The New York City Seminar and Conference Center has a new neighbor in the Flatiron District!
From October 7 through October 15 Pen and Brush, located at 29 East 22nd Street, hosted a series of events to celebrate the opening of their new Flatiron location, their inaugural exhibition “Domesticity Revisited,” and the launch of their online publications.
Since its foundation in 1984, Pen and Brush has been the only international nonprofit offering an outlet for women in both the literary and visual arts in New York City. Pen and Brush believes that “art and literature are vital aspects of the human experience.” They also assert that “art and literature created by women deserves to be recognized and valued on its merit.” It is their mission to showcase the work of excellent female artists and writers to a broader audience to effect change in the marketplace.[1]
One of the kick-off events included a talk and presentation on October 15th by Bina Sarkar Ellias, founder and editor of International Gallerie. The talk was held at the brand-new Pen and Brush Flatiron location. The space is stunning. Although open and airy, the gallery maintains an intimate feel with exposed brick, soft lighting, and beautiful artwork.
Upon entering the building, you immediately step into the current exhibition, “Domesticity Revisited,” which greets you with vibrant colors and rich textures. The featured artists, (Jee Hee Kang, Yun Koung Shin, Tricia Wright, and Michela Martello), share similar themes including: “spirituality, home, handicraft, and the steady transition of women out of the domestic roles previously dictated by societal norms, even while they recognize the importance of domesticity to the soul.” Curator Rick Kinsel describes how “considered together, these four artists seem to me an explosion of talent, imagination, and diversity.”[2]
Artwork from Pen and Brush’s inaugural exhibition “Domesticity Revisited.”
Pen and Brush had a warm welcome by the community with nearly every seat filled for the talk by Bina Sarkar Ellias. At the beginning of the presentation, I had few expectations; I hadn’t heard of the magazine or the speaker. By the end, I was more than pleasantly surprised. I was deeply moved by Ellias’s presentation and the beauty of International Gallerie. Ellias has a warm presence. Nevertheless, she conveys quiet strength, compassion, and an insatiable curiosity for human life.
International Gallerie is a bi-annual magazine that strives “to foster knowledge and understanding of diverse communities and their socio-political/cultural issues as interpreted through excellence in the arts and the written word.”[3] Ellias is like a one-man band. Or, more accurately, a one-woman band. She not only edits the magazine, she is the founder, designer, and publisher.
Each issue focuses on a different region of the world. Ellias has traveled to Poland, Nepal, Italy, Myanmar, Turkey, Japan, Israel, and Afghanistan among many other countries in order to learn about the culture and discover outstanding artists, often in quite remote locations. Gallerie believes that “culture is a vital thread connecting the world. It is culture that humanizes.” The most recent issue took Ellias to Taiwan where she was “delighted with the land and its people who squashed all stereotypical views.”[4] You can see artwork from this issue and others at www.gallerie.net.
Artwork from magazine International Gallerie.
Although a new member of the Flatiron community, Pen and Brush is already bringing people together to consider and discuss topics as important as gender equality, cultural diversity, and the power of art. I can only assume they will make a wonderful addition to this vibrant area.
If you are in the area, pop into Pen and Brush to check out their sophisticated gallery space and beautiful artwork! Or check them out at www.penandbrush.org. “Domesticity Revisited” is on view through December 30th.
[1] www.penandbrush.org/about
[2] http://www.penandbrush.org/articles/announcements/domesticity-revisited
[3] http://www.gallerie.net/index.html
[4] http://www.gallerie.net/index.html
NYC Theater News
Welcome Neighbor! Pen and Brush: An Artistic and Literary Hub
The New York City Seminar and Conference Center has a new neighbor in the Flatiron District!
From October 7 through October 15 Pen and Brush, located at 29 East 22nd Street, hosted a series of events to celebrate the opening of their new Flatiron location, their inaugural exhibition “Domesticity Revisited,” and the launch of their online publications.
Since its foundation in 1984, Pen and Brush has been the only international nonprofit offering an outlet for women in both the literary and visual arts in New York City. Pen and Brush believes that “art and literature are vital aspects of the human experience.” They also assert that “art and literature created by women deserves to be recognized and valued on its merit.” It is their mission to showcase the work of excellent female artists and writers to a broader audience to effect change in the marketplace.[1]
One of the kick-off events included a talk and presentation on October 15th by Bina Sarkar Ellias, founder and editor of International Gallerie. The talk was held at the brand-new Pen and Brush Flatiron location. The space is stunning. Although open and airy, the gallery maintains an intimate feel with exposed brick, soft lighting, and beautiful artwork.
Upon entering the building, you immediately step into the current exhibition, “Domesticity Revisited,” which greets you with vibrant colors and rich textures. The featured artists, (Jee Hee Kang, Yun Koung Shin, Tricia Wright, and Michela Martello), share similar themes including: “spirituality, home, handicraft, and the steady transition of women out of the domestic roles previously dictated by societal norms, even while they recognize the importance of domesticity to the soul.” Curator Rick Kinsel describes how “considered together, these four artists seem to me an explosion of talent, imagination, and diversity.”[2]
Artwork from Pen and Brush’s inaugural exhibition “Domesticity Revisited.”
Pen and Brush had a warm welcome by the community with nearly every seat filled for the talk by Bina Sarkar Ellias. At the beginning of the presentation, I had few expectations; I hadn’t heard of the magazine or the speaker. By the end, I was more than pleasantly surprised. I was deeply moved by Ellias’s presentation and the beauty of International Gallerie. Ellias has a warm presence. Nevertheless, she conveys quiet strength, compassion, and an insatiable curiosity for human life.
International Gallerie is a bi-annual magazine that strives “to foster knowledge and understanding of diverse communities and their socio-political/cultural issues as interpreted through excellence in the arts and the written word.”[3] Ellias is like a one-man band. Or, more accurately, a one-woman band. She not only edits the magazine, she is the founder, designer, and publisher.
Each issue focuses on a different region of the world. Ellias has traveled to Poland, Nepal, Italy, Myanmar, Turkey, Japan, Israel, and Afghanistan among many other countries in order to learn about the culture and discover outstanding artists, often in quite remote locations. Gallerie believes that “culture is a vital thread connecting the world. It is culture that humanizes.” The most recent issue took Ellias to Taiwan where she was “delighted with the land and its people who squashed all stereotypical views.”[4] You can see artwork from this issue and others at www.gallerie.net.
Artwork from magazine International Gallerie.
Although a new member of the Flatiron community, Pen and Brush is already bringing people together to consider and discuss topics as important as gender equality, cultural diversity, and the power of art. I can only assume they will make a wonderful addition to this vibrant area.
If you are in the area, pop into Pen and Brush to check out their sophisticated gallery space and beautiful artwork! Or check them out at www.penandbrush.org. “Domesticity Revisited” is on view through December 30th.
[1] www.penandbrush.org/about
[2] http://www.penandbrush.org/articles/announcements/domesticity-revisited
[3] http://www.gallerie.net/index.html
[4] http://www.gallerie.net/index.html