New Exhibit At Gallery A3: Abstract Paintings And Photographs
Karen Iglehart, Boat Series Red and Gold, oil on canvas. Photo: Gallery A3
Source: Gallery A3
Gallery A3, 28 Amity Street 1D, Amherst, will present a new exhibit of abstract paintings and photographs entitled “Becoming Form” by Karen Iglehart throughout the month of April. The exhibit will run April 6-29, 2023. There will be an opening reception on Thursday April 6 from 5-7:00 p.m. There will be a free art forum on line (register here) on Thursday April 20 at 7:30 p.m.
BECOMING FORM, a one-person show of abstract paintings and photographs by Karen Iglehart, explores the emergence of form in the layering of color. While she primarily works with paint on canvas, Iglehart’s exhibit also includes photographs taken in Gloucester and Venice that inspired and relate to recent paintings.
The scale of Iglehart’s work ranges from 12 by 12 inches up to 40 by 40 inches. She works mostly in a square format, because that lends itself to abstraction. And she uses oil paint exclusively. “I am taken with the subtlety and depth of color that oil provides,” she explains.
Growing up in the New York City area with parents who were both painters, she recalls spending a lot of time in museums seeing Abstract Expressionist paintings. Their work left a strong impression, and she notes she also has been a great appreciator of Richard Diebenkorn, Fritz Scholder, and Milton Avery, “all wonderful colorists.”
Her practice of Buddhism is another strong influence on how—and why—she works. “I’m trying to create an experience without what is called ‘mental discursiveness’ of trying to figure out meanings, place, and references. I’d like the viewer to just experience colors, space, movement, etc. To fall into the painting,” she says.
Her approach aims to eliminate what seems unnecessary, in an ongoing, interactive process of painting, looking, adding, then subtracting, and then maybe adding and subtracting again. “What seems simple can be complicated in the process,” the artist comments.
The subject matter of her paintings in recent years has emerged as she allows layers painted upon layers to become form. “It comes from looking at what is happening as I paint … just being present and able to stop or shift direction, literally and figuratively.”
Art Forum Online
In an art forum online on Thursday, April 20 at 7:30 pm, Iglehart will hold a dialogue about her practice with Alison Rabinowitz, Art Consultant at Bonhams Art Auctions, and welcome questions from the audience. See the gallery website ( www.gallerya3.com ) to register for this online event, which is free and open to the public. This Art in Community program is supported in part by grants from the Amherst Cultural Council, Pelham Cultural Council, and Springfield Cultural Council, all local agencies, which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
More information: Contact: Karen Iglehart, info@karen-iglehart.com
About Gallery A3
Gallery A3 is a contemporary, fine art gallery in downtown Amherst, Massachusetts. Members of our artist-run gallery include painters, sculptors, photographers, printmakers and mixed media artists. You can find us in the Amherst Cinema complex along with Amherst Coffee, GoBerry Yogurt and Osteria Vespa restaurant.
Gallery A3 was founded in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on 9/11. A group of local artists believed art to be essential to the health and healing of a community and began the gallery as a place to share ideas and artistic support. Since that time, the gallery has been home to over sixty artists and is now celebrating twenty years of monthly shows with openings and forums. All events are free and open to the public.
Gallery A3 strives to enliven and enrich our community by offering exhibits with public openings and open forums. It established and actively participates in the monthly art walks, Amherst Arts Night Plus, and supports regional artists with an annual juried show. It serves its
own membership with conversations and programs that bring established professional and newly-emerged artists together, promoting artistic development and encouraging the creation and exhibition of exciting, new contemporary art work.