By Arielle Altman
(Beacon) - On Saturday August 12th, Beacon artist union (b.a.u) hosted an exhibit by artist Vivian Altman to honor Second Saturday, the monthly city-wide celebration of the arts when galleries and shops stay open later and feature special events. The exhibit, entitled “Same Mother Different Children,” includes Altman’s most recent abstract paintings which will be showing at b.a.u on 161 Main Street in Beacon until September 4, 2006.
Over 100 people attended the opening reception for Altman’s exhibit, which began at 6 p.m. and lasted until almost 10. Many of the guests who came to view the work included members of the Beacon community, as well as families from Newburgh, where Altman teaches art at Fostertown ETC Magnet School. Other attendees were from New York City, from which the art scene in Beacon is gradually drawing a greater crowd.
Altman received a very positive response to her 18 oil paintings on canvas, which all display her signature style of lyrical colors and textures. “It’s wonderful to get feedback and hear how people feel about your work,” she said. “People are telling me that the paintings make them feel good, and are uplifting. I really couldn’t ask for a better reaction.”
The title “Same Mother Different Children” refers to her new paintings which, although reminiscent of the creative process she used for past works, are entirely fresh and innovative.
“Although this work is very different from my older pieces, I realize that they all come from the same place, and that is what makes all my pieces speak the same language,” Altman said.
Although Altman has shown her work at several locations, including New York Brooklyn Museum Art School, Woodstock Art Gallery, Vassar College, and The Class of 1929 Art Gallery at Eisenhower Hall, this is her first solo exhibit in Beacon. She joined the cooperative gallery b.a.u in December 2005, and has since shown in group exhibits there. On Sunday, on August 20th at b.a.u, Altman gave a gallery talk at 3 p.m. about her art and the process behind her paintings.
For the next Second Saturday, Harald Plochberger will be exhibiting at b.a.u on September 9th, 2006. Plochberger is one of the founding members of b.a.u. For more information on him, or other b.a.u members, visit www.beaconartistunion.com.
