Opening reception on July 1
An exhibit of new pastels by Sheilah Rechtschaffer, entitled Threads, will open on Friday, July 1, at Buster Levi Gallery in Cold Spring with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. It will run through July 31.
A recent rediscovery of her 1994 painting, Fire in the Lake, establishes the theme of the exhibit. It reminded the artist of an Asian mountain range, a lake aflame, and calligraphic mark making, tied to events and travels, executed in loose and brushy high keyed colors, which together dramatically changed the direction of her work. In this exhibition the recurrent theme is fire and water.
Rechtschaffer has been making pastel drawings for decades using a process that employs vigorous expressive lines and space in brilliant colors developed through multiple layers. She uses her own recycled and resurfaced papers, which create a base of rich muted color and textures that are imbued with the echoes of previous mark making, suggesting a “thread” of history.
The Buster Levi Gallery is located at 121 Main St. It is open from noon to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday. For more information, visit busterlevigallery.com.
