Chez Cary’s Salon is set in a beautiful, historical building, perched on West 110th Street off of Amsterdam Avenue. It’s almost like a hideaway. I could feel the ghosts. George Gershwin lived there and wrote “Rhapsody in Blue” at this spot. The atmosphere enhanced not only the artworks at this exhibition, but the whole opening reception. There was definitely a “salon” vibe. As an artist myself (a musician), it’s easy to see how this place is conducive to creativity. I even joined in, playing piano along with a jazz guitarist. It just seemed so natural.
On display are a series of paintings by Cary Gang and photographs by Nan Melville, who both live in this historic building. When I entered the premises, I thought the figurative images were also paintings. They weren’t. They were Polaroid photographs that were transferred to canvas and blown up, with various parts of the images eliminated from the transfer. The effect is utterly astonishing. Shown along with these photographs are “reflected” images: works that were shot at the sea, which reflected the images of boats and other surroundings. Providing contrast to the transferred photos, these pictures were taken with a high-resolution digital camera. The sharp abstract shapes have a post-modern feel. When I saw this, I was sure that there was digital manipulation and was surprised to know that there was none. A freelance photographer, Melville has worked for the New York Times for 23 years; her eye is so keen that she is able to locate the precise point where abstract meets reality.
As a perfect counterpoint, Cary Gang’s paintings are raw, highly textured and free flowing, yet retaining a sense of balance and unity. Lines dripping down the canvas overlay with multiple layers of multi-hued brush strokes. To give me an idea of the density, Gang asked me to lift a painting. I did and realized that this was quite a heavy (in the literal sense) painting. The canvas was completely engulfed and saturated with paint, to the point where the paint became the canvas. Her natural abstraction and impeccable choices in colors, along with her swirling brush strokes combined with the massive over-lays, place her with the major league of current Abstractionists.
Completely self-taught, Gang is a longtime jazz singer (with impressive credentials and a long career—Google her). She started painting a mere five years ago, but paints as if she’s been doing it since childhood. She’s also disarmingly unpretentious. When I asked her if there is any particular thing she wanted to say through her works, she replied, “Not really, I see a blank canvas and want to fill it up.” That’s what she does.
There must be something magical about that Gershwin building.
Chez Cary’s Salon, 501 W.110th St., 212-663-1996.
