| About the Exhibition
Opening reception with the artist: First Friday, May
7, 6 - 8:30 pm
The Bridgette Mayer Gallery is pleased to present its first
solo exhibition by artist Joe McAleer, OpticDiamonds.
The exhibition will feature twelve dynamic abstract paintings
and photographic montages. Also on view in the Vault Room
will be an exhibition of new monoprints by Lori Bruno.
Joe McAleer's Optic Diamond series descends from
a strong and often under-recognized tradition of Op-Artists,
such as Bridget Riley, Victor Vasarely, and Philadelphian
Edna Andrade. Developing what he calls a "jumpsquare"
over three years ago, McAleer began to explore the potential
of simple lines and shapes to charge a composition with movement.
His work has since progressed into obsessively and precisely
constructed optic abstractions that challenge the viewers'
traditional perception of the two dimensional picture plane.
Says the artist: " Working with partially obscured photographs,
varying line weight, and an intuitive palette, I have expanded
the possibilities of the basic forms that underlie my work,
shifting their emphasis to reveal a wide array of visual possibility
in a seemingly narrow set of formal options."
About the Artist
Joe McAleer received his B.A. and M.A. from Rowan University
in New Jersey. His work has been exhibited at the Locks Gallery
(Philadelphia, PA), Perkins Center for the Arts (Moorestown,
NJ), Rowan University (Glassboro, NJ), The College of New
Jersey (Trenton, NJ), among other venues. McAleer had a 40-year
teaching career in New Jersey and in 1994 was honored with
the Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Teaching from
The State of New Jersey's "Governor's Teacher Recognition
Program." The artist lives and works in Moorestown, NJ
and Bonita Springs, FL.
About the Gallery
The Bridgette Mayer Gallery, owned and
managed by Bridgette K. Mayer, opened its doors in the spring
of 2001. Prior to opening the gallery, Ms. Mayer worked in
art and architecture in New York, San Francisco and Taiwan.
She is a graduate of Bucknell University, where she received
her B.A. in Art History and Studio Art. The Bridgette Mayer
Gallery's mission is to support contemporary art as a vital
medium and to make the viewing of artwork a stimulating and
educational experience for both collectors and the public.
Their goal is to showcase a diverse range of contemporary
work by cutting-edge emerging artists that will increase in
value over the artist's career. |
