Adjacent Spaces
Paintings by Karen Tashjian and Mark Lavatelli
Own View Through October 27, 2024
Exhibition Review
This was my first visit to the Burchfield Penney Art Center, and I went in with no real expectations. The exterior architecture is modern and impressive, complemented by intriguing exterior sculptures. I left completely delighted, especially by the "Adjacent Spaces" exhibition.
I have a habit of strolling through an exhibition before reading any summaries so I can form my own interpretations without being influenced by the artist's point of view. After my initial walkthrough, I then take a moment to read the summary and compare my thoughts with the artist's vision.
Burchfield Penney Art Center, Adjacent Spaces Exhibition (Credit Author)
The highlight of my visit was having the entire gallery to myself. It felt like I had the museum exclusively, providing a unique and uninterrupted experience. I could take my time to fully immerse myself in each exhibit, appreciating every detail without the usual hustle and bustle of other visitors. The quiet solitude allowed me to connect with the art on a deeper level, making the experience even more personal and memorable. It was a rare and cherished opportunity to enjoy the museum in a way that few people ever get to experience.
When I first explored "Adjacent Spaces," I couldn't help but notice the Richard Diebenkorn influence, which made me curious about whether these artists were inspired by the Bay Area Figurative Movement. It turns out they were. The colors, shapes, and movement in their works were mesmerizing. It was also intriguing to see how well these pieces were paired together. Even though their styles are different, it felt like the artists had influenced each other, creating a perfect blend of styles.
Karen Tashjian and Mark Lavatelli, each with decades of artistic experience in Western New York, have, in recent years, established their studios in adjacent spaces within the Niagara Frontier Food Terminal. Once hailed as one of the largest agricultural hubs globally, this complex, alongside the Clinton Bailey Farmers Market—launched in 1930—was a bustling epicenter for regional farm produce. Over the years, the terminal has transformed into a vibrant community haven, brimming with diverse businesses and artist studios.
Tashjian and Lavatelli share an enthrallment with the interplay between positive and negative spaces. Their works frequently juxtapose fragmented and solid hues, approaching abstraction as a deconstruction of reality. They both hold a deep admiration for the 20th-century artist Richard Diebenkorn, whose Ocean Park series from the late 1960s exemplifies a similar abstraction. Despite their shared inspirations, each artist's work remains uniquely distinct. Both are proud alumni of Cornell University.
In their side-by-side studios, Tashjian and Lavatelli engage in their artistic endeavors, layering paint and scraping it away to uncover the subtle remnants of earlier strokes. This technique imbues their work with rich, layered textures, reflecting their shared artistic interests. Their recent collaborative oil paintings are a testament to this symbiotic relationship.
Tashjian, a licensed architect and former educator in the Department of Architecture at the University at Buffalo, has also designed sets for numerous plays, including Shakespeare in Delaware Park. Her paintings often depict buildings weathered by time, with steel mills' skeletal remains standing as silent witnesses to a bygone industrial era. The interplay of sunlight on rusted surfaces, broken windows, and crumbling walls adds depth and texture to her scenes.
Lavatelli, a maestro of the encaustic medium, often integrates images of tree trunks and branches with geometric elements in his paintings. With over thirty years as a Professor of Art and Humanities at Medaille University in Buffalo and nearly fifty years of teaching art, he has also curated significant exhibitions. His notable curatorial projects include Wilhelmina Godfrey: A 40-Year Retrospective in 1990, Contemporary Iroquois Art in 1991, and AIDS: An Acquired Awareness in 1992. He co-authored Richard Diebenkorn in New Mexico, published by the Museum of New Mexico Press in 2007, and authored Awkward Beauty for the Richard Diebenkorn Works on Paper 1949-52 exhibition at VanDoren Waxter Gallery in New York City in 2016.
"Adjacent Spaces: Paintings by Karen Tashjian and Mark Lavatelli" brings together the works of these two painters, harmonizing the built and natural environments in their art. This exhibition explores the essence of adjacent spaces, celebrating those often overlooked or forgotten.
Installation Views
Installation Views
