Page 291 - Demo

Take A Trip Through The Looking Glass In This'Curious' Art Show In This Park Slope GalleryBY LUCY RECTORTo many lovers of art and literature, the adventures of Lewis Carroll%u2019s Alice, as she travels through the fantasies of Wonderland, are closely associated with the Alice books or the famous illustrations by Tenniel.But to a small group of artists in Brooklyn, the story of Alice reaches beyond the known and into the absurd, the comic and the surreal.In a juried exhibition entitled %u201cCurioser and Curioser%u201d at the Chameleon Gallery in Park Slope, these artists bring refreshing ideas to the classic themes of childhood and sexual fantasy that have made the Alice books a source of wonder for decades.%u201c I wanted to put together a show that had humor and would also satisfy my fascination with Lewis Carroll and his Alice books,%u201d says Carol Brys, juror and founder of the Chameleon Gallery where the Alice exhibition is on view through July 13.Brys emphasizes that she does not want the exhibition to be strictly illustrative, but is more interested in the absurd and dreamlike qualities of Carroll's literature. %u201cI wanted to see how artists could preserve, exaggerate or expound upon the Alice themes without relying too heavily on the literal Alice,%u201d Brys says.The idea of using literature in a show makes %u201cCarol Brys a pioneer of what%u2019s to come,%u201d says Joseph Healy, one of the artists in the show who believes Brys is helping to %u201cbuild a kind of family of artists in Brooklyn.%u201dBruce Whitaker, an artist originally from Michigan agrees that the theme for the show is unique, yet not too restrictive. %u201cI thought about the kind of work that would have the feel of Alice,%u201d Whitaker says as he described his award-winning drawing \has earned Whitaker and the two other artists an exhibition in the gallery this fall. %u201cKnight%u201d Whitaker explains, is a graphite and charcoal drawing based on the chess game in the Alice books.James Culhanan, another recipient of the juror%u2019s award, focused on his collage on the sexual tension that is portrayed throughout Lewis%u2019 work. Such items as a broken puzzle, a tea set and a photo of a child on a couch appear in a collage that highlights the dramathat emerged as Carroll struggled to let Alice become a woman.Some of the artists in the show lean more towards the humor in Carroll%u2019s literature. For example, China Mark, the third awardee, recreates in bronze sculpture the tiner, often strange, characters in Carroll%u2019s books, such as the bread and butter flies.Even humans can be part of the world of Lewis Carroll, proved artist Joseph Healy whose piece %u201cThe Walrus and the Gingerbread Artist%u201d includes a photograph of Healy as the face on the gingerbread man.%u201cI have always wanted to be a character in Alice%u2019s adventures,%u201d says Healy who wanted the people who visit the exhibit to relate to his piece.%u201cCuriouser and Curioser,%u201d TheChameleon Gallery, through July 13. Wed.-Fri., 1-7, Sat. 11-7, and Sunday, 11-5,428Seventh Avenue. Telephone 965-4583.Bach Is Back InUnitarian FestivalBoth vocal and instrumental soloists will be featured in the annual Brooklyn Bach Festival at the Chapel of the First Unitarian Church in Brooklyn Heights. The festival, in its sixth year, started June 30 and runs for four more performances, on alternating Mondays at 8pm.July 14 will feature Theodore Mook assisted by Elizabeth Rogers, pianist in a program of music by J.S. Bach, Beethoven, Martino and Prokofiev. Matthew Sullivan, oboe, will be performing with C. Bryan Rulon, synthesist, on July 28. Two August concerts will be featuring Judith Otten, soprano, and James Hamlin, trumpeteer, performing excerpts from Handel%u2019s %u201c Amadigi%u201d and music by Anderson, Bach, Hertel and others on August 11, and Julia Heyer, soprano, with David Anchel, bassbaritone in an all-German program of music by Bach, Mahler, Wagner and Wolf.The performances are at the First Unitarian Church, Monroe PI. at Pierrepont St. Tickets are $5 and TDF vouchers are accepted. For further information and reservations call (212) 787-0517.PHOT0F/ICTIONAUGUST 3 0 thFREEVideoMEMBERSHIPMonday - Friday9:30 - 8pmSat. 11 - 6pmSun. 12 - 5pmSERVING PARK SLOPEOVER 27 YEARS1 1 7 -7 th AVENUEBKLYN., NEW YORKl( t Prwklent ft Carroll St*(718)636-8100Concert, Playor Fair...If You%u2019ve Got an Event Coming, Make Sure It%u2019s in The Phoenix Up and Coming ListingsDeadline, hridav beforeThursday I%u2019lihHca/ion DayHelp to Fix Up Your HomeF in d It Every W eek in the N e ig h b o rh o o d S e rvice C la s s ifie d sStorytellingEvery Saturdayat ll am.Open Every DayC O U SIN A R T H U R 'S( H II D R F N 'S B O O K S H O PA ^ 82 MONTAGUE STREETBROOKLYN, NEW YORK 11201718-643-1232rC a ^ e 9Sollper.An A m erican D ining T rad itio n Since 1879.M in u tes fro m M an h attan in th e h e a rt o f h isto ric B rooklyn.37 2 F u lto n Mall n e a r B o ro u g h Hall For re se rv a tio n s call: 875-5181 M ajor c re d it c a rd s a c c e p te dr a S s - a i J kPARTYWARE! / y v w v ^Choose from a beautiful selection o fpaper and plastic plates w ith m atching cups, napkins, and table cloths,plastic cutlery, party favors andm oreA T W H O L E S A L E P R IC E S__ Visit The W arehouse AtBROADWAY SUPPLY COMPANY15 C ad m a n Plaza W est (O ld Fulto n St.)(between Front & W ater Streets. BrooklynT R 5 - 1 7 0 7M on. thru F ri., 1 2 -5 pmJuly 10,1986, THE PH O EN IX, Page 11