With only 6 more days until Christmas, it’s time to take a break from your ordinary shopping to see something extraordinary, the Holiday Exhibition at Gallery North in Setauket. With paintings and drawings by such gallery favorites as Christian White, Doug Reina, Paul Bachem, Eleanor Berger, Elizabeth Greaf, Ty Stroudsburg, Eileen Sanger and Joan Branca, you can’t go wrong. Notable among the paintings is one by Nancy Bueti-Randall, “Dark Red Roses.” This cheerful bouquet with orange overtones is set against a warm terracotta tile background that reminds me of Tuscany. Nancy paints with a light calligraphic touch, evident in her larger painting in the same room, “Late Summer Garden with Dahlias.”
Christian White’s small oil sketch on paper, “Phryne Anadyomene #4” offers an abstract gestural brushstroke in complementary orange and blue, balanced with white and neutral color. The title refers to the Ancient Greek artist’s model, Phryne, who would trade her time for varying prices. She asked Praxiteles for his most beautiful sculpture, not knowing which he really thought to be the best. She tricked him into revealing his opinion by falsely claiming his studio was on fire. Alarmed, he rushed to save the best works, “Satyr” and “Love.” Phryne chose “Love.” Phryne is said to have posed for “Venus Anadyomene,” or Venus rising from the sea. Throughout the nineteenth century, artists repeated Phryne’s characteristic pose, with one or both arms raised. Look again at this work, and you will see her.
Gallery North always exhibits the best of local woodcrafters, and this season’s show is no exception. Carl Siegel’s chess set and board, with contrasting light and dark stained wood, is magnificent. This rosewood and cherry hand-carved set made with 18th and 19th century tools and techniques, is the highlight of the exhibition.
Don’t leave the gallery without spending some time in front of Joseph Reboli’s wall-sized painting of autumn leaves. Reboli (1945-2004) was at his best when capturing the textures and colors of local scenes in oil on canvas. Stand for a while in front of this canvas, and you will be transported into this leaf-strewn space.
The Holiday Exhibition is on display through December 30, 2010. Hours are Tuesday - Saturday 10 to 5 · Sunday 12 to 5, and Mondays before Christmas. Gallery North is located at 90 North Country Road in Setauket. For more information, visit their website, www.gallerynorth.org.
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