Trouble in Paradise May 27, 2004

Trouble in Paradise
curated by Amy Lipton
May 27 - June 26, 2004
Opening Reception: May 27th from 6 - 8 pm

Van Brunt Gallery
819 Washington Street (in the Meat Market)
New York, NY


Trouble in Paradise will present works by artists with a focus on issues
of loss in relationship to the natural world.


Artists include: Brian Alfred, Brandon Ballengee, Edward Burtynsky,
David Chow, Dan Ford, Adam Fuss, Joy Garnett, Fariba Hajamadi, Julie
Heffernan, Steve Mumford, Alison Moritsugu, Kirsten Mosher, Alexis
Rockman and others.


In the past three years of the Bush administration we have witnessed a
broad scale effort to unravel decades of hard won environmental
legislation and protections. We are witnessing an assault against our
environment and a battle against the policies that have been put in place
over the past four decades. In their attempt to roll back these regulations,
our current administration reveal their state of denial concerning global
warming, extinction of species, health issues relating to pollution and lack
of clean water and air. These losses are mounting and will continue to
take a terrible toll into the unforeseeable future. Aside from the tragic loss
of humanity in a time of war, wars also take their toll on the environment,
releasing a host of toxic chemistry with conventional and nuclear weapons
and their production, mobilization and proliferation. This thinly disguised
war over terrorism in Iraq can also be looked at for what it really is
about, the desire for control, including that over natural resources and
commodities, namely fossil fuels.


Trouble in Paradise takes a look at the implications of loss in our present
social context using a variety of artworks and sensibilities. The artworks
depict the contrast of the splendor and beauty that are diminishing in our
natural world with the grim reality of what has been lost. The attempt of
this exhibition is not to spark a nostalgic sense of longing for what is
irretrievable, but to incite recognition of what is mostly unimaginable and
the action that can accompany this recognition. Its aim is to bring
awareness to the viewer of the need for protection, preservation and the
preciousness of what remains.


Guest Curator Amy Lipton ran a gallery in New York City from 1986 to
1995. Since then she has been working as an independent curator and is
affiliated with ecoartspace, a non-profit organization whose mission is to
raise environmental awareness through the arts. Her current exhibition,
"Imaging the River" is on view at the Hudson River Museum through May 23, 2004.


For further information please contact: Rose Burlingham at
212.243.8572 or info@vanbruntgallery.com


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