Emerge Gallery & Art Space is pleased to be participating in the Village of Saugerties’ celebration of International Sculpture Day during the month of April. Emerge Gallery’s sculpture exhibition “Metal & Wood” will include wall sculptures, assemblages and some standing sculpture. All works were created with metal or wood and most share a certain whimsical quality. Exhibiting artists include 2 Nutty Artists, Loel Barr, Ed Berkise, Michael Ciccone, Shelley Davis, Ruth Edwy, Robert George, Amy Puccio, and Fay Wood.

2 Nutty Artists (Janet Costello and Heather Gottfried) collect twisted, bent and rusted metal found on the streets and together assemble it to create wall sculptures of animals that are humorous in a very unusual way. Former framer and artist Amy Puccio assembles discarded frame pieces like a puzzle to create wall sculptures of common objects. Included in “Metal & Wood” are very familiar items— a six foot bicycle chain, a cassette tape and a corset — presented in a unique way.

Artist Fay Wood incorporates found materials, both wood and metal, in her sculpture to create some very familiar objects as well as abstract sculpture. Like the work of some other artists in the exhibition, Fay’s sculptures exhibit a definite quirkiness yet retains a sophistication that is very indicative of her work.

A window installation of abstract sculptures by artist Michael Ciccone will be a part of “Metal & Wood”. The artist reuses raw materials collected from the construction sites he has worked on over the years. “I’ve always tried to preserve the integrity of the steel objects that I incorporate into my sculpture,” he explains. “I enjoy the challenge of maintaining their original integrity, which sometimes seems impossible while composing a sophisticated and / or playful composition.”

Additional work includes smaller figurative sculpture of the human form by Robert George who works in both clay and bronze; figurative steel bronze work by Ruth Edwy; assemblages of found materials by Shelley Davis, Edward Berkise, and Loel Barr whose work holds a haunting quality. Work from “Metal & Wood,” art from previous exhibits and on-line exclusives are available to view and purchase at the Emerge Gallery on-line shop at www.emergegalleryny.com.

“Metal & Wood” will be on exhibit at Emerge Gallery from April 7 – May 1, 2017, with an opening reception on April 7 from 5-9 PM as part of Saugerties’ First Friday. Three additional galleries in Saugerties — 11Jane, Cross Contemporary Art and Cross Contemporary Art Annex — will be hosting sculpture exhibitions during the month. Previews for each show will be held on April 7 with opening receptions on April 8, 2017. Sculpture will also be exhibited in merchant windows and outdoors in the Village.

International Sculpture Day is a celebration event held worldwide on or around April 24th to further the ISC’s (International Sculpture Center) mission of advancing the creation and understanding of sculpture and its unique, vital contribution to society. Hundreds of artists, organizations and institutions in over 20 countries are scheduled to celebrate the day in 2017 with open studios, unveiling public sculptures, sculpture scavenger hunts, pop up exhibitions, demonstrations, iron pours, and much more.

Emerge Gallery & Art Space focuses on emerging artists from the Hudson Valley, NY, region and beyond by hosting monthly group art exhibitions, and other events. It is a very open and welcoming environment that is a wonderful setting for private parties and gatherings and is available for rental. The space is also available to rent for solo and privately curated exhibitions.