Among the luminaries in attendance was the virtual Laurence Gartel. Sharing with only Rome (to date) the honor of having Mr. Gartel attend the opening, in which two of his early works are exhibited, via a Skype connection. It gave him the opportunity to interact, answering questions and asking a few, with those physically present. Along with the work of the grand uncle of digital art are a number of other digital artists, Catherine Criss, Kate Kelly, Harold Naideau, and Richard Anello, notably representing just what a broad gamut of styles can be achieved in this relatively new medium.

If you are fortunate enough to visit the gallery before February 26, you will find a signed poster of Gartel’s “Coney Island Baby” show on the silent action block. If not, next month’s show will be just as interesting as it displays the winner’s of “Expo 31″.

Reception for Artists Choice is on Saturday, February 4th from 2-5 pm

b. j. spoke gallery’s exhibit this coming month will compare and contrast artists’ interpretations of subject matter and styles. It is another community outreach as gallery members invite artists they respect and admire to show with them. For example b. j. spoke’s member Liz Ehrlichman invited Ronnie Sussman to exhibit with her.

Ehrlichman states, “Ronnie Sussman and I have been friends for 35 years or so. We have made art, together and separately, for much of that time.

Liz Ehrlichman “Still Life with Self Portrait”

Ronnie Sussman, “Redirect”

For this show I chose the old and the new. Ronnie’s large abstract work, made with sharpie and ink on gessoed paper, is quite recent. My partial self portrait was done long ago, shortly after the two of us met. I find it very odd that these paintings, different in medium, style and time frame, sit so well together. They look like two buddies: like us.”

Another b.j.spoke gallery member Lili Maglone says,

Lili Maglione, "Ottava" (2011, a detail)

Benjamin Horst, “Church”

“This very contemporary Church, an architectural model, conveys to me tranquility, simplicity and serenity. These qualities have always been compelling for me, in my life and in my work. The design, model and diagrams of the Church were created by Benjamin Horst, a second year architectural student of Roger Williams University in Rhode Island and my grandson. When I saw it I knew that I wanted to invite Benjamin to show his work alongside mine.”

Katherine Criss chose Francis Criss, the prominent Twentieth-Century American Precisionist, Modernist painter who encouraged her creativity. She said, “My father’s influence on my creative work is immeasurable and pops up when I least expect it, as it has in my latest collage Urban Rhythms.

Katherine Criss, "Urban Rhythms"

Francis Criss, "Lower East Life" 1968

Even though it is based on one of my photographs, its imagery and use of materials within classical composition structure were influenced by him.”

Criss developed his collage techniques throughout his career. At first he combined sketches with other scraps, bits and pieces to plan out his paintings. These ideas then evolved into collages and many became paintings. “I see in this collage, Lower Eastside Life, which he completed in 1968, the atmosphere we both experienced walking, sketching and living in this long-gone New York neighborhood.”

Gallery artists include:

• Terry Amburgey
• Richard Anello
• Phyllis Baron
• Eleanor Berger
• Barbara Block
• Katherine Criss
• Lis Dreizen
• Marjorie Eckstein
• Liz Ehrlichman
• Marjorie Eckstein
• Barbara Grey
• Kathryn Heuzey
• Cecil Horlbeck
• Stan Jorgensen
• Kevin Larkin
• John Macfie
• Lili Maglione
• Virginia Mallon
• Dianne Marxe
• Min Myar
• Harold Naideau
• Ilene Palant
• Joyce Rosen
• Eileen Shaloum
• Bernice Taplitz
• Irwin Traugot
• Constance Wain
• Bert Winsberg

Plus invited artists such as:

• Sally Baker
• Evan Campanella
• Dolores Caporale
• Francis Criss
• Laurence Gartel
• Beth Goldberg
• Elizabeth Greaf
• Lisa Hermanson
• Benjamin Horst
• Kate Kelly
• Ray LaMantia
• Mary Jane Macartney
• Pasquale Matera
• Muriel Musarra
• Juli Owens
• Jacob Palent
• Al Shaloum
• Selma Stern
• Ronnie Sussman
• Greg Vedder

b. j. spoke gallery is a not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) organization.

b. j. spoke gallery would like to acknowledge J. W. Hirschfeld Agency for their ongoing support of the gallery’s public art events that invigorate and inform Huntington’s art community.

The members of the competitions committee and hanging committee enjoyed looking at all the art. Margot Norton’s picks should make a wonderful show this coming March of 2011.  Below are the names and home towns of the chosen artists. Reserve the date Saturday, March 3 from 6-9 PM, our opening reception, where you can meet many of the artists and gallery members. The show will run from March 1 thru March 28, for those who are unable to make the reception.

For artists who would like to apply to next year’s show, a prospectus will appear on the juried competitions page of this web site sometime in July of 2012

Expo 31 Winners

• Eva Capobianco -Ithaca, NY
• Louise Captein -Galena, OH
• E. M. Casey -NY, NY
• Van Chu- Salt Lake City, UT
• Paula DeSimone -Plainville, MA
• Valery Escobedo -Findlay, OH
• Denise Fulton- Austin, TX
• Nancy P. Gladwell- Old Lyme, CT
• Mark Hedengren- Provo, UT
• Beth Heit- Hewlitt, NY
• Jeanne Lauziere -Jensen Beach, FL
• Marietta Patricia Leis -Albuquerque,NM
• John E. Lewis- DeBary, FL
• Mark Linnemeier- Sugar Hill, GA
• Jane Magarigal -Redding, CA
• Angela Piehl- Stillwater, OK
• Chiquna Shahied- Brooklyn, NY
• William Stoehr -Boulder, CO
• Dan Tulk- Chantilly, VA
• Louis Venturello- Deltona, FL

Have a look around, and if you see anything you like, or anything that’s broken, please let us know?

Thank you, and there will be lots more to come.