Art
Art Exhibits
“The Flying Lesson,” by Joy Adams, is part of “Mad Sally with Things on Strings,” currently on view at Axom Gallery. PHOTO PROVIDED
We’re all mad, here “Mad Sally with Things on Strings” by Joy Adams THROUGH JUNE 28 AXOM GALLERY, 176 ANDERSON AVENUE, FLOOR 2 WEDNESDAY-SATURDAY, 12 P.M.-5 P.M. | 232-6030 X23; AXOMGALLERY.COM [ REVIEW ] BY REBECCA RAFFERTY
Many people who are labeled “eccentric” are simply living their lives defiantly unencumbered by meaningless norms — and in doing so, may find more soulfulfilling ways of moving through this strange trip. And these types can teach the rest of us a thing or two. The current exhibit at Axom Gallery showcases the engaging work of Joy Adams, who uses her remarkable artistic talent to tell the story of Mad Sally, and to peer at what’s found at the bottom of the garden. Though Adams serves as the model for her own work, the paintings aren’t really of her. A statement provided by the gallery informs viewers that Adams’ recurrent, madcap character, “Sally,” is partly autobiographical, “representing a composite of English characters from Adams’ childhood during WWII.” 16 CITY JUNE 4-10, 2014
Adams grew up outside of London with working class people — “bawdy, blowzy and laughing together in the face of adversity and hardship.” According to the statement, the depictions of Sally are “a theatrical narrative of Adam’s experiential observations.” The British-born artist had an early career as a Vaudeville performer with her brother, was a war bride who emigrated to the United States, took up painting in her 30’s, studied at SUNY Brockport, taught at Ithaca College, and is now retired, living and working in a renovated barn in Trumansburg. The pieces included in this show were created between 2003 and 2013, and many have been exhibited before in various venues, including at the Memorial Art Gallery’s inaugural Biennial Exhibition in 2004. Outside of the gallery space, we’re introduced to Adams’ work with the large painting, “Mad Sally Showing Me Her Big Pink Dress,” in which the childlike character is rendered mid-curtsey, also wearing black patent leather Mary Janes and her nearly-ever-present leather aviator cap. Staged within a spotlight in the inky darkness, Sally and a belland-bow-adorned pug wear the same expectant expression.
Nearby, two smaller paintings, “Tumbler” 1 and 2, are dark dreams of naked, broken dolls positioned awkwardly. Two formal-looking portraits of pups are also included right at the entrance of the gallery, including “Best Mac Daddy Vibes” featuring a prissy looking dog laying on his back, the red bow in his hair juxtaposing hilariously with its erection and lolling tongue. Inside the gallery space, “The Night Garden” depicts the complex, savage, utterly lovely world underfoot. The eyes are led around the picture through repetition of form — spiny caterpillars and the jagged leaves of thistle weed, fluttering petals mirroring moth wings, undulating worms and curling tendrils of grass. From the dark, bits of life wend toward the light; would-be prey navigate safely into shadow. A series of mammoth paintings follow, showcasing a subject not usually paid tribute to in such large canvases, which were traditionally reserved for royalty and other dignitaries. Here, we peek into a little old lady’s rich inner world, where memory and dream collide and form flowing vistas rife with private symbolism. In “A Long Wait,” Sally sits atop a brown paper package as if incubating a great egg. She’s holding a book and a sleeping pup in her lap, and wearing a far-inward expression. Bright shoelaces and bursts of violet blooms break up the field of faded colors, and Sally is thistle-haired herself, her witchy look underscored by a subtle broom set down in the weeds. A great span of time is represented in this pastoral landscape under an industrial sky — a factory brews its fumes in the distance, a dilapidated house leans in the middle ground. Everything about these works is intimate, our view zeroed in on emotional experience and a quirky, singular pathway. Unframed canvases leave the raw edges visible, with daubs of paint and notes scrawled on them. In the show’s namesake work, “Mad Sally with Things on Strings,” our heroine is simultaneously robust and fragile. Her monumental stature and sturdy feet are planted on the ground, her unabashedly soft flesh and veined legs bare. A slight smirk twists her gentle face, and Sally dominates well into an overcast sky. The strings are rings on Sally’s fingers, making her a sort of grandma puppet-master pulling the dewy spider threads which tether winged misfit toys, a goat, an insect, and an infant. continues on page 24
[ OPENING ] Aviv Café, 321 East Ave. Seeing God in the Environment. Thru July 20. Reception Fri. June 6 6-9 p.m. Carol Douglas. 729-9916. bethelcf.com/aviv. I-Square Visions, 693 Titus Ave. Irondequoit. What’s New with Arena. Thru July 10. Artist talks Tues. June 10, 7 p. m., Reception Thurs. June 19, 7-9 p. m. Gallery hours Mon.-Thurs. 10 a. m.-2 p. m., Sat. 11 a. m. - 2 p. m. 7380567. i-square.us. The Joy Gallery, 498 W Main St. 1,000 Words Inside the Eyes. Thru June 21. Reception First Fri June 6 5-7 p. m. 436-5230. joygallery.org/. Nu Movement, 716 University Ave. Acrylics Can’t Do That!. 7042889. numvmnt.squarespace. com. Rochester Contemporary Art Center, 137 East Ave. 6x6x2014. Thru July 13. 461-2222. info@ rochestercontemporary.org. roco6x6.org. [ CONTINUING ] 1570 Gallery at Valley Manor, 1570 East Ave. Celebrating Watercolor. Work by M. Wendy Gwirtzman and her students. Through Jun 27. Mon-Fri 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 770-1960. jboyle@ seniorsfirst.com. Axom Gallery, 176 Anderson Ave., 2nd floor. Mad Sally with Things on Strings paintings by Joy Adams. Thru June 28. Gallery hours Wed-Sat 12-5 p.m. 2326030. axomgallery.com. Before Your Quiet Eyes, 439 Monroe Ave. Photography by Stacy Lawrence. Thru May 31. Gallery hours: Tues, 11-4 p.m., Wed. 4-6 p.m., Thurs., Fri., & Sat. 11-6 p.m. 583-7851. BFYQUE@ aol.com. Books Etc, 78 W Main St Macedon. Three Magic Views. Thru July 30. Reception Fri. Highlights Abigail Simmons, Elaine Dow, and Kurt and Carol Schreiner. 474-4116. booksetcofmacedonny.com. Bridge Art Gallery University of Rochester Medical Center, 300 Crittenden Blvd. “Play.” urmc. rochester.edu. Bug Jar, 219 Monroe Ave. The Lobby Presents: Art Liquidation Sale with Ax. Through Jun 4. 8 p.m.-2 a.m. lobbydigital.com. City Hall, 30 Church St. Artists’ Breakfast Group “In the Loop” Thru June 23. 260-0726. cityofrochester.gov. Crossroads Coffeehouse, 752 S Goodman St. Crossroads Spring Art Show. Work by Rachel Dow, Paolo Marino, Kristy Totter. 2446787. rdow81@yahoo.com. xroadscoffeehouse.com. Cumming Nature Center, 6472 Gulick Rd. Nils R Caspersson: Rural Paintings. Through Sep 1. Wed-Fri 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m., SatSun 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 374-6160. rmsc.org. Gallery R, 100 College Ave. Treinta y Seis Puntos de Vista: Visual Work From 36 Photographers in Cuba. 256-3312. galleryr.rit.edu/. Gallery Salon & Spa, 780 University Ave. The Empty Center. Debut artwork by Pam Howe and photographs by Catherine MacWilliams. 271-8340. erikagallerysalon@gmail.com. Genesee County Park and Forest Interpretive Center, 11095