New in July at Gallery A3: In Memory of Eric Broudy-Artists on Being Artists

Source: Gallery A3

A series of photographic portraits and interviews of Gallery A3 artists by Eric Broudy (1940-2024) will displayed with a group exhibit, In Memory of Eric, of small works by current gallery members at Gallery A3, 28 Amity Street, 1D. The exhibit will run from July 4-July 27. There will be an opening receiption at the Gallery on Thursday July 4, from 5-7 p.m. and an Artist Online Art Forum on Thursday: July 18, at 7:30 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public. Preregister for the art forum at www.gallerya3.com

Eric Broudy, 1940-2024, was a photographer with an eclectic eye, interested in whatever attracted his attention in human society or the natural world.  He pursued Sally Mann’s idea that “part of an artist’s job is to make the commonplace singular, to project a different interpretation onto the conventional.”

Serial photography projects also appealed to Eric, ranging from images of old factories of Holyoke, to portraits of Amherst’s homeless residents, to on-the-spot portraits of people who happened to ring the doorbell of his home. His most recent series, Artists on Being an Artist, combined interviews and portraits of fellow Gallery A3 artists, whom he had worked with, respected, and admired since joining the gallery in 2003.

Eric Broudy Portrait of GK Khalsa (left) and Portrait of Cheryl Rezendes (right).

Eric was curious about the artist’s inspiration, motivation, and guiding principles for both craft and artistry. What compels or inhibits?  What satisfies?  What challenges?  And what about future artistic directions?  He had completed 16 of the 22 planned interviews and portraits before his unexpected death in early 2024.  In his honor, his wife, Daisy Broudy, and photographer friend and Gallery A3 member, Larry Rankin, have completed his project.

Artists on Being an Artist is presented with In Memory of Eric, a group show of small works by current Gallery A3 members, selected to evoke memories of Eric and his work in the arts.

 Larry Rankin, Les Amis, photograph

ART FORUM ONLINE
On Thursday, July 18, at 7:30 p.m., an online public forum will consider Eric’s project of Artists on Being an Artist and discuss the questions it raises about artistic process and practice.  Stories about Eric are also welcome! This Art in Community II program is supported in part by grants from the Amherst Cultural Council and the Springfield Cultural Council, local agencies, which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. Preregister for this free program at www.gallerya3.com

ABOUT GALLERY A3
Gallery A3 is a contemporary, fine art gallery in the Cinema Complex in downtown Amherst, Massachusetts. Members of the artist-run cooperative include painters, sculptors, photographers, printmakers, fiber artists, and mixed media artists. 

The gallery 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 60 artists and is now celebrating 22 years of monthly shows with opening receptions and community forums, all free and open to the public, and an annual juried show that supports regional artists.