Participating in "20 Women Artists Show' in Ashwagh Hall

For over 100 years, Ashwagh Hall has been the cultural center for art in East Hampton NY. Artists that have exhibited there include Jackson Pollack, Willem De Kooning, Lee Krasner, Jimmy Ernst, Ian Hornack, Robert Motherwell, Robert Indiana, Claes Oldenberg, Hans Kline and Fairfeld Porter, among others.

All of them gathered there, displayed there and argued their various philosophies of color and art. There are art shows at Ashwagh 52-weeks a year where many new artists in East Hampton -- still gather and share techniques.

On June 13, 2008 I was part of a show produced by Vito Sisti called "20 Women Artists." I decided to feature my most recent work, my representational abstracts based upon by trip to India that I call my Sari Series for short. Many of these paintings are shown in my previous post.

Here are some photos taken at the show:

Arriving at Ashwagh Hall

Me at the show

With noted abstract artist, David Geiser

With my Son-in-law and Philadelphia photographer,
Harry Roth, Esq. Harry helped me hang the show

With my son David Heller and daughter, Dr. Lisa Heller Roth

With my daughter-in-law Melissa Smith Heller & Harry

A Trip to India

Part of the reason you have not had a recent post to this blog is a trip I took to India for three weeks last October and November (and 3 more week to recover from jet lag and a bad drug interaction.) The Indian visit was one that I will never forget.

It's not just that India was a different culture to me, but it was an experience that required all five senses -- what materials and objects I touched, the smells of the spices and streets, the sounds I heard, the tastes of the food and of course, the sights I saw.

One notable visual aspect of Indian life is the colors of the Sari -- the universal dress of Indian women. Women are given many Saris by their family before they are married. The Sari is not just for "dressing up." We saw women working in the field, carrying manure for fuel, eating in a fancy restaurant, socializing -- all wearing beautiful and colorful Saris. And there are virtually an unlimited variety of colors (although some younger women will wear similar Saris as a school dress.)

Although, as you can see from my work, I have been painting abstract impressions of what I experience, I was intrigued with how I might reproduce my visual experiences of Indian women with Saris. I started painting a "Sari Series." In these canvases, I have been able to maintain some abstract images with representations of the women I saw and their Saris.

Saris at the Taj Mahal

Saris at School

Saris at a Market

Saris among Palms

Saris at the Milk Market

The two most recent paintings in this series are large 50" by 30" canvases. Those who have seen them are excited by them, as I am.

Nine Saris

Saris in the Sun

As memories of the trip continue to arise I may do more of these, although I still spend time on my abstract subjects -- as this recent painting called "Through the Glass Lightly" is an example of.