RECENT Exhibitions

Tom Edwards and Sean Patrick Gallagher

April 18 – May 19, 2024
Opening Reception:  Sunday, April 21, 2:00-5:00 pm

 Metaphor and Memory — two artists describe the changes in nature and place.

 Kehler Liddell Gallery is pleased to present Tom Edwards - Observations & Obsessions and Sean Patrick Gallagher - The Falling and The Rising

Consisting of only ink on paper, Tom Edwards’ work in Observations & Obsessions spans from 1975 to 2024. Several of the recently completed drawings in the exhibit were begun, stored, forgotten, and then found and reworked to their present state in 2023. The development of the ‘time-extended’ drawings required that the initial “observed image” be reconstructed and completed through visual memories that alter the concepts of time and space within the resulting drawing.

Edwards often works with multiple sketches of a specific place referenced to produce a drawing with variable overlapping points of view that affect time and space relationships. “I rarely consider my drawings “finished” but rather “works in progress”. Initial observations drift into the realm of an obsessive necessity moving from descriptive logic to compulsive infilling of available open space. “Dark matter invading the open spaces reflects the organic energy of the universe,” states Edwards.

In his show The Falling and The Rising, Sean Gallagher works with two concepts. First, in his series, These Wine-Dark, Warming Currents, Rising, Gallagher’s work displays no horizon or land beyond the vast, red waters. The “wine-dark” description is a reference to the often-used poetic epithet describing the sea in the Odyssey and Iliad. In his work, Gallagher uses the phrase as an ominous metaphor for contemporary climate change and political currents.

In his second series, Near the End, They Really Did Shine, Gallagher conveys autumnal foliage as a metaphor for what one can create at the end of a duration. The chosen trees were depicted from Stanley Quarter Park, in New Britain, next to Central Connecticut State University, where he has taught for decades. That park contains memories of loved ones and students, drawing, conversing, and laughing, including several whom he never saw again, shortly after they departed.

Biographies:
Edwards received a MFA from Yale University School of Fine Arts majoring in painting and printmaking. He received an MA from Kansas State University majoring in drawing and printmaking where he also received a Bachelor of Architecture degree. Tom’s work has been exhibited in solo and group exhibits at Jane Haslem Gallery, Washington, DC, Prince Street Gallery, New York, NY, Denise Bibro Fine Art, Inc., New York, NY, as well as many venues both nationally and locally. His work is in numerous public collections such as Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY, Library of Congress, National Museum of American Art, and the Smithsonian Collection, Washington DC, The New Britain Museum of American Art, New Britain, CT, again, just to name a few.

Sean Gallagher was born in the city of Chicago and lived there for two decades, including attending the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and St. Ignatius College Prep; thereafter, he studied at Indiana University (B.A. – Honors English Literature; B.F.A. - Printmaking) and the University of Arizona (M.F.A. - Painting and Printmaking). He lived in Brooklyn for a couple decades, for his sins. He has taught as a Professor of Art at Central Connecticut State University since its founding in 1849, when it was a State Normal School, but after he arrived, wasn’t.

Looking back and into the shadows
Two photographers reflect on their artistic observations; one examines his artistic past, while the other explores shadows
March 17– April 14, 2024

Opening reception: Saturday, Sunday, St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 3-6 PM

Kehler Liddell Gallery presents, Matthew Garrett’s photography in Hindsight and Mark K. St. Mary’s Lost in the Shadows.

For decades now, Matthew Garrett has worked almost exclusively in color photography. HINDSIGHT, however, is a reinvestigation of approximately 15 years’ worth of black and white negatives, looking for what was missed at the time. In essence, the exhibition is all new work — though the images have been waiting up to 35 years for their time in the sun. The older work clearly reveals the underlying threads that still run through his imagery: humankinds' imprint on the landscape.

Mark St. K. Mary explores of the phantasmic effects of some multifaceted shadows inside and outside his house, investigating the intersection of light, shadow, and surface.

“Find beauty not only in the thing itself but in the pattern of the shadows, the light and dark which that thing provides.” 
- Junichiro Tanizaki

Biographies:
Matthew Garrett studied photography at Louisiana State University before completing his BFA at Mount Allison University in Canada. He then continued his education by working with Sean Kernan through most of the 1990's. Garrett is a founding member of Kehler Liddell Gallery and was one of the leaders of New Haven's Photo Arts Collective for its entire 20+ year lifespan. https://www.instagram.com/imagerealm/ Visit Matthew Garrett’s artist’s page.

As a mostly self-taught artist, Mark St. K. Mary draws largely from a former career in landscape design. Represented by Kehler Liddell Gallery, his work is in many private collections as well as commercial collections in southern Connecticut and New York City. Visit Mark K. St. Mary’s artist’s page.

William Butcher, The Portal Series/Expanding Visions
Roy Money, Mountains and Rivers

February 8 - March 10, 2024

Opening reception: Saturday, February 10th, 2-5pm; Closing reception: Saturday, March 9, 2-5pm

Two Artists Endeavor to Represent the Realms of the Limitless and the Majestic through Painted and Photographed Images 

Of The Portal Series/Expanding Visions, painter William Butcher explains that each image represents a portal into an ideal and sacred realm the artist acknowledges is beyond mortal comprehension, yet the paintings strive to serve as a glimpse into his deeply personal musings and visions of the ethereal universe. Visit William Butcher’s website.

Photographer Roy Money borrows a phrase from traditional Chinese landscape painting, Mountains and Rivers, which refers to the totality of nature and his pictures range widely across many different physical features of Asian landscapes. As a representation of totality, the Mountains and Rivers theme also points to the relationality of all these elements and that everything is composed of many parts. Money’s first trip to China inspired his return to photography 15 years ago and then subsequent trips as well. Visit Roy Money’s website.

RENEWAL

KLG’s 8th Annual Juried Show
January 4, 2024 – February 4, 2024

Kehler Liddell Gallery presents: Renewal, our 8th Annual Juried Show.  An opening reception is planned for Sunday, January 14, 3-6pm. For this juried show, the artists at KLG asked their colleagues to consider the following: 

Renewal is a driving force of life.  It is: spring growth. a new moon. the act of beginning again. replacing something that is worn out, run-down or broken. the process of reinvention. finding hope. how have you observed and experienced renewal?

The KLG member jury selected from several hundred submissions down to 52 continental artists working in a wide range of media to create RENEWAL and will offer an Artist’s Discussion and Presentation of Awards, encouraging fellow artists and all art enthusiasts to participate. The following events are planned to celebrate this unique collection:  

• Opening Reception, Sunday, January 14, 3-6pm. At 3pm join us for the announcement of Best in Show followed by an Artists’ Talk to reveal how RENEWAL infuses select artists’ work.  

• Closing Reception, Sunday, February 4, 3-5pm:  People's Choice Award to be announced

Come examine the artworks in this unique exhibition, enjoy refreshments and cast your vote for People's Choice. Limit one vote per person!  

Participating Artists

Alicia Afonso, Nancy Bardach, Christine Barney, Kraig Binkowski, Dawn Bisharat, Amy Elise Brownstein, Jill Butcher, William Butcher III, Patricia Carrigan, Eileen Cassidy, Liz Celotto, Jeanette Compton, Douglas Deveny, John Diephouse, Laurie Douglas, Carol Dunn, Joan Emmet, Susan Fehlinger, Jim Fiora, Marc Fisher, Melissa Fournier, Kathryn Frederick, Robert GIannotti, Danielle Giroux, Dan Gries, Just Grippo, Jessica Hughes, Earl Grenville Killeen, Stephen Klema, Ava Lambert, GIgi Horr Liverant, Marcella Kurowski-Cavaliere, Nancy Moore, Paul M. Murray, Greg Navratil, Heather Nielson, Ava Orphanoudakis, Casey Orsini, David Ottenstein, Alexander Pope, Gerald Saladyga, Jean Scott, Ashley Smith, Lindsay Suter, Karen Vradenburg. PLUS KLG MEMBERS

The gallery is free and open to the public. Gallery hours: Thursday- Sunday 12 to 5pm, or by appointment.  

DECK THE WALLS

Nov 16 - Dec 24, 2023

Shop Gifts Within Westville’s Rich Arts Community this Holiday Season
Opening Reception: Sunday, November 19th, 2-5pm

Kehler Liddell Gallery (KLG) presents: DECK THE WALLS, an Annual Holiday Show that features framed and unframed art by 22 local artists, is up and ready to gift!

This annual show and sale features an eclectic mix of local art: photography, painting, pen and ink, mixed media, prints, and sculpture that completely deck the walls. You'll find creative works of varying sizes and all price ranges. Commit to start or continue your art collection with one purchase per holiday!

“Featuring both framed and unframed work priced for the holidays and ready to gift, our annual holiday show is always a joyful mix of colors and styles. We hope you will come by and see what the artists have been working on this year,” says every artist member. “Pick out something fabulous and spend your dollars intentionally to support local, living artists and small businesses.” says admin support Muffy Pendergast.

Participating Artists: Robert Bienstock, Amy Browning, Frank Bruckmann, Mary Burke, Bill Butcher, Penrhyn E. Cook, Rod Cook, Amanda Duchen, Thomas Edwards, Brian Flinn, Chris Ferguson, Sean Gallagher, Matthew Garrett, Eddie Hall, Sheldon Krevit, Sven Martson, Roy Money, Hank Paper, Mark St. Mary, Gar Waterman, R.F. Wilton, Marjorie Wolfe.

Kehler Liddell Gallery (KLG) is a cooperative gallery in the heart of New Haven’s Westville village representing 22 of the area’s most notable emerging and established artists. Established in 2003, KLG is one of New Haven’s longest running retail galleries to date. All of the artists are juried into membership. Monthly exhibitions are highlighted by free community arts programming presented by ArtEcon Initiative. The gallery is free and open to the public. 

Vessels that Yearn to be Held, Creatures to Adore and Repetitive Hedges that Provoke

October 12 – November 12, 2023

This month ceramicist Amanda Duchen delights us with the diversities of CLAY in her hands, while Marjorie Gillette Wolfe ponders, through her lens, the repetition of HEDGE. 

An Artists’ Talk will begin the Opening Reception on Sunday, October 15, 3:00-5:30pm.  Both artists will be present and will return for a Closing Event with Mimosas on November 12, 2:00-4:00pm. 

Amanda Duchen explains that in her hands the innate plasticity of clay allows her to craft her work from interesting hand-built beasties to elegant vessels, thrown on a wheel; a range which Duchen finds extremely satisfying. Amanda finds her experiences as a licensed architect in South Africa and in the U.S. a perfect pivot for working with clay since within ceramics she still plays with form and space in unusual ways. The gallery will be spirited with her bulbous and enchanting creatures but also with her spacious and airy vessels, begging to be held and used routinely. www.studioduchen.com

Photographer Marjorie Gillette Wolfe has always been fascinated by repetition and, oddly, perhaps, hedges. She wonders, what is the essence of a hedge, what does a hedge represent? Reveal or conceal. Enhance or diminish. Separate or join. Welcome or divide. Invite or exclude.  You are encouraged to come and decide for yourself. Wolfe notes, “In considering photographs for this exhibit I realize I’ve been making pictures of hedges for decades.” www.marjoriewolfe.net

The gallery is free and open to the public. www.KehlerLiddellGallery.com.

Force-full Exhibits Unveiling in September at KLG with Digital Artist Brian Flinn and R.F. Wilton, Photographer

September 7 - October 8, 2023

Westville, New Haven, CT — KLG offers Adjusted intentions + Forces of Attraction by Brian Flinn and R.F. Wilton; 2 solo shows from Sept 7 - Oct 8, 2023. All are invited for the opening reception, Sunday, Sept 10, 2-5 pm. Artists’ Talk at 3pm.

In Adjusted Intentions, Brian Flinn explains the common thread in this digital collage series, “they all rely on technology as a major component of their development. Whether in planning, capturing imagery, working digitally or printing, each of these works has a well-established relationship with the machine in its creative history.” With a nod to machinery, Flinn “began to look more intently at the new capabilities of A.I. imaging software,” and then “employed such software as part of the evolutionary development in art making.” To contemplate this body of work, Flinn employed Chat GPT to write his artist statement that summed it up thusly, “As we navigate the increasingly complex landscape of technology, my aim is to foster dialogue and contemplation, encouraging viewers to engage critically with the role of A.I. in shaping our visual culture and collective consciousness.”

R.F.Wilton presents Forces of Attraction, a “Whitman’s Sampler of some of my work” from his “50-year engagement with photography.” Each piece serves as “an exemplar for dozens, if not hundreds of similar examples of visual study. My images often reflect an attraction to beauty, or a perception of the numinous, an affinity for order, the wonder of mystery and the delight of serendipity. Always led by the light. At its best, my creative process entails entering a sort of flow state characterized by a blend of cognitive vacuity, perceptual acuity and emotional receptivity. In that state of being, I’m available for any of a myriad of things, qualities, moments, feelings or phenomena to make an impact. To exert itself as a force of attraction. These are the souvenirs of some of those magic moments.”