Fountain Gallery Presents Osvaldo Cruz/Keith Pavia: NEW WORKS, 5/17-7/11

Fountain Gallery, located at 702 Ninth Avenue and representing artists with mental illness, announces the opening of Osvaldo Cruz/Keith Pavia: New Works. This two-person exhibition of more than 20 pieces will be on view from May 17 through July 11, 2012, with an Opening Reception on Thursday, May 17, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Osvaldo Cruz worked in pen and ink, acrylic, and felt-tip marker before discovering the effects he could achieve with spray paint, the medium that now defines his style. Known for “graffiti” pieces featuring large lettering and expressed in the bright and gritty colors of New York City streets, in this show Cruz alsodisplays pieces representative of a new direction: cloudlike, dreamy works in pastel hues that take the spray paint medium to a celestial level. He uses a variety of nozzles attached to the paint can to achieve effects from bold to refined, on surfaces including masonite and canvas board. Cruz was commissioned by New World Stages in Manhattan to paint a “graffiti wall” to enhance the New York atmosphere outside the theatre where the musical “Rent” is currently playing.

In this exhibition, Keith Pavia is also showing works inspired by the City – more specifically, the New York City subway system and its riders – in a series of color saturated gouaches from the 2011 self-published book Ghost Train. Turning his attention from subterranean New York to the Far East, Pavia also presents a group of large mixed media works depicting ladies wearing the traditional garb of Japan, the kimono – but with a cheeky, modern twist. Found objects such as buttons, beads and glitter, incorporated into the acrylic surface, add depth and texture to a number of these striking works on canvas and paper.

This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and by generous support from The Jarvis & Constance Doctorow Family Foundation andThe Renate, Hans and MariaHofmann Trust.

Fountain Gallery is the premier venue in New York City representing artists with mental illness. Founded by Fountain House in 2000 as a not-for-profit exhibitionspace for its member-artists living and working with mental illness, the Gallery sells original artworks and collaborates with a wide network of artists, curators and cultural institutions. Embracing artists who are emerging or established, trained or self-taught, Fountain Gallery cultivates artistic growth and makes a vital contribution to the New York arts community.

Artworks by Gallery artists may be viewed at: www.fountaingallerynyc.com.

For information about Fountain House, visit www.fountainhouse.org.