A Happy New Year!

Full Moon Rabbit Lamp by Yoshiaki Yuki

Pure Silver Glaze on Clay

(Available at gallery gen: contact us at inquiry@gallerygen.com)

We would like to sincerely thank you for your support of gallery gen over the years. We hope everyone’s year 2011 is filled with love, joy, and happiness.

We look forward to seeing you at our exciting events in 2011!

gallery gen

Please wish your loved ones a happy new year with Yoshiaki Yuki’s original greeting cards. These cards are available for download at www.yoshiakiyuki.com/whatsnew.html

Complimentary New Year's Greeting Card by Yoshiaki Yuki

Once again, our main artist, Yoshiaki Yuki, has generously provided us with complimentary greeting cards of his original design. Click on the following link and download his original greeting card to wish your family and friends a happy new year!

www.yoshiakiyuki.com/whatsnew.html

Original Design I - "Enjoyment"

Original Design II - "Rising Sun"

Original Design III - "Enjoyment"

2011 is the Year of the Rabbit, the fourth sign in the Chinese Zodic cycle. It is the sign of sensitivity, compassion and creativity. The gallery gen staff as well as Yoshiaki Yuki would like to extend our best wishes to you for a beautiful and peaceful new year.

 

Happy Holidays!

gallery gen

Winter Table and Gift Show

Starting December 3rd, gallery gen will be holding its annual Winter Table & Gift show. Gallery gen’s wide selection will be sure to inspire you with many great holiday gift ideas. 

2011 Calendar by Yoshiaki Yuki

This time, our featured gift items are our specially selected tableware sets and our main artist Yoshiaki Yuki’s 2011 Original Calendar.

Each calendar is individually hand-painted by Yuki with his original Ji-Sho-Ji-Ga design. Each design represents different Japanese kanji character. You will be sure to find a unique character that’s perfect for your family and friends.

•　•　•　•　•　•　•　•

It was the final day of the MacKenzie – Warren & Nancy MacKenzie and Midwest Potters Exhibition, and we would like to thank those of you who attended. Whether you stood in the long line on opening night or came to Long Island City, an exhibition like this cannot have taken place without your enthusiastic support.

Mr. MacKenzie once said, “My favorite pots are those that have allowed me to discover their surprises and hidden beauty only after many years of daily use.” If you have acquired a piece of his, please put it to use and have it become a part of your daily life.

All purchased pieces are ready to be picked up at our Long Island City
showroom. If the piece is to be sent by mail, all shipments are scheduled to go out during the first and second week of December. 

- Location -

47-09 36th Street

Long Island City, NY 11101 

- Access -

Directions to gallery gen 

 

Please visit www.gallerygen.com for further information,

or contact gallery gen:
718-392-7717 or info@gallerygen.com

 

Save the Date: November 5th, 2010 - Warren & Nancy MacKenzie and Midwest Potters

 

Exhibiting Artists

W a r r e n   &   N a n c y   M a c K e n z i e

R o b e r t   B r i s c o e ,    R i c h a r d   C o o t e r ,   P a u l   D r e s a n g ,

M a r e n   K l o p p m a n n ,   a n d   J e f f   O e s t r e i c h

 

200 vessels made by the legendary 86-year-old studio potter Warren MacKenzie will be exhibited in New York November 2010. gallery gen is looking forward to once again welcoming all those who so enthusiastically support MacKenzie's work and will provide a rare opportunity to acquire one MacKenzie piece (per person) from the 200 on exhibit. Artists including Warren MacKenzie will be present on opening night.

gallery gen also selected over 100 additional works of  five other prominent ceramicsts from the Midwest  to be exhibited, together with the works of fiber artist Nancy MacKenzie. (Left: Visitors lining up outside gallery gen hours prior to opening for the MacKenzie Exhibition in 2007)

gallery gen will be sending official invitations via e-mail with details on location and time in the coming weeks. For additional information contact gallery gen at info@gallerygen.com or 718-392-7717.

Photos from Past Exhibition at gallery gen:

"Nancy & Warren MacKenzie and Midwest Potters 2007"

Book signing and a gallery talk by Warren MacKenzie

gallery gen, TriBeCa filled with enthusiastic collectors and fans

Guests choosing their one MacKenzie ceramic

  

Exhibiting Artists:

Warren MacKenzie

 

“My favorite pots are those that have allowed me to discover their surprises and hidden beauty only after many years of daily use,” says Warren Mackenzie. The exhibition will feature his functional “Mingei-sota” works designed for everyday use, and will include his representative "drop-rim" bowls. MacKenzie hopes that once his ceramics leave the gallery, they will be put to use and become a part of one's daily life.

Nancy MacKenzie (Left: Nancy MacKezie at gallery gen in 2007) enjoys the challenge of improvising techniques to solve the engineering and aesthetic problems that emerge during construction as well as the process of transforming mundane materials into unique and ambiguous forms that are subject to individual interpretation. Each becomes a one-of-a-kind piece that is designed to engage the eye for many years. Major collections include the Goldstein Museum of Design, St. Paul, MN, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, Issey Miyake, Tokyo, Japan, Minnesota Contemporary Crafts Collection, Minnesota ociety Museum, St. Paul, MN.

Robert Briscoe (Right: Briscoe's ceramic display from "Warren MacKenzie and the Midwest Five" at gallery gen in 2006) has been working in clay for over 39 years. MacKenzie says his simple robust stoneware with little decoration “allows the glaze to speak for the pots.” Briscoe’s work is included in the collections of the Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis, MN, the Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI, the Margaret H. Harlow Collection at Bemidji State University, Bemidji, MN, Minnesota Historical Society Museum, St. Paul, MN, and The Bindley Collection Gallery, Middleton. WI.

Richard Cooter (Left: One of Cooter's latest work which will be exhibited at "MacKenzie" in November) has a remote studio in the woods of Northern Minnesota. He follows the tradition in which making a pot is a collaboration among clay, fire, potter and user. All of Cooter’s work is wood fired, functional, and very strong with casual throwing and glazing. “Cooter accepts the accidents of the fire and exploits them,” says MacKenzie.

Paul Dresang (Right: Dresang's ceramic display from "Warren MacKenzie and Midwest Potters" at gallery gen in 2007) is primarily interested in the gesture of working the clay with a concentration on shape and various surfaces. Some of these surfaces come naturally through the making of the pot and others are applied after the forming. Dresang’s work is included in the collections of the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art, Logan, UT, the Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, Minneapolis, MN, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, CA, The Mint Museum of Craft + Design, Charlotte, NC, the Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI, the Renwick Gallery, Washington, DC, Southern Illinois University, IL, Taipei County Yingge Ceramics Museum, Taipei, Taiwan, among others.

Maren Kloppmann (Left: One of Kloppmann's latest work which will be exhibited at "MacKenzie" in November) lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota where she maintains a studio. “Kloppmann creates very severe crisp forms with a strong contrast in geometric decoration,” says MacKenzie. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally with solo exhibitions at galerie b15 in Munich, Germany, at Red Star Studios, Kansas City, MO, at AKAR Gallery, Iowa City, IA, and at the Rochester Art Center, Rochester, MN. Her work is in collections at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, the Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum, Northern Clay Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota and the Mudgee Arts Council in Australia, among others.  

Jeff Oestreich (Right: Oestreich's ceramic display from "Warren MacKenzie and Midwest Potters" at gallery gen in 2007) was trained at Leach Pottery in England. His work is carefully potted influenced by Art Deco of the 1930’s. His curved and painted decorations create an “extremely strong contrast both in shape and color,” says MacKenzie. His recent solo exhibitions include Green Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand, AKAR Gallery, Iowa City, IA, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI.

 

For additional information, contact gallery gen at 

718-392-7717 or info@gallerygen.com.

 

SOFA New York 2010 : outside gallery gen booth

In this post we step out of our booth to walk through the show. We will select a handful from the exhibit and invite you to see which pieces sold at SOFA New York 2010. Through the ticket counter we enter the show...

above: This year again we are welcomed by the Venetian glass of Lino Tagliapietra (76) represented by Heller Gallery (NY).

above:  This year the show floor was predominantly white walled. The show floor had an overall gallery-feel, with the pockets of colored booths standing out. 

above: One example was Joan B. Mirviss Ltd (NY), each year selecting a wall color to match her solo exhibition of the finest contemporary Japanese ceramics.  Everyone came with expectation, and she answered their call with an impressive body of work titled "reflections on nature" by Shoko Koike (67); ranging from $2~3000 to over $20T, they sold 23 pieces "withing 30 minutes of the show's opening" - according to SOFA.

above: Galerie Besson (UK) featured four Finnish ceramicists. The selected piece here is vessel by Kati Tuominen-Niittyla. Mistaken for rusted iron, the surface texture is coarse, but it's form so elegant. Silent but strong. Its presence humble, and would be a great piece for an ikebana practioner ($9,500). No Red dots could be seen by Monday, so perhaps they will return to London once the Icelandic ash has settled.

above: Five rare Warren Mackenzie pots could be seen (immediately sold) at Lacoste Gallery (MA). Lucy Lacoste said that these pieces were specially prepared for SOFA by the 86 year-old master.
below: Another selection from Lacoste Gallery (below) is a mechanical object which looked to be the product of nature after years of weathering. American artist Tim Rowan is traditionally trained in Bizen, and now works in New York. This piece looked to be returned to the gallery.

above: Korean artist Jaehyo Lee (45) brought an amazing chair made out of logs apparently weighing over 1500 lbs - Cynthia Reeves (NY).

above: Browgrotta Arts (CT) with Dutch fiber artist Marian Bijlenga (56), a small beautiful wall piece made of cotton, paper and horse-hair ($4,000 SOLD).

above: As with all SOFA shows, it is easy to find amazing glass art.  Seen above is the work above is by Toshio Iezumi (56) represented by Chappell Gallery (UK).  The glass is layered in such a way as to reflect and refract light within the piece. On the contrary, the object itself is stripped of expression, getting less and less figurative each year said the director of the gallery. This would look wonderful on a window seal at full moon, for the pattern of light within the art work will change quietly as time passes.  A couple of the tall standing piece could be seen with a Red dot.

above: Katie Jones (UK) had fine works of contemporary Japanese metal. Bronze lidware by Koji Hatakeyama (54) were pretty much all sold as the artist was there during the four day exhibition. 

below: Two copper pieces by Toru Kaneko (48) were stunning, a cool feel perfect for a summer house.  No Red dots present, however, it should be a matter of time.

above: Ten472 Contemporary Art (CA) had local artist Elisabett Gudmann paintings on copper which resembled the taste of antique lacquer on a contemporary medium.  The wall piece behind the horse sold.

above: The last selection is the larger than life porcelain jars made in China by the English Felicity Aylieff (56) was featured by Clare Beck at Adrian Sassoon (both sold). The combination of glazed and unglazed blue and white was a refreshing idea, but its overwhelming size was quite impressive. A video interview at the show with the artists can be seen here: http://www.sofaexpo.com/NY/2010/live/video/Felicity_Aylieff.htm.

above: The SOFA New York 2010 catalog can now be viewed online: http://www.sofaexpo.com/NY/2010/catalog.htm .   
below: For a more comprehensive list of the art work sold, visit the official site with over one hundred photos of a selected pieces sold at SOFA New York 2010: selected sold artwork

VIP Preview Photos (click here)
Jack Lenor Larsen (left), Marl Lyman (right)

Opening Preview Night Report: SOFA NY 2010

This blog will be updated throughout the fair to find beauty and answer the question which art is being sold at this year’s SOFA New York ? This first edition will report last night’s VIP preview party and introduce the high-light exhibit by New York’s gallery gen.

In their fifth year at SOFA New York, gallery gen was relocated to center stage with a grand view of the massive new work by Yoshiaki Yuki being shown for the first time in New York. Contrasting to these giant reversible twelve-panel screens were his latest works on clay and silver; 46pcs of hand carved tea bowls “stone” which he said he prepared specially for this exhibit. They are just like the first flowers of Spring just waiting to be picked ~ ($95.00/pc)

Many of New Yorks top architects and designers could be seen, immediately reacting to these sculptural screens; their dynamic design for one, but also their unique functional aspect. The artist aimed to achieve a screen which would act to uneven the so often cubic look to the home environment - said Yoshiaki Yuki, who is currently in Kyoto for his current solo exhibition ($10,000). The abstract images representing “regression” (kai-ki) are symbols of the sun and the moon which returns to the sky day in/night out, but still shines our lives with subtle new experiences each time.

Just returning from his exhibit at the Institute of Textile and Clothing in Hong Kong, the fiber art magician Jun-ichi Arai also prepared several new pieces for the show. These includes his classic crush textiles in Black (SOLD) and his more recent Transperancy and Reflection series with the crinkled Gold wall hangings; their half tranparent design making them look almost like glass ($1800). His collaborative work with artist Yoshiaki Yuki of two wall hanging surcoats are also here at SOFA. Inspired by the 16th century battle surcoats jinba-ori worn by the Fuedal Samurai Lords, the purple-black and silver is crested with Yuki’s “enjoyemnt” (Raku), and the gold with “beauty”(Bi) ($2600/pc).

gallery gen has also selected smaller but nonetheless wonderful picks of contemporary Japanese ceramics could also be found at gallery gen’s exhibit. The 37year old Hajime Tamura had two works of porcelain; the white hakuji vessel had a coarse mat finish almost as if clay, but still maintaining the sharp quality of the porcelain clay ($500). Goro Suzuki, the only artist in our time who is able to recreate true 16th century Oribe had his Kuro Oribe Bowl with his signiture squiggled sketch of crows ($11,000). An animal like creature by Masayuki Yamashita is a wood fired ceramic from Yakushima, the island off the tip of southern Japan; a sculpture which has a function as a sake pitcher ($110).

Screens by Bokuma

Left: "Moon and Cherry Blossoms" Right: "Immortal Cranes"

Outside gallery gen booth, the SOFA show offers many fine standing and wall-hanging sculptures, clay seeming to gain a growing popularity. In the following days, we will walk through the SOFA exhibit to select other fine works of art by dealers and see what has been sold.

General Admission Hours
Fri. & Sat., April 16 - 17 11am - 7pm
Sun, April 18 Noon - 6pm
Mon., April 19 11am - 5pm

Park Avenue Armory
Park Avenue at 67th Street

New York, NY 10021


For further information, please contact gallery gen:
718- 392-7717
info@gallerygen.com
www.gallerygen.com


SOFA NY Website
http://www.sofaexpo.com