BRIDGE GROUP ARTISTS EXHIBITION

IMAGINATION

The Edward John Noble Education Center at MoMA: October 4 ─ 30, 2011 The Bridge Gallery 300: Nov. 15 ─ Dec. 13, 2011

We dedicate this catalog to The Museum of Modern Art’s Community and Access Programs. Through the exhibitions, discussions and critiques during the MoMA partnership, The Bridge Group Artists’ desire to create has increased, as did their self-esteem. The sessions were life-changing. Thank you Francesca Rosenberg, Carrie McGee and Gordon Sasaki for always going beyond the ordinary and exceeding our expectations.

We also dedicate the catalog and exhibitions to three organizations that have contributed time and resources to promote the art and expand the horizons of the artists:

Thank you to the Educational Foundation of America for recognizing the importance of the work of The Bridge Group Artists. You have enabled them to keep growing, painting and exploring new artistic horizons because of your continuous support.

Thank you to the Peter Jay Sharp Foundation for your generous grant.

Thank you to Ricoh Americas Corporation for your generous contribution of printing the 2011 Bridge/MoMA Exhibition Catalog.

Acknowledgments

We appreciate the continuous support of The Bridge Board of Directors, Executive Director Dr. Peter Beitchman (who has encouraged our artists since the program’s inception 23 years ago), Deputy Director Dr. Robert Yankowitz, PROS Director Sharon Gold, Director of Housing Development Carole Gordon and Director of Development Ann Hyatt

THANK YOU

Elena Olivo, Photographer, for photographing The Bridge Group Artists work for 2011 exhibitions including catalog, invitation and slide show additions.

Bo Okuyan, Metro Framart, for framing “Imagination” and your generosity to our group over the years. Joshua Shenk of Arts In Mind for your recognition and support of The Bridge Group Artists. Pearl Paint Manager Dinah Alderman Rengel and Lee Nolan for your help and generous discounts for

art supplies. Alex Banks, Bridge Director of Maintenance and staff Charles Melella, Rawle Holas and Conrad

Nichols for your invaluable help on all our art exhibitions. Robert Moore, ultimate volunteer, whose generous nature and appreciation of The Bridge Group Artists

has made the printing of our 2011 catalog possible. Ro Lohin of the Lohin Geduld Gallery for inviting our artists to her gallery to see all new exhibitions and

for inspiring them through seeing and discussing art. Denise Gutierrez, Bridge Executive Assistant, who coordinated and put together all facets of the 2011

catalog. Erica Ciporen, Social Media Specialist, for your help in promoting Bridge Group Artists through social

media. Anthony Tozza, Director of MIS, and Charles Mak for all the help you have given us.

Front Cover NEW ENGLAND LANDSCAPE By Robert Kaplan Collage: Acrylic on Canvas

EGYPT ─ 2011 By Christopher Zavelo

Watercolor on Paper

IMAGINATION

“I close my eyes in order to see.” -Paul Gauguin

The Bridge Group Artists began twenty-three years ago under the direction of Judith Raskin Rosenthal, ATR. Many of the artists began with very little or no formal training. Eventually the group attracted individuals with some art education or experience. All have come to understand that the desire to create is in itself an expression of mental wellness and that—as artists—there is always room for growth.

Over the past year, MoMA's Department of Education and The Bridge’s Art Department participated in their sixth annual extended partnership. Through this unique collaboration, artists from The Bridge and their art therapist met with MoMA educators to explore new ideas and approaches to art at the Museum. Through guided tours and independent visits, the Group learned about the perspectives and techniques of a variety of artists. Back at their studio at The Bridge, the artists created a new body of work informed by their experiences.

IMAGINATION was chosen as the theme of this year’s partnership. Imagination can be defined as “the act or power of forming a mental image of something not present to the senses or never before wholly perceived in reality.” Putting these images on paper, on canvas or in clay provides a way for artists to understand and express themselves. At MoMA, we began by looking at some of the earliest works in the Collection to see how artists were championing imagination over reality and depicting their individual experiences of the world. Through two special exhibitions, German Expressionism: The Graphic Impulse and Impressions from South Africa: 1965 to Now, we explored the ways in which artists from different countries—and different centuries—commented on their social, political and private worlds through their art. In Picasso: Guitars 1912-1914, we examined and discussed Picasso’s material and structural experimentation.

Inspired by the techniques and approaches of the artists whose work they viewed at the Museum, the Bridge artists pushed themselves into new territory. They were encouraged to take their best work and push it further, to mine their imaginations and try new techniques. Their subject matter ranged from New York City to India to an imagined aerial view of Springfield—home of The Simpsons—and beyond, to animals and abstractions. Some began using color in a non-representational manner. Leaves were purple, lips were green and eyes red. Materials and tools were used imaginatively as well. One artist began repeatedly tracing the rim of a paper cup in order to form shells, snakes and abstract compositions. Another spoke of overcoming fears and being inspired by the newfound freedom that came with being aesthetically daring. Everyone explored new ground.

We admire and would like to thank them, for it is their talent and dedication that make this collaboration a success.

Carrie McGee, and Gordon Sasaki, The Museum of Modern Art Judith Raskin Rosenthal, The Bridge

After visiting Picasso: Guitars 1912-1914 at MoMA, artist Chris Zavelo created this work based on his memory of observing visitors in the exhibition.

PICASSO AT MOMA By Christopher Zavelo Watercolor on Paper

VAMPIRE BITE By Glenn Grancio Acrylic on Canvas

HARRY POTTER By Glenn Grancio Acrylic on Board

SPRINGFIELD ─ HOME OF THE SIMPSONS By Ira Brewer Graphite on Paper

MY MENU OF CHOICE By Ira Brewer Acrylic on Canvas

THE COOP-SELF PORTRAIT IN BLUE By Scott Zwiren Graphite on Paper

THE PEACOCK By Scott Zwiren Mixed Media

THE STORE By Francisco Ortiz Markers on Paper

THE SLAVE AND THE SHARK By Francisco Ortiz Markers on Paper

UNTITILED By Jennifer Gilliam Mixed Media

In Memoriam

These pages depict two of Jennifer’s many art styles, which ranged from realism to abstraction. She was wonderfully innovative, experimenting with food coloring, glitter, wood, glass and wire, along with traditional art materials. She was also a skilled jewelry designer, and her jewelry was featured in a trendy Upper West Side boutique. The MoMA partnership was a highlight in her life. After coming to MoMA she decided to go back to art school to refresh her drawing skills. Recently, she was featured in NY Portraits, a book about talented New York artists with disabilities by Gordon Sasaki. The book shows a beautiful photograph of Jennifer accompanied by a text that describes her close relationship with her daughter, Quentin. The group appreciated her talent, intellect and her interest in other people. I will always remember her generous spirit, as well as her extraordinary talent. We all miss her.

Judith Raskin-Rosenthal and the Bridge Group Artists

SELF PORTRAIT By Jennifer Gilliam Mixed Media

OPEN MARKET IN INDIA By Serguei Lanqetot Collage –Mixed Media

SELF PORTRAIT By Serguei Lanquetot Graphite on Paper

GIRL IN BLUE By James Sneed Acrylic on Board

PICASSO DESIGN By James Sneed Acrylic on Board

TYRANASAURUS By Michael Blamo Twisties Tissues and Acrylic

NEW YORK CITY ─ WEST 103 ST. By Michael Blamo Watercolor on Paper

LAUNDRY DAY By Patricia Doherty Oil on Canvas

PANTONE – MASK (Wearable Art) By Patricia Doherty Plastic Clay, Feathers, and Leather

SHELLS By Rosalia Silva Cups - Graphite on Paper

FLOWERS AND SNAKE By Rosalia Silva Cups - Graphite on Paper

STUDY OF A MAN By Robert Kaplan Acrylic on Canvas

HEMINGWAY By Robert Kaplan Acrylic on Canvas

LITTLE VILLAGE By James Sneed Graphite on Paper

THE GORILLA By Francisco Ortiz Markers on Paper

WHITE RACCOON MEDITATION By Glenn Grancio Acrylic on Canvas

Bridge Group Artists

Past and Present

Ira Brewer Louis Suzannah Hadron Helen Vibart Toussaint Nathan Berman Greg Dologlou James Sneed Diana Victor Hernandez Jennifer Gilliam Carmen Cara Leslie Adrienne Wilson Judith K. Bouck Linda Mayer Eloise Robinson Edria Gwendolyn Simms Serguei Lanquetot Rita Iashaieva Casey Tillman Patricia Doherty Caroline Blount Francisco Ortiz Glenn Grancio Valda Maida Marcia Glover Christopher Zavelo

Robert Kaplan Michelle Cheryl Bernice Lisa Joseph Melendez Wordell Alexander Jill Friedman Helayne Butler Calvin Fraley Isidro Astacio Scott Zwiren Yvonne A. Blanco Dillon Rickets Jayce Kim Shirley Hodges John Denson Wolf Quimet Rodriguez Madelyn Padilla Peter Brown Amburse White Christopher Gaskin Kimberly Ceasar Rosalie Clinton Olvis Ciprian Amy Berlin Michael Blamo Rosalia Silva Lauren Voorhaus

Back Cover BIRDS EYE HEART By Patricia Doherty Oil on Canvas

The Bridge’s mission is to change lives by offering help, hope and opportunity to the most vulnerable in our community through mental health and substance abuse treatment, housing, vocational training and job placement, healthcare, education and creative arts therapy.

248 West 108th Street New York, NY 10025 www.thebridgeny.org

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