Last Rites Gallery Group Show "Song of the Sirens"

I managed to get out from my studio for art excursion time and a bit of other fun things last Saturday. Something to keep my spirit extra fresh and happy:) Last Rites Gallery had an opening for a group show entitled "Song of the Sirens" with so many talented artists such as Lilly Piri, Allison Sommers, Yoko D'Holbachie, Dan-ah Kim, Angie Mason, and more. The gallery describes itself as a home for artists that prefer to explore the darker side of their imagination. If you ever get a chance to visit it, you can totally sense that as soon as you step into the gallery. In fact, you can sense it right when you step into the elevator :)

The theme of some pieces in the show was dark, but it was more diverse. For example, Lilly Piri's beautiful drawing  "Flight of the Last Bumblebees"  is a reminder of the plight of bees around the world. Although researchers have suspected Nosema fungus and Invertebrate Irisdecent Virus as the cause of Colony Collapse Disorder, and may solve the sudden collapse, it's still good to be aware of that sad circumstance.  Allison Sommers' detailed painting "The Grave" also explores the darker side with the storytelling inspired by Dante, Inferno, Canto XIII. The exploration of the darker theme may not be apparent if you just take a quick glance at it. You have to pause and really take the time to see each element in the painting.

I got a chance to chat with Allison again. It's always a blast talking to her:)

Angie Mason was also in attendance, and she was really cool and sweet to talk, too. I saw several of her paintings last year at Last Rites, and I was happy to finally have met the artist.  DH and I also had a great time talking to some nice people in the gallery like Paola, Randy, and also Steve, the gallery's photographer.

I recommended you to visit the Gallery when you're in the area.

Last Rites Gallery
Hours: Tues-Fri 2-9pm, Sat 2-9pm, Sun 2-6pm
Phone: 212.529.0666
Location: 511 W. 33rd Street, between 10th & 11th Avenues, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10001

Some photos from the opening. You can see all of the exhibited pieces on Last Rites' website here
(all photos by David F. Luecke, © Alamanda Art. Original works © their respective creators. All rights reserved.)

 Amy Crehore

Vulnerable Seascape

oil on linen

 Dan-ah Kim

Reigning in the Night

mixed media

Catherine Brooks and Tamara Cervenka aka Isobel Milena

 Deus Es Cargot Machina

(each cover of the small book was painted with different subject matter. You can actually spin the key to reveal it)

 Detail

 Paola (from the gallery) also liked this one:)

 Lilly Piri

Flight of the Last Bumblebees

 Yoko D'Holbachie

Godless

 Tara McPherson

Cavalos Marinhos

 Angie Mason

The Proletariat's Breakdown

With Angie:)

 Miso

Prelude to Hylonome

 Allison Sommers

The Grove

Details

With Allison Sommers. I really need to learn how to pose in front of the camera from Allison:)

Leslie Ditto

Lush

Weather-wise, it was a beautiful sunny day in New York, but the wild breeze made it colder :) DH took me for late lunch at Olieng Thailand Restaurant, around 10 blocks from the Gallery. We had satay for appetizer and basil seafood fried rice for entree...ooh so yummy yummy yum. I ordered young coconut juice...so refreshing.  The flavor was similar to Indonesian food, and anything that brought me back home even for a bit, just made me happy ^_^

Alrighty, now it's time for Heidi to hide inside her studio and make some art:) I will post of stuff I've been doing in the studio pretty soon.

Some photos on our walk around Chelsea