'Magical Realism' at Abington Art Center

Tuesday, 11 September 2007 00:21

JENKINTOWN, PA – Magical Realism You may not believe what you see...The artists in the fall group exhibition at Abington Art Center use allegory, fantasy, and myth to convey a sense of "otherworldliness." Nature is often predominant and people, places and things take on heightened presence beyond the literal realm. On exhibition through 24 November, 2007.

With roots in 1920s Europe, magical realism initially described painters trying to show reality in new ways. Unlike surrealism which focused on the subconscious world, in the work of these artists, magic is inherent in everyday reality—events that seem impossible are commonplace, and common things are not as they first appear. Perhaps best known as a literary genre, works of magical realism employ skillful time shifts, convoluted narratives and plots as well as elements of myth and dream represented in conventionally realistic terms. The results are artworks rich in imagery and meaning that challenge our definition of reality.

ABOUT THE CURATOR:

Amy Lipton has been active as a curator, gallerist and writer since 1986. She has curated numerous exhibitions and written for books and publications. Lipton also organizes and participates on panel discussions and lectures internationally. From 1986 to 1995, she was the owner and director of Amy Lipton Gallery in New York City where she exhibited and represented the works of artists Polly Apfelbaum, Sue Williams, Amy Sillman and Mel Chin, among many others. In 1999 Lipton became Curator for Ecoartspace, a New York and California based non-profit organization dedicated to raising environmental awareness through the arts. In June 2002, Lipton’s curatorial project "Ecovention," co-curated with Sue Spaid, opened at the CAC in Cincinnati, Ohio. Lipton joined Abington Art Center in November 2004 as Curator of Exhibitions and Sculpture Park in Jenkintown, PA.

Abington Art Center (515 Meetinghouse Road, Jenkintown PA 19046) is a non-profit cultural center in suburban Philadelphia. AAC is dedicated to providing opportunities for its many audiences to experience, appreciate and participate in the arts at whatever level they choose. AAC engages visitors, artists and students with its sculpture park and gallery exhibitions of today’s artists, studio art classes, and public programs. The Center is located in Jenkintown at the intersection of Meetinghouse and Jenkintown Roads and receives operating support from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, the Philadelphia Cultural Leadership Program of The Pew Charitable Trusts, Independence Foundation, Philadelphia Foundation and the Beneficia Foundation. Gallery hours: Tuesday through Friday, 10am to 5pm; Thursday until 7pm; Saturday 10am-3pm; free to the public. Visit : www.abingtonartcenter.org/