A.P.E. Ltd. Gallery
126 Main Street
Northampton, MA 01060

Phone: 413.586.5553
Fax: 413.586.6819

Gallery Hours:
Tuesday - Sunday: 12-5
Friday: 12-8
Closed Monday

February 26, 27, 28
7:30 pm.
Reservations Recommended.
413.586.4820

March 6-31.  Opening Reception: Arts Night Out: Friday, March 9  5-8 pm.

Artists: Ali Osborn, Chelsea Granger, Louise Laplante and students of The Children's Storefront, a tuition free, independent school in Harlem, NYC.

What’s in a silhouette? A little or a lot?  The possibilities of this age-old artistic form will be explored by over 30 artists in an exhibition at the A.P.E. Gallery in Northampton during the month of March.  Included will be works by three local individuals as well as murals, wall constructions and short videos by student artists at The Children’s Storefront, a tuition-free, independent school in Harlem, New York City.

Many of the art works will explore the fascinating potential of an outline, shadow or silhouette to convey essential general information while allowing the viewer to fashion a more specific story.  Northampton artists include Chelsea Granger, who will be creating outline drawings running around the gallery walls.  Also Louise Laplante is exhibiting framed images that juxtapose striking animal and human forms against carefully selected antique book pages and letters, and Ali Osborn is executing a provocative free-hanging work for the space.

From pre-historic wall paintings to ancient coins and medallions to 19th century American portraits, silhouettes have been both scary and reassuring, timeless and up-to-date.  This show will encompass these possibilities and more through a range of media and styles.  The juxtaposition of works by 10-14 year old inner city youths with those made by older local artists will be a special feature of the installation.Along with the area artists, more than 30 students from The Children’s Storefront will be present to talk to the public in the gallery that evening.  

Gravity Waves: New Paintings

April 3 through April 15
Reception: Thursday, April 5: 5-7 pm

Relationships. That is the focus, at least while the work is in progress, ; what color next to which, what pattern or shape moves the piece along or hinders its (my) progress. What happens when the paint physically engages with the drawn shape - or is ignored -  or is obscured by it? What excites? What calms? What opens? What gathers?  What repels?  Often small changes answer large questions.

I work through the relationships and the mood that those relationships engender with much patience, as these works often take a while to reveal themselves.

Sure, I wanted to have a painting - I’m not innocent of that lustful thought - of the aggressive action, but the result of that act is a progeny of uncertain parentage and an entity that in no small way, gave birth to itself. And it is finished only when the painting rejects further parenting - rejects further attempts for me to have a say.

Then are the paintings, after they’re completed, about relationships and moods and intentions -  or are they wide open to interpretation?  Because there is no obvious “subject” does that leave only the process?  I just cant be sure - because on any given day even I might answer the question differently. But, no matter, this exhibit offers you the opportunity to engage with the work as you will, and to personally add to it’s potential for content or sensation.

More information on Chuck Stern.