-by Aaron DeLand
Opening reception February 22nd, 6 to 8 PM.
From February 20th through March 13th at Agora Gallery, 530 West 25th Street, Chelsea.


A veritable cornucopia of creative articulation featuring talented artists from around the globe is the most succinct way to describe Agora Gallery's latest Collective Exhibition. The pronounced range of content and artistic approach is characterized by a consistency in quality and vitality. The exhibition opens February 20th and features artists Almerlain, Joanna Bailey, Karen Carey, Joel Carpenter, Ninos Chammo, Spela Cvetko, Rebecca Darlington, Dibyendu Dey, Marta Ismail, JBuza, SooJin Jeong, Naru Yoshida, and Elie Bou Zeidan.

The conventions of realism allow for a particular reading in an audience, conveying information in an easily discernible format. Ninos Chammo's sculpture is finely crafted and displays a trained sensitivity to the human form that, when coupled with his whimsical imagination, is stunning to behold. His sculptures are created in the round, and the human figure writhes and converges with architectural, animal and organic elements.
Many of the artists featured in this exhibition have adopted the approach of capturing the ambiance of a distinctive place, so that the qualities can be passed onto others that may never venture there. One such example is Elie Bou Zeidan whose expertly crafted works of maritime villages continue the classical traditions of master painters.

The paintings of Rebecca Darlington and Naru Yoshida feature everyday scenes that express the joy and energy found in the simple life. Darlington's work is characterized by creamy applications of bright, summery colors and the use of unusual viewpoints and cropping techniques. Her works are a distinctive celebration of youth and wonder. Yoshida, on the other hand, creates an emotional response through his tranquil, unassuming paintings where personification of objects conveys a personal subtext to his audience.
Many artists choose to employ abstraction as a tool for representing the immediacy of the soul. Slovenian artist, Spela Cvetko creates entrancing works that employ the circle as a catalyst for meditative repose in her audience. Her works possess a timeless quality and the distinct ability to inspire ideation through elemental symbols. Joanna Bailey emphasizes form and line with exuberant brushwork and bold slabs of color. Her works induce a visceral response teeming with energy and positivity. On the other side of the spectrum, Joel Carpenter creates works that are psychologically compelling and wrought with emotional content. His method is to reduce the human face to a mere mask with dark, hollow eyes and by doing so, Carpenter erases identifiable context and personality traits while heightening the sense of psychological drama.

Agora Gallery's Collective Exhibition will astound viewers with the diversity and power of the selected artists. The showing will be on display from February 20 to March 13, 2007 at 530 West 25th Street in Chelsea. An opening reception will be held on Thursday, February 22, 6:00 to 8:00 pm.