From wacky sculptures of little men with big body parts, to majestic oil paintings on canvas, the Sixth Annual Summer Salon Show at the Chamot Gallery features the best of the best among local artists.
It is Jersey City’s premier showcase of eclectic contemporary art and it runs from July 11 through Sept. 1. Visitors are welcome during regular gallery hours.
On July 11, the gallery held an opening reception for the show and it received a great response from the community, according to gallery curator Charles Chamot.
The show includes the works of eight photographers, three sculptors, and 10 painters, with each artist having two pieces up on the walls.
"This annual show has become a tradition and an eagerly awaited summer event, with showcased work by established and up-and-coming artists," Chamot said. "What’s great about the summer exhibition is that it mingles a large number of artists and their patrons who would not ordinarily meet."
Some of the pieces include Julia Griner’s silver print photographs of Italy. Her image titled "Village Elders" depicts traditional Italian senior citizens watching the streets in a city from a rooftop.
Bruce Morozko’s terra cotta sculpture "Circle of Friends," priced at $5,000, aims at representing a group of people holding hands in a peaceful way. It is a very fine sculpture that might look well as a centerpiece in an average American home living room, and at the same time it is fancy and artistic enough to belong in a gallery.
Other notable artists in the exhibit are Gregory Alexander, Anne Boysen, Chamot, Jim Doberman, Laury A. Egan, Charles Farless, Kathe Frantz, Nancy Golden, Rebecca Goyette, Julia Griner, Patter Hellstrom, Jan E. Kounitz, Jessica Lenard, Ron Morosan, Rikki Reich, William Rodwell, Robert A. Schaeffer, Takafumi Shimooka and Nancy Wells.
"We have an amazing group of artists in this year’s show," Chamot said. "They’ve all had shows in New York and worldwide."
chamotgallery.com
Chamot Gallery launched its secure purchasing web site on June 14, and it is already receiving more than 60,000 hits per month, said Chamot. The mission of the web gallery is to make original fine art available globally at affordable prices.
"Possibly the best thing about art in this new century, increasingly so, is the fact that it is not created exclusively by or for an elite audience," Chamot said. "The Internet is serving as a great creative expander, making the viewing and purchase of original art more accessible."
After the Salon Show, the gallery will prepare for the annual Jersey City Art Tour, scheduled for October.
Chamot Gallery is located on the fourth floor of 111 First St., in Jersey City. Its hours of operation are Tuesday through Sunday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. and by appointment. For more information call (201) 610-1468 or visit www.chamotgallery.com. – E. Mulero