Adah Rose Bitterbaum, owner of the Adah Rose Gallery in Kensington, MD, kindly invited me to curate a section of her space for the annual "Carte blanche" art show. Adah Rose's gallery is a treasure chest of fabulous artworks and I had so much fun selecting a collection of artworks that would tell a visually interesting story and celebrate connections established through colors, shapes, and textures. Read on about my experience and be sure to visit the show through March 25, 2023.
I both create and appreciate art. In my selection of these artworks, I was drawn to abstracts - the focus on my own art practice. I find it so incredibly exciting to see how artists use the same color, how they alter shapes and explore forms, and how they generate textures visually and physically. The colors in this collection are limited - I wanted to highlight just a few - so you could enjoy in depth what can be done. There are beiges in paper and wood sculptures. There are blues in acrylics, watercolors, oils. Black and white textures make an appearance in intricate pen work and cut outs layered on top of each other. And of course, we need a pop of energy: reds come in both strongly and delicately.
In terms of art appreciation, I find art to be an essential vehicle for a curious and good quality life. What do I mean? I enjoy pausing in front of a piece of art and letting it 'speak' to me. Art evokes emotions and thoughts. It alters our mood: it may make us smile; it may make us reconsider an idea. Ultimately, art changes us. And change is part of life: really, the only true constant of our lives. I invite you to ponder change as you view the display. Do these artworks change in their relationships to others? Do they draw you in? Do they make you lean in or step further away? If you go see the show repeatedly, I promise there will be new discoveries every time. Hence, art captures change and change prompts our curiosity about life. It's a never-ending - and life-affirming - cycle.
In terms of art appreciation, I find art to be an essential vehicle for a curious and good quality life. What do I mean? I enjoy pausing in front of a piece of art and letting it 'speak' to me. Art evokes emotions and thoughts. It alters our mood: it may make us smile; it may make us reconsider an idea. Ultimately, art changes us. And change is part of life: really, the only true constant of our lives. I invite you to ponder change as you view the display. Do these artworks change in their relationships to others? Do they draw you in? Do they make you lean in or step further away? If you go see the show repeatedly, I promise there will be new discoveries every time. Hence, art captures change and change prompts our curiosity about life. It's a never-ending - and life-affirming - cycle.
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Participating artists include Wayson Jones, Alison Rash, Mary Freedman, Jessica Drank, Scott Hazard, Maggie Gourlay, Jordan Wine, Randall Lear, Wesley Berg, Brian Dupont, Meimei Chang, Jim Condron, J D Deardourff, Anton Coghlan, Ellyn Weiss, Michelline Klagsbrun, Christina Tenaglia, Martina Sestakova, and Sheila Giolitti. Below you may find the complete curated set-up. All artworks are available for purchase.
The Adah Rose Gallery is located at 3766 Howard Ave, Kensington, MD 20895. Please check the website for opening hours or call Adah Rose at (301) 922-0162 to make an appointment to view this art exhibition. Follow the gallery on Instagram to learn more about upcoming exhibitions and represented artists. Enjoy!
