Group Exhibit of Paintings by Brooklyn Artists
June 2021
Gowanus Dredgers Boathouse
165 2nd Street, between Bond Street and the Gowanus Canal
Gallery Hours: Saturdays, 1-5 PM and by appointment
Artists’ Reception: Tuesday, June 8, 4-7 PM (*Rain date June 15)
Brooklyn, NY – When one hears “Gowanus” various images might come to mind: hipster bars, artisanal restaurants, the toxic Canal currently being dredged of “black mayo” thanks to its Superfund site designation, semi-industrial lots with heaps of scrap metal. However, for three Brooklyn-based artists - Susan Greenstein, Janet Pedersen and Ella Yang – Gowanus and the neighborhoods in its vicinity provide an incredible assortment of unique historic bridges, unusual architectural bric-a-brac, and even colorful gardens, all visually compelling and worthy of being painted. Simply Local showcases the singular style of each artist with views painted on-site as well as in the studio using watercolor, oil and acrylic paints. While their styles differ, all three focus on quotidian details whose beauty others might easily bypass without noticing. Together these paintings elevate what is simply local, here in Gowanus and beyond.
Susan Greenstein is a graduate of Pratt Institute and Queens College, and has attended programs at Art New England, Bennington College and Maine College of Art’s Feed Your Soul. Painting with watercolors, in the moment and on-site, is essential to her work. Her paintings are a visual diary of the cityscapes, street views, intimate vistas and cozy interiors that she frequents. A deep interest in pattern has been a constant inspiration for Greenstein. Her work can be found in private collections across the US, and she has exhibited extensively in New York City, New Hampshire and Delaware Fine Arts Museum. She is a member-artist of 440 Gallery in Brooklyn, NY, and directs the Young Artist program at the gallery.
Janet Pedersen follows in the footsteps of her family as a plein-air painter. Three generations have found inspiration in ‘chasing the light.’ In her words: “When a scene strikes me, I want nothing more than to set up my easel and paint. Through bold color, loose brushwork and an eye toward the dramatic, my goal is to capture a moment or detail that stopped me in my tracks. Whether my subject is a landscape, a striking building or an interesting person, I strive to keep my painting fresh and in the moment.” A member of 440Gallery in Brooklyn NY, Janet Pedersen’s work has been exhibited in solo and group shows, and is owned internationally.
Ella Yang, a first-generation Korean-American and native New Yorker, is a mostly self-taught painter. She favors traditional methods of oil and watercolor painting, especially working "plein air," i.e. on site with a portable easel. When not roaming the streets of Brooklyn or traveling to find painting motifs, Yang can be found at her studio near the Gowanus Canal. Her works are in private collections in the USA, Hong Kong, Italy, France, and Austria, and in a number of corporate collections. Three of her paintings were displayed at the U.S. Embassy in Geneva, Switzerland, 2014-18, by the Art in Embassies program of the U.S. State Department. She is honored to be in the book "100 New York Painters," by C.M. Dantzic, (Schiffer Books, 2006). Yang has exhibited extensively and has organized art exhibitions in and around New York City.
The artists will be taking turns attending the gallery on Saturday afternoons; in addition, visits may be scheduled by appointment.
EVENTS
Saturday, June 12th, 2-5 PM: Gowanus Canal Crawl, a fundraiser for Gowanus Canal Conservancy. 10% of artwork sold to passport holders for this event will be donated to the GCC. Learn more at https://gowanuscanalconservancy.org/canalcrawl/
Saturday, June 19th, 2-5 PM: Plein-air painting demonstrations. The three artists will be painting outside, along the canal near the Boathouse to demonstrate their techniques. (Rain date, June 26)
Please check the Gowanus Dredgers website (gowanuscanal.org) for rain dates. The artwork can also be enjoyed during other Dredgers events that are open to the public.
For inquiries and appointments to visit, please contact each artist directly:
Susan Greenstein, sgreenstein60@gmail.com
Janet Pedersen, janetpedersenartstudio@gmail.com
Ella Yang, ella@ellayangstudio.com
For event information: gowanuscanal.org