1040 Rte 45, Pomona, NY 10970
845-354-8500
Open 9AM-5PM Daily
1040 Rte 45, Pomona, NY 10970
845-354-8500
Open 9AM-5PM Daily
September 25th – November 1st
Opening Reception: Sunday, September 27th, 2-4pm
Sculpture in the garden, when placed properly, is by itself a discovery. It introduces the viewer to someone else’s eyes. It begs the viewer to understand the framework he finds himself in. It demands the viewer to see himself as a part of a larger whole. It begs for interaction.
Down to Earth Living is pleased to host five artists whose work grows out of a symbiotic relationship with nature. The garden informs the sculpture as much as the sculpture informs the garden. Each of the artists included in the exhibition explores this interaction in his or her unique way.
Joan Harmon, “Soles” mixed media
In the case of JAMES TYLER’S powerful ceramic figure, her muscular body seems tightly coiled, all her energy poised to emerge like a seed pod into her full beauty.
JOAN HARMON’S installation pieces of repetitive feet are literally and figuratively foot paths in the garden. Their visual pun is arresting and unexpected when happened upon. Her cast vessels are more subtle. They stand as spiritual sentinels. Their sublime shapes implore the viewer to focus and see the beauty of forms in the garden.
The recent sculptural work by MARK ATTEBERY are “personal choreographic gestures in metal, capturing the elemental grace of a slowly unfolding natural world.” They are forged with traditional blacksmithing, formed into tendrils and combined into soaring free-forms observed in botany and astronomy.
Untitled Earthwork by Grace Knowlton
GRACE KNOWLTON’S sculptures are closed spherical forms of various materials – clay, concrete, styrofoam and paint, steel and copper. They are created by an ancient technique involving the laying on of hands.
Robert Adzema, Sundial, painted aluminum
ROBERT ADZEMA whose sundial sculptures are site-specific, designed for the longitude and latitude of each site reminds the viewer of one of the most important elements in the garden… the sun. By measuring the movement of the sun they, like the garden itself, show us the passage of time.
DORIS LAUGHTON’S sculptures uses extreme color and an exaggerated full-volume style to explore the complexities of the curve and the physics of water. The energetic, biomorphic, swooping, curving, looping, spontaneous forms all express images akin to a drop of water, the origins of life, as well as the graceful, sensual curves of the human body.
The garden was specially designed by the owner of Down to Earth Living, STUART LEVENTHAL, for this exhibition. Mr. Leventhal believes, “the garden is a living organism, ever changing.” Much like the composer who works with a fusion of sounds to create a symphony, with certain instruments growing into crescendo and then receding quietly for the next transition, the garden designer works with plants to create his symphony. There are many elements that are combined to build a garden. There is the land as you encounter it. You may wish to alter the contours or not but it is nevertheless the foundation that you must work with. There are the trees that will create the backbone of your garden. There are the shrubs that serve as foils for the trees and stones and there are the ground covers that will serve as the glue to connect everything in your garden.
Mark Attebery, “Twist and Shout” painted steel
The garden you are about to visit is an artificial construct. It is built as an exhibit to illustrate not only all the elements we have spoken of but also to introduce you to a variety of sculpture that will, we hope, challenge you to think of your own garden and how it might be enhanced with art.
NATURE’S EYES will be on exhibit at Down to Earth Living from September 25- November 1. Open 9 to 5 everyday. Located on Rte. 45 in Pomona, 1 mile south of Rte. 202, Exit 12 off of the Palisades Parkway.
ROBERT ADZEMA has created sundials and other sculpture in public plazas, schools, libraries, museums, memorials and private gardens. Public installations include:
MARK ATTEBERY received awards from the San Diego Arts Commission and The Ann & Gordon Getty Foundation. The American Ceramic Society included Mark’s recording of experimental clay instruments in a CD and book titled ‘From Mud to Music’. He teaches at Ethical Culture Fieldston School in NY.
JOAN HARMON has received an award in ‘New Media’ from the Biennial of Contemporary Art, Florence Italy. Recently she was awarded an Artist Fellowship from the Creative Glass Center of America. Harmon teaches at the City University of NY and New York University. Her work is widely exhibited both nationally and internationally.
GRACE KNOWLTON’S work is in private collections all over the world and many museum collections including:
DORIS LAUGHTON has exhibited internationally including:
JAMES TYLER is perhaps best recognized for his monumental ‘brickhead’ series. His work can be found in both public venues and private collections. Some of the public artworks include:
