Carolyn Newberger & Philip Gerstein
Painters Carolyn Newberger and Philip Gerstein approach nature from seemingly opposite directions, across the line that is supposed to divide abstraction from realism. Carolyn enters the forest with paints and watercolor notebook in her fanny pack and a folding stool on her back. She records in images and words the hidden treasures that she finds. In a studio, Philip finds form, rich texture, and emotive color as he creates vibrant abstract canvasses.
Though the seasons of nature inspire both artists, Carolyn finds her inspiration within the living forest. Through distillation and interpretation she moves in her paintings from realism toward abstraction. For Philip, as form and color emerge, he finds nature revealed within, drawing inspiration from ancient Chinese landscape painting and the rich achievements of 20th century abstract painters.
Carolyn Newberger, Everything is Interesting, watercolor and pastel_5.5 x 8 in. 2018
What perhaps most joins these artists’ work, is that they search for and find that living vibration, that pulse of life, clearly heard emanating from beneath the layers of paint before solidifying into form. Hung together in pairs in this show, their paintings converge and contrast, creating a dialogue of form, color and emotional impact.
Carolyn Newberger is an artist, musician and writer who came to art after an academic career in psychology at Harvard Medical School. She’s won awards from Watercolor Magazine, the Danforth Museum, Cambridge Art Association, and the New England Watercolor Society, of which she is a signature member. Carolyn writes and illustrates music and dance reviews in The Berkshire Edge, a Western Massachusetts newspaper. She is working on an illustrated book of essays, “Illuminating the Hidden Forest,” currently being serialized in weekly articles. Many of her paintings in this exhibition are part of this project.
Philip Gerstein, UpRising, oil, 30 x 24 in. 2016
Born and raised in Moscow, USSR, Philip Gerstein began exhibiting his work in the 1980’s with the Boston Visual Artists Union, after pursuing a PhD in Art History at Harvard University. He studied painting at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and Japanese calligraphy with Toshu Ogawa. Philip has been exhibiting in NYC, Provincetown MA, and very extensively in the Boston area, as well as organizing and curating painting and photography shows. His work has been reviewed, reproduced and praised in numerous publications, including The Boston Globe, ArtScope Magazine, and Art New England, and he is the author of the prize-winning essay, “Art of Color: Beauty in art comes in so many forms; art of color is a special case of it.” International Painting Annual 4. 1st. Cincinnati: Manifest Press, 2014.
Carolyn Newberger & Philip Gerstein: April 1-30 2020. Visit Galatea Fine Art at 460 Harrison Avenue, B#6, Boston, MA 02118, 616-542-1500. Gallery Hours Wednesday – Sunday 12-5pm or by appointment.
Please Note: Due to Covid-19 the gallery is open by appointment only
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