Susan Newmark
dal 2/3/2006 al 22/4/2006
Segnalato da
2/3/2006
Susan Newmark
Figureworks, New York
Love Me Tender. “My collages, paintings and artists’ books combine images from the infamous Tijuana Bibles published from the 1920’s through the 1940’s and lewd Japanese comics within a complexity of layered forms, linear elements and pastel colors". S. Newmark.
Love Me Tender. Collages and Books
Figureworks is pleased to introduce Susan Newmark’s latest series of
collages and hand-made books. She best describes this body of work as
follows:
“My collages, paintings and artists’ books combine images from the
infamous Tijuana Bibles published from the 1920’s through the
1940’s and lewd Japanese comics within a complexity of layered
forms, linear elements and pastel colors. While the work has a sweet
playful appearance, it also engages with the forbidden, the hidden
and base instincts disguised by veils of both civilization and color.
The Bibles were meant to titillate and even in our era of video and
Internet pornography, they surprise and embarrass; they also satirize
American values through the exploits of its heroes. The use of dress
patterns in some of the collages further contrasts the appearance of
“good girls" industriously sewing away with the ribald activity of
the bad girls who were clearly having more fun."
There is a progressive sensibility that allows Ms. Newmark’s imagery
to cross gender appreciation. Her pastel palette of pinks, blues, and
yellows used with conservative Western dress patterns, fringes and
bows are coupled with multi-cultural, robust, female nudes to attract
diverse audiences and challenge stereotypes.
Ms. Newmark has created books for the last ten years and for this
series she has incorporated paint, collage, and monoprints on fabric
to produce one-of-a-kind bound volumes relating in scale and content
to the afore mentioned Bibles - secretive 3 x 4 booklets of adult
content originally designed to interest men and boys. Again, in hot
pinks and yellows with laces and bows, these suggestive books take on
a very new meaning.
Ms. Newmark has exhibited extensively in New York City and throughout
the country, most notably at the Brooklyn Museum of Art in Brooklyn,
NY and Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. She is Director of
Visual Arts and Arts-in-Education Programs at the Abrons Arts Center
of Henry Street Settlement and frequently works as a freelance curator.
Reception: Friday Evening, March 3rd, 6 - 9 PM
Figureworks
168 North 6th Street (1 block south from the "L" train Bedford Avenue station, between
Bedford Ave./ Driggs Ave.) - Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Hours: Friday, Saturday, Sunday 1 - 6 PM or by appointment