Body As Battleground | Exhibition and Discussion | Hart Gallery 27 | FREE

This month is collaborating with to present a provocative and educational program during the Gallery's current exhibition featuring the human figure.

NOTE: most of the works in this exhibition deptict nude or paritally nude human figures. Indeed, this is precicisly what we will be talking about during the program described below. If you are uncomfortable with seeing and talking about nudity in works of art, this program is not for you.

DIALOG:ART is an ongoing series of facilitated discussions initiated by in 2018.

Each DIALOG:ART program examines a provocative topic of mutual interest to art lovers, art collectors and artists. The goal is to foster greater understanding and respect between those who purchase art, those who experience art and those who make art.

DIALOG:ART is not a presentation so much as a discussion. All attendees will be encouraged to particpate in a facilitated conversation about the topic.

The conversation will open with a high level overview of "the figure" in art history and the place of "figure drawing" in art practices. Then we'll dive right into a frank and open discussion of how the human body, gender, race and their depictions have become powerful and important themes in contemporary art.

Practicing artists and experienced figure models will be present in the room and will contribute to the discussion.

NOTICE: While our topic area might suggest a number of controversial political or legal issues we will NOT debate whether creative expression in this category is "right" or "wrong"; whether such works should be presented in public exhbitions; or if these sorts of works should be funded with tax dollars. Instead, we will focus our attention on what artists are trying to say with their works, how viewers and collectors feel about seeing and owning such works and other related topics.

A partial listing of our topic areas is shown below.

Attendees are strongly encouraged to walk through the current exhibition during the first 30 minutes of this program. Socialization during this time is also encouraged. Many of the works in the exhibition are offered for sale. will donate 10% of sales to the .

2:30 pm

Rome Celli, organizer of , will welcome attendees and introduce , co-owner of . will talk about the Gallery and the programs offered there as well as offer some background about the exhbition currently on display. Rome will then begin facilitating the discussion.

2:45 pm until 3:30 pm

DIALOG:ART is a facilitated discussion. It's not a presentation. Everyone who attends will be encouraged participate. We will learn from each other.

Here are a handful of related topics we may touch on during our conversation:

• A brief history of the figure and figure drawing;
• The importance of figure drawing to artists;
• The experiences of figure models and figure models as artists in their own right;
• How contemporary artists use the figure in their works;
• Experiencing representatinos of the figure in differnet formats & media (photography, sculpture, painting, etc.);
• Gender, gender identity, racial identity and the figure;
• Notions of "beauty" associated with the figure;
• Contemporary uses of the figure vs. traditional;
• Male gaze. Female gaze. White gaze. What is "gaze" and how to assess gaze when looking at the figure - at art;
• The explicit and implicit sexuality associated with the figure;
• Collecting art objects that feature the figure;
• How viewers experience and engage with art objects that depict the figure;
• Considerations when bringing works of art that deptict the figure into your personal or professional space.

The event is FREE and open to the public but attendees must register in advance here on Eventbrite.

The number of spaces at this unique program is limited due to the size of the space and the nature of the program.

Attendees do not have to be a member of or a customer of or an artist to present a provocative to come to the event or to join in the conversation. ALL will be welcomed.

• Sharon Lubkemann Allen
• Michael Armstrong
• Mia Schnabel Bell
• Alan Brewen
• JiP Couderc
• Eileen Della Costa
• Sarah C. Hart
• Axel Kairies
• Leslie Kofron
• Diana Loberant-Kaupa
• Barbara Palmer
• Jono Peterson
• Jeremy Shuman
• Mike Sikorski
• Sally Snow
• Anita Stanko
• Marco Rodriguez
• Kaitlyn Roney
• Enrique Viturro

(formerly Old Church Gallery) is a boutique private commerical art gallery owned and operated by Brockport native . and her husband Benton are lifelong Brockport residents, fully vested in the historic village. Brockport is their home and they have raised three children here. Sarah is formally trained in France (under Ben Long) and Italy (under Charles Cecil).

teaches the “Atelier” method (French for “studio”), “which means you can be re-creative in a classroom, passing on from one artist to another,” she says. “The best way I can teach you is to have you where I work and show you what I do.” main outlet for teaching the classic painting technique is at the Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester.

In 2008, had the distinct honor of copying the MAG’s Rembrandt painting “Portrait of a Young Man in an Armchair.” Visitors to MAG observed the creative process over several weeks. Sarah currently teaches three courses at the MAG: beginning drawing, portraiture, beginning oil painting, and drawing in galleries, learning to copy the Old Masters’ paintings.

Fast forward, in July 2019 the Harts purchased the building which included a former gallery and a retail store. They have initiated an aggressive building restoration process, along with developing and promoting the 9 working artist studios.

During restoration they discovered the building was once the old Methodist Church (circa 1840). Today the main gallery showcases works by local artists from the Rochester, NY area. Supporting local artists and providing a friendly facility to showcase work is high on a list of priorities for .

Host or Publisher Rochester Art Collectors