Briarcliffe College Art Gallery Exhibit "Organic Abstractions" on View September-October

August 4, 2010

Public invited to attend Opening Reception on September 9th

BETHPAGE, NY – (August 4, 2010)  In a new exhibition this fall and on view to the public free-of-charge from September 6 through October 22, 2010, curators Beth Giacummo and John Cino have reached out to Long Island artists for a new group show entitled “Organic Abstractions.”  The Opening Reception for “Organic Abstractions” — representing the work of six artists, including Giacummo and Cino — will be held Thursday, September 9th at the Briarcliffe College Art Gallery from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.  The entire Briarcliffe College community is invited, as well as members of the Patchogue Arts Council, and the general public.

Biarcliffe College opened its new art gallery at 1055 Stewart Avenue in Bethpage last April with a showcase of the work of its faculty. 

In describing the exhibition, the curators write:  “Organic Abstractions is meant to evoke the processes of life and/or living forms without explicit representation.  The exhibit will show a variety of manifestations through mixed media, wood sculpture, composition and ceramics.”

The wood sculptures by John Cino display the collaboration between artist and material.  “Each piece of wood is a unique record of life, documented in the pattern of its grain and rings and I draw on that in my sculptures,” said Cino.

Debra Rodman-Peck invites the viewer to join in her exploration of movement through manipulation of form and color, and brings her background as a dancer to her compositions.  In her words:  “Art is a route to connect with the imaginary through the tangible.”

In her mixed media work using collage, ink, watercolor, and more, Kat Cappillino brings to bear her career as a scientist in biology and ecology, creating imagery of micro cosmos and organisms transformed into subtle arrangements of abstract form.

Deborah Zlotsky works with powdered graphite, eliciting effects on sheets of Mylar with techniques organic to the substance – spreading, blowing, painting, erasing, wiping, and smudging.  According to the artist the outcomes may be “grotesque and delicately beautiful: invariably, like life.”

The ceramics of Bill Shillialies absorb natural influences in their combination of texture and color.  “I find physical impulses are represented in both the process of creating the work and in the finished piece,” said Shillialies.

Beth Giacummo, adjunct instructor at Briarcliffe College, explores issues of morality, religion and politics in her art.  She works in a variety of mediums including glass, but for this exhibition creates visual stories to explore spiritual questions raised by the use of technology in unborn embryos for the purposes of gender selection.

Beth Giacummo and John Cino are also on the Patchogue Art’s Council curatorial team.

WHAT
Exhibition: Organic Abstractions

WHEN:
Monday, September 6 – Friday, October 22, 2010
Opening Reception:  Thursday, September 9, 6-8 p.m.

WHERE:
Briarcliffe College Art Gallery
1055 Stewart Avenue
Bethpage, NY

VISITOR HOURS:
Mon-Thu:  11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sat:  11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Closed Fridays and Sundays

INFORMATION:
Free parking and admission
Phone:  516-918-3600
Email: gallery@bcl.edu

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About Briarcliffe College:
A proprietary institution with locations in Bethpage, Patchogue and Queens NY., Briarcliffe College is a four-year career education college offering degree programs in accounting, business administration, criminal justice, graphic design, information technology, management and paralegal studies.  Programs vary by location.  The Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, (267) 284-5000 accredits Briarcliffe College. Briarcliffe College does not guarantee employment or salary.  Briarcliffe College is also a member of the Career Education Corporation (NASDAQ:CECO) network of colleges, universities and schools.  For more information visit www.bcl.edu.