Paige Peterson Shows New Works At Gerald Peters Gallery

Originally Posted: March 24, 2011

New York City - Last week, acclaimed East Hampton painter Paige Peterson showed her newest works to a very appreciative crowd of art collectors and admirers at New York's prestigious Gerald Peters Gallery presented by noted art dealer Peter Marcelle.

Artist Paige Peterson and designer Berry Brown. (Brandon Remler)

Given her many career successes in a number of fields now as a painter, illustrator and writer, it was no surprise that the gallery was packed with some of New York's and the East End's most prominent figures in the arts, design, media, business and philanthropy. All shared a common connection - respect and admiration for her work and love of her infectious laugh and exuberant personality.

For longtime fans and initiates alike Peterson delivered with a collection that is as vivid and strong and thoughtful, as her persona. Awed by the wildfires in her native California, Paige created vistas of windswept flames but as is her personality, there was hope as deadwood is cleared for rebirth of greenery which is seen in her painting. "Birch Tree" and "Lemon" were among viewers' other favorites, as were several mixed media works that incorporated vintage fabrics.

Among those on hand to congratulate were her father-in-law Peter Peterson with his wife Children's Television Workshop founder Joan Ganz Cooney; author Christopher Cerf with whom Paige collaborated on the best selling children's book, "Blackie the Horse that Stood Still;" philanthropist Jean Shafiroff and BFF Ann Rapp, writer Jesse Kornbluth, author Susan Cheever, Terry McDonnell, editor of Sports Illustrated Group, publisher Lena Tabori, daughter Alexandra Peterson and William Cart (Paige's son Peter Cary is teaching English in China!); Kim and Michael McCarty of Michael's Restaurant fame; longtime friend Ed Herlihy; designer Duane Hampton; her ex-husband financier David Peterson and his wife Oscar-winning producer Wendy Finerman, Priscilla Rattazzi Whittle; Jeff and Laurie Everson; Gary and Katherine Andreassen; columnist Tia Walker; Eleanora Kennedy; Liza Lerner widow of composer Alan Jay Lerner; Meg Hirschfield; Connie Wiley; prolific children's author Joan Walsh Anglund, dentist to the stars Dr. Matthew Kaufman; Diane Becker and Gianni Adamo of the legendary Elaine's and Her Imperial Highness Arianna of Russia. In other words, your quintessential New York event!

Of course there were a number of her fellow artists including Michelle Murphy Strada and her husband Robert Strada; Andrew Hart Adler and Carolyn Beegan who are collaborating on a series of new mixed media inspired by their travels to Central America entitled "Eden-ism;" award winning photographer Gildo Spado and multi-talented artist and designer Berry Brown, who was particularly taken with Peterson's use of antique Fortuny fabric as she herself creates new designs utilizing vintage elements in her jewelry and home furnishings collections.

Prior to picking up her brushes and devoting herself full time to her passion, Peterson had already made a name for herself as an actress starring for five years in the long-running soap opera, "Edge of Night" as "Myrna Whitmore" and appearing as a biker chick friend to Cher in "Mask" directed by Peter Bogdanovich. While working on the soaps in New York she met financier David Peterson, son of Blackstone Group co-founder Peter Peterson, married him, had two children Peter Carey and Alexandra, and 14 years later, the couple was amicably divorced.

Following the gallery reception, a group of Paige's friends and family headed over to Gerald Peters' art filled aerie and dined amid Picassos, O'Keefe's and Steinbergs.