JUNE EXHIBIT

Artist Judy Atlas asks WHAT IF? in a new exhibit at New Haven’s City Gallery, on view June 5 - June 28. There will be an Opening Reception on Sunday, June 7 from 2 - 4 p.m., and an Artist Talk at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 28.

WHAT IF? is a collection of paintings and collages inspired by Modern Architecture and the work of architect Frank Gehry who passed away in December. “My painting process constantly asks and answers the question WHAT IF?, explains Atlas. “Experimenting with color, shape, line, movement and abstraction, each painting speaks to the initial inspiration in my own voice.” Her collages take this a step further, as she cuts up and re-uses older paintings in new and contemplative ways.

Atlas is an abstract artist whose paintings, monotypes and collages are expressions of the patterns, shapes and movements found in nature and everyday life. Her work relates to places and landscapes, real and imagined, external and internal. Atlas taught watercolor painting, collage, and abstract painting courses at the Creative Arts Workshop in New Haven for 22 years, retiring in 2020. She has been a member of City Gallery since 2008. Her work has been featured in numerous solo, group, and juried shows throughout New England.

The exhibit WHAT IF?, the Opening Reception and Artist Talk are free and open to the public. City Gallery is located at 994 State Street, New Haven, CT 06511. Gallery hours are Friday - Sunday, 12 p.m. - 4 p.m., or by appointment. For further information please contact City Gallery, info@city-gallery.org, www.city-gallery.org.

MAY EXHIBIT

With work that is multifaceted in both theme and construction, artist Amy Arledge returns to City Gallery in ECLECTIC, an exhibit of encaustic and assemblage works. The show will be on view from May 1 - May 31, with an Opening Reception on Saturday, May 2 at 2-4 p.m. 

“Nature is an endless source of fascination and inspiration for me,” says Arledge. “It is a common thread in all of my work, whether through actual depiction or in abstract shapes and colors.”

Arledge’s primary medium is encaustic — a combination of purified beeswax and damar, a tree resin that adds durability to the beeswax. The word encaustic is derived from the Greek enkaustikos which means to burn in. Encaustic was used in Ancient Greece and Egypt both as an artistic medium and a building tool. “I’ve painted with encaustic for several years depicting landscapes, seascapes and the non-objective,” explains Arledge.

Her assemblages originate from found objects, often wood, which resemble something in addition to what they actually are. She adds color, additional items, and sometimes wax to accentuate what she sees and give them personalities.  

Arledge’s work has been included in numerous solo and group shows including Artspace (New Haven), ARTview (Washington, D.C), City Lights Gallery (Bridgeport), Creative Arts Workshop (New Haven), John Slade Ely House (New Haven), Kobalt Gallery (Provincetown, MA), Lemon Street Gallery (Kenosha, WI), New Haven Paint and Clay Club  Annual Juried Exhibition), Periodic Table of Elements Printmaking Project (Concord, MA), River Street Gallery, New Haven CT), Slater Museum (Norwich), The Institute Library (New Haven), Whitney Center Art Gallery (Hamden), and Yale Medical Library (New Haven). Visit her website for more information, amyarledge.com.

The exhibit ECLECTIC and the opening reception are free and open to the public. City Gallery is located at 994 State Street, New Haven, CT 06511. Gallery hours are Friday - Sunday, 12 p.m. - 4 p.m., or by appointment. For further information please contact City Gallery, info@city-gallery.org, www.city-gallery.org.