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Updated: February 19, 2009, 12:09 pm	Share    Print    Email

The reception at the Pamela Williams Gallery was abundant in artists, both those showing and those appreciating the work of their peers. Photos by Colin M. Graham

Amagansett - This past Saturday the Pamela Williams Gallery in Amagansett marked the opening reception of the exhibit "Art and Desire" featuring a variety of work from an impressive array of local artists. On display were pieces by Ralph Carpentier, Eric Ernst, Connie Fox, Tulla Booth, Melora Griffis, William King, Cynthia Knott, Ivan Kustura, Bruce Lieberman, Alexandra Limpert, Paton Miller, Gabriele Raacke, Denise Regan, Ken Robbins, David Suter, Ilie Wacs, and Charles Waller, all of whom drew an impressive crowd that night.

Denise Regan Standing Next To Two Of Her Pieces, "Hey Girl" And "At Rest."

According to gallery owner Pamela Williams, the show was inspired by a development in the art scene in Paris during the 1920s and 1930s where many artists and writers took to producing erotic art for certain collectors to supplement their income.

"I was originally going to call the show 'Blue Valentine' but I wanted to be able to include more artists under that umbrella and then I started thinking about art and how it's usually about yearning," remarked Williams. "Someone mentioned that you can eroticize a landscape and then I started thinking that everyone had different ideas to bring in that all seem to fit within the theme of art and desire. It's a lot of art under one roof."

The collection of work on the walls was in some cases atypical for the artists who created them. For example, Cynthia Knott, who is best known for her minimalist seascape paintings, was showing two nude portraits that she had stored away in a portfolio and only rediscovered when a pipe burst in her studio. "I don't think I had seen those pieces in 20 years," she said.

Another interesting example Pamela pointed out was a piece by Ralph Carpentier entitled "River Street, Honolulu, 1954" as it represented a style he hasn't painted with in roughly 40 years.

Eugenio Cuttica Next To His Painting, "Luna Series, No. 12.".

Perhaps the best testament to the quality of art on display at the gallery was the number of artists in attendance whose work wasn't showing and who had come out in support of their peers. It was nearly impossible to move in the space without bumping into local artists of note.

The reception was scheduled to end at 7 p.m. but towards the end of the evening the gallery was still as full as it had been earlier in the night and easily could have continued as long as the wine kept flowing. The exhibit will remain on display until March 15 so even if you missed the opening reception, there is still plenty of time to see an interesting collection of outstanding work by an excellent collection of local artists.

 • Pamela Williams Gallery is located at 167 Main Street, Amagansett, 631-267-7817. www.pamelawilliamsgallery.com.

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Art And Desire At Pamela Williams Gallery