EXHIBITION STATEMENT

Surfaces brings together the artwork of Mark Brennan and Abraham Storer.  

Mark Brennan presents his Space in a Box paintings.  Measuring about a foot square, the pictures are extremely detailed oil paintings of the ocean. They portray the water and the sky in various weather conditions and times of day.  The paintings, all on paper, are framed in deep wooden boxes. 

Abraham Storer lived for six years in Israel, most of it in Jerusalem.  During that time, he produced the Soil and Sky pictures, diptychs comprised of two identical panels.  One is painted in atmospheric pastel tones suggestive of the sky.  The other is an assemblage of rock and dirt.  In each piece, the earth is taken from a specific place of historic or spiritual significance.

Both artists are residents of Cape Cod, Massachusetts now and continue to draw spiritual inspiration from the natural environment around them.  These two bodies of work share a strong affinity for each other:  both series present a strong dichotomy between two near polar forces.  One can easily infer a dialog between the immediate physical or earth bound nature of one element and the ethereal or spiritual nature of its opposite. In Brennan’s case, it is the vast expanse of the water trapped in the distressed wooden box like a soul encased in a body.  With Storer, the two elements, the physicality of the soil and the celestial atmosphere of the painted half, appear as a side by side couple. 

Eden: A solo exhibition of paintings by Abraham Storer at Farm Projects (355 Main Street, Wellfleet, MA)

On view August 02-12, 2024 / Opening Reception: Saturday, August 03, 5:00-7:00pm

Artist Talk with Megan Hinton: Wednesday, August 07, 6:00pm / Discussion with Lili Chin: Sunday: August 11, 10am

Abraham Storer’s paintings suggest that something significant has occurred within the scene yet remains just beyond the viewer’s perception. In his latest body of work, he contends with the significance of his hometown, Wellfleet, as a site of memory and yearning. The paintings depict his immediate surroundings - objects in his yard, nearby scenic views, particular qualities of light and weather - but resonate with intangible feelings and experiences cultivated through a life-long relationship with the place.

Zone 7a is excited to open the season with Extracted Citations, a group exhibition celebrating artists on Cape Cod from emerging to established artists including Mark Adams, Jeff Gibbons, Arabella Hay, Megan Hinton, Eric Kosse, Milisa Moses, Kai Potter and Abraham Storer. The show features a wide range of works from paintings, ink drawings, photography and sculptures including Megan Hinton's paintings on wood salvaged from her home renovation, Arabella Hay’s diaristic snapshots of youth culture on the Outer Cape and Jeff Gibbons’ sculptures made from materials found on the Cape during his Fine Arts Work Center Fellowship.

The exhibition opens on May 24th on Memorial Day weekend through June 19th, 2024. Zone7a is located at 437 Commercial Street in Provincetown. 

Art Exhibit featuring over 100 historical and contemporary paintings, curated by Gene Tartaglia at the Mary Heaton Vorse House (466 Commercial Street, Provincetown)

In association with Provincetown Arts Society, Garvey Rita Art & Antiques, and Thomas A.D. Watson.

Artist Reception: May 24 from 5 to 7 pm

Open Saturday and Sundays from 12 to 4 pm, through June 2.