A Really Big Show
August 27, 2020 - By Joy Reed Belt
Remember the Ed Sullivan Show? It was the longest running television variety show in history. Broadcasting for 23 consecutive years, it is credited with helping launch the careers of both Elvis Presley and the Beatles. The sheer number and diversity of performers featured on the show was extraordinary. They included the Supremes, Maria Callas, The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones, Barbara Streisand, The Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, Janice Joplin, Isak Perlman, Pearl Bailey, Johnny Mathis, Ray Charles, Nat King Cole, Marian Anderson, Della Reese, Lena Horne, Mahalia Jackson, Eartha Kitt, and Leontyne Price.
Ed was not an obvious or particularly distinguished looking impresario. He appeared awkward on stage, his movements were jerky and when speaking he often strangled words. For instance, he pronounced “show” as “shew” when announcing: “Tonight we have a really, really big shew for you.” Yet, he was successful because, for the most part, he didn’t get in the way of his performers. He took care of the details and provided the artists with what they needed, including a world-class orchestra readily able to perform all musical genres. Most importantly the show offered real entertainment to every viewer regardless of preference or taste.
Occasionally, over the years, I have thought of the Ed Sullivan Show while arranging exhibitions for the Gallery. By my calculations I have curated and installed over 300 exhibitions since establishing the JRB Art at The Elms in 2002. Having no formal training in identifying and exhibiting artists, I figured Ed was as good a mentor as I could draft. If he could put on a block-buster show every week, I told myself that surely I could change out a gallery of just 8,000 sq. ft every month. So, for 18 years we have installed two or three shows each month with opening exhibitions that have historically occurred on the First Friday of the month. In January of 2020, we changed our program to present exhibitions every two months.
This past week, two of my exhibiting artists asked if I could make substantial changes to the Main Gallery for the 3-D life-sized images of people they have created. While wondering how I could have a safe, responsible and well-deserved Opening Exhibition for three extremely talented artists in this time of Covid, I again thought of Ed. What would he do? I think he would immediately say, “Yes! We can absolutely make the physical changes for your ‘shew’ and a safe way to present your opening.” Which is exactly what we have done. Instead of having our traditional First Friday Evening Opening Exhibition, we are expanding our opening for three days: Thursday, Sept. 3rd, Friday, Sept. 4th, and Saturday, Sept. 5th, from 11:00 am until 6:00 pm. Utilizing the software, SIGN-UP, we are asking our guests to reserve a time to visit our Gallery to enjoy the opening exhibit of “Continuum: The Indefinite Progress of Existence.”
“Continuum,” is an inter-generational show that features three well-known local artists: Denise Duong, Gabriel Friedman, and Rebecca Wheeler. Partners in the creation of art and life, Denise and Gabriel are expecting a daughter in November. Rebecca is Gabriel’s mother. Influenced by the cave drawings in France, she is presenting a series of archetypal and celestial paintings. Using a consistent palette as the unifying principle, she leads us down through history into the modern world with a series of abstract paintings.
With paper, paint, scissors and ink, Denise creates vibrant, detailed collages that reveal the narrative of nature, people and animals. Her universal characters are simultaneously dreamlike and realistic. Through the artist’s imagery the paintings communicate the wisdom and joy of the ages. Gabriel, also a master storyteller, has created a series of free-standing people and objects that compliment, expand and add an extra dimension to the messaging of Denise’s paintings.
I invite you to sign up and experience our “really big shew!”
Images:
Denise Duong Getting Ready for Her Upcoming Show at JRB Art at The Elms
Rebecca Wheeler, "Fairy Angel," 2020, Acrylic on Canvas, 20 x 20 in.
Rebecca Wheeler, "Ancient Family Dreams," 2020, Acrylic on Canvas, 8 x 8 in.
Gabriel Friedman and Denise Duong
Rebecca Wheeler
Denise Duong, "Once Upon A Time," 2020, Mixed Media on Canvas, 60 x 48 in.
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