Tuesday August 4, 2009

X CHROMOSOME: The Strong Women of Progressive Galleries

Come join us this August in our tribute to the female artists of Progressive Galleries. All month long we will be delving into the creative force that drives these 12 spectacular women.

To kick this journey off, Progressive Galleries of Lancaster will host a can’t miss First Friday event. In addition to the perceptive artwork that will be lining our walls, a live musical performance will be given by Jessica Smucker of The Sleeping World. Starting August 7th at 5 p.m., the X Chromosome Exhibition will be unveiled and an evening of art, wine and music will ensue.

The X CHROMOSOME Exhibition will be an exploration of the human experience and our relationship with nature. Photographer, Lynn Rossi, uses elaborate stage sets to capture the duel nature and irony of life. This asymmetry of human existence is emphasized by the use of space in Jennifer Peachy’s highly individualized portraits and the skewed humour of Danielle Charette’s work. The theme of shared human experiences is further enhanced by the works of Jody Wright, Abigail Burnette-Peake, Kat McIver, Nelly Seitz Smith and Ursula Gullow.

Wright’s Pop Art portraits of dogs, which are seemingly so simple, resonate with a joy of life we can all relate to at the best of times while the delicate brutality of Burnette-Peake and the haunting fluidity of McIver capture the darker sides of our existence. The staccato rhythm of life is then marked by the beat of Smith and Gullow. Smith’s use of negative space to enhance her subject matter creates a sense of separation that is at times felt by even the most extroverted of people. And Gullow’s gesture inspired paintings mark the indefinable and ephemeral moments that make up the narrative of an individual life.

On a more immutable note, this idea of shared human experience is highlighted by an investigation into a relationship common among all humanity: our interaction with nature. Carrie Wissler-Thomas, our very own Scottish Colourist, and Karen Weihs, who can be described as a Carolina Colourist, have a luminescent, musical quality achieving the vibrancy of life that is seemingly found only in our mind’s eye. Bee Sieberg and Anne Davis use rich color and texture to create moments near and dear to the heart of Central Pennsylvania: Sieberg attains the quintessential farming community whereas Davis effects that moment of peace we feel so often during the summer months, the calm after the storm.

Dana Richardson and Sarah Zentz literally illuminate, with light, the relationship between human beings and the landscape they inhabit. Through investigating subtle changes, unseen scars and abandoned spaces, themes of beauty and devastation come forth to collide and embrace. Their work will be shown through projection all night long.

These expressions of humanity will be punctuated by the brilliant performance of Jessica Smucker, who will provided us with music as captivating and varied as the Strong Women of Progressive Galleries.

So beginning at 5 p.m. on Friday August 7th, come out to enjoy the prolific voyage with us, and be sure to ride early and often.

Contact:

Jonas Hair & Walter Diehl
art@progressivegalleries.com
323 North Queen Street
Lancaster, PA 17603
Ph: 717.295.2440

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