essential city always remain; its throb, beat, pulse; its Lifeblood. While the city grows and transforms physically, certain parts of its persona remain constant.

In the current exhibition, thirteen artists portray life from both the perspective of the insider and the outsider. Themes of individuality and anonymity, separation, loneliness, personal worth and pleasure are explored. The underlying theme in this exhibit is voyeurism, whether the gaze is from outside looking in or from inside looking out. This theme is explored both literally and metaphorically. The city is observed from different perspectives, with keenly perceptive palettes. For example, Violet Baxter’s “Three Evening Windows”, Dylan Williams’ “568 Broadway and Williamsberg” and Elizabeth O’Reilly’s “Dusk from 3rd Street” all portray a sense of personal isolation. The perspective is from an insider gazing out toward a lone object out of reach. Elinor Schnurr’s “Blue Fin XIV”, Robert Birmelin’s “Night” and Doug Parry’s “The Cedar Tavern” all evoke a sense of group isolation and anonymity, where the experience is of life observed peripherally.

These themes have been explored by past generations of American Artists, specifically, the Ashcan School. As this exhibition illustrates, such themes continue to motivate and inspire contemporary artists, and will no doubt remain pertinent to future artists. Like the Ashcan School, the styles and subject matter of these painters is diverse. Nevertheless, they are unified by their subject: New York City. Here the city is seen from different perspectives, with keenly perceptive palettes.

A color catalogue accompanies this exhibition, which was made possible through a generous grant from The Wolf Kahn and Emily Mason Foundation. There will be a panel discussion entitled ”The Influence and Inspiration of The Ashcan School of Painting” on Tuesday January 23, from 6-7:30 pm at The Painting Center.