Theater for the New City Hosts 7-Artist Show, RISK, Through Feb 28

Some people walk on tightropes literally, staring down at the crowd below. Artists do it figuratively, trying new things in the hope of reaching a higher level of the comprehension of humanity.

Theater for the New City through Feb. 28 in its gallery is presenting "Risk," showcasing the work of seven artists who go out on a limb in various ways, in its TNC Gallery, 155 First Ave (between 9th & 10th St).

The show, co-curated by TNC Executive Director Crystal Field and Columbia Fiero, presents nearly 30 works of art including installations, videos, constructions and paintings, each assuming the risk that goes with taking on the world.

It showcases the work of Fiero, Guy Ben-Ari, Hwae Jung Yoon, Gregory Coates, Michael Schuwerk, Steve Keister and David Fludd.

Artwork ranges from Ben-Ari's images created in part from an extrapolation of Caravaggio's art as the classical artist might have painted the world in a time of cell phones to Mike Schuwerk's video of the conception of the urban maelstrom and Hwae Jung Yoon's loosening of gravity to create a free-floating world.

"These artists go out on a limb with their own process of creating to see, to explore and search, looking to speak of a knowledge of life, what is true, humanity, dignity- it's not through the accepted norm," Fiero said. "It's not easy or spoon fed."

Theater for the New City presents the work in its gallery, spanning the front of the theater, extending into the main hallway and throughout the wide theater lobby, creating a sprawling show in a sort of avenue of art.

"The exhibit challenges the norm of the social structure. Artists challenge their capabilities to maintain balance to make art. They risk to make art," Fiero said. "While art serves in essence as a reflection and record of our time, these artists with diversity of images, use varied pathways to attain that mirror."

She views the art work as heightening reality through an artists' eyes rather than simply representing reality.

"I would say it's a clear mirror, not manipulated, extremely sincere and direct," Fiero added. "I don't think the artists are about illusion. It's about artists speaking out in the work."

She says that the art seeks to capture the theater's own creativity and originality, creating an artistic atmosphere in which groundbreaking theater is presented.

"The spirit of theater is embodied in this art, which reveals a desire for connection to one's own relationship with the world," Fiero continued. "These artists introduce a conversation and foster an interplay between visual art and theater. They look to question and support each other with their unconventional performance and action."

Visitors see the work of Mike Schuwerk, a video artist whose "Happiness is the Right Choice" shows the fragmented human experience of life in the city.

"It shows the streets of New York and the different characters in New York," Fiero said. "It's the passing of time. You can see this in his imagery and the camera's work in the quality of light."

Fiero seeks to create art as a whole image rather than simply a view through a window: the works of art presented in this exhibit are watercolor on paper, as well as a 33-ft. installation made with acrylic paint on polyester mesh.

Seen at the front of the theater, it is a new configuration of what was an earlier, quite larger work completed in Brook Park, South Bronx, 2013. The video of that 2013 work is on exhibit and can be viewed as well.

"My work speaks about the ephemerality of earth existence," she said. "Yet all the work here is connected by a perception of space. Each artist here is translating something about being alive, the qualities of existence."

David Fludd makes oil paintings on canvas that are theatrical in mystery- they are cloaked, hidden, shrouded in conversations, yet speak of the absurd, she said, questioning meaning with color and shape in literal and abstract image.

Guy Ben-Ari presents figurative work, some of which are titled, "The Doubting" and "Looking for the Keys", with depths of psychological meaning that seek to maintain a consciousness of composition and structure, and utilize a literal non-illustrative strategy.

Steve Keister's constructions are glazed acrylic-painted ceramic structures on a wood base, often working with Native American imagery.

"He's looking at another time, but makes them with industrial prefab forms," Fiero said. "There's a humor and a lightness to it."

She said that Keister looks art-making in the face "and comes up laughing and free-flying", literally, and figuratively, these "works come off the wall."

Gregory Coates uses recycled materials and produces totemic objects, with inner tubing of bicycle tires wrapped and poking in various ways, bringing the commonplace into art.

"As with the human experience," Fiero said, "Coates's work is concerned with the nature of industrial society and exposes harsh edges of reality in life. 'Brushes for Beuys' is an artwork that is made with a brush a couple of inches high with brilliant yellow pigment on it, signifying the dirt,y hardened artist's brush that is now obsolete."

Hwae Jung Yoon's work ranges from abstract work to traditional Korean folk painting. Yoon challenges the components of traditional folk painting, as "She has flowers floating in the sky," Fiero said. "There's a changing of gravity and space, a reconsideration. This work has relationships to her large abstract works."

The exhibit lets viewers stop by and see life through various lenses, receiving the prize that comes when the voices of artists are found through their medium.

She called the theater a "refuge for artists, and non-commercial creativity" as well as a "bastion of independence in New York" and a forum for new work.

"Theater for the New City raises high social cultural consciousness with its theatrical performances and its uncurtailed reach through its stages," Fiero said of the way the theater uses its performance spaces and gallery. "This exhibit adds visual art to this conversation."

"Risk", TNC Gallery, Theater for the New City, 155 First Ave., New York, NY. Through Feb. 28. Crystal Field and Columbia Fiero present this exhibit open Wed. through Sun. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the theater's gallery. For additional information, call the theater at 212-254-1109.