Sharon who lives in Connecticut will be exhibiting work that developed from her time working at the Habitat for Artists enclave at Spire Studios last Summer. Here's her statement for this exhibit:
Beacon Paintings
For four months last summer, I spent Mondays in Beacon, NY, working quietly in a solitary 4' x 5' shack. I had heard of a project called "Habitat for Artists" from Chris Albert, a blogger I met during the Blogger Conference at the Red Dot Fair back in March. "Habitat For Artists" was organized by artist Simon Draper, who built twelve small sheds on the grounds of Spire Studios and invited a group of artists to use them for the summer. Traveling to Beacon was more time-consuming than working in one stationary location, and I painted less on days spent there. But by expanding my world, the shack helped enrich my work.
At the beginning of the summer, I was entering a transitional phase, unsure where I was going but confident that the discipline of daily practice would lead somewhere. Though known mainly for Flavin, Lewitt, and Serra's resolutely intellectual brand of minimalism, Dia:Beacon, just a few blocks from my little shack, was featuring installations by colorists Blinky Palermo and Imi Knoebel, which impelled me to consider color more intensely than I ever had before. As the summer unfolded in my shack, I extended the limited, austere palette I'd been using for years to include the entire spectrum.
This series of small paintings is the result of my time spent in Beacon. Their scale, handmadeness, and intuitive form constitute an emotive and spontaneous counterpoint to the cerebral and exhaustive exploration of mathematical and geometric constructs and the meticulous experimentation with industrial materials predominantly showcased at Dia.
Sharon Butler
2009
Sharon will be exhibiting her work on the fourth floor and she'll be joined in the carriage house by EJ Hauser, Molly Herman. Sculpture by Mary Ellen Scherl will be in the garden, and Rosanna Bruno will be in the main gallery. John Davis Gallery is located at 362 1/2 Warren St in Hudson. The exhibits run from May 28 to June 21. There will be an opening reception on Saturday, May 30 from 6-8pm.
Here are some images I shot of the carriage house last November when I went up to Hudson to see Martin Bromirski's exhibit Circus on Mars. This Summer space is incredible; full of character and atmosphere. It's a great environment to see work, and it's re-purposed, rustic nature serves as a suitable analog to the habitat environment that spawned the works Sharon is showing.
Above and below: Martin Bromirski's work
This cot and the Danger sign were both on the same floor as Martin's work. The presence of these two items added a whole "it rubs the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again" vibe to Martin's slash and glitter alien show.
Here Donald and Simon are working on the Flying Swine Performance Stage/Communitat. On Saturday, visitors will be welcome to adorn the structure with cladding of their own creation. Donald will be on stage, performing, somewhere between 3 and 5pm on Saturday.