Memento Mori - Justine Reyes

Memento Mori: 

Contemporary Vanitas Exhibition

The Ann Street Gallery presents Memento Mori: Contemporary Vanitas Exhibition with an Artist Reception on Saturday, September 18, from 6-9 pm.

Vanitas art is a fascinating genre of still life, which rose to prominence in 17th Century Netherlands art. Vanitas means "vanities of life," and usually feature an elaborate arrangement of objects rich in commonly understood symbolism. This intriguing style of still life often contains pictorial messages with moral undertones, to remind the viewer of the transience of life, the futility of pursuing earthly pleasures, the certainty of death.

The six artists in Memento Mori express such themes through varied and diverse works. Each artist uses their own unique and contemporary visual language to speak directly to the viewer of the inherently transitory nature of life, and ones own mortality.

The artists include:

Tara Giannini
Kira Greene
Kirstin Lamb
Monkia Malewska
Christopher Peters
Justine Reyes
 
As classical Vanitas have done in times past, the works of these six contemporary artists also evoke the viewer to call to mind questions of the inescapable futility of material life and the predictability of their own mortality.
 
The works will be on view through October 30, 2010.

The Ann Street Gallery is a nonprofit art gallery specializing in contemporary emerging and established artists. The gallery is located at 104 Ann Street in Newburgh, and hours are Monday through Thursday 9 AM-5 pm, and Friday through Saturday 11 am-5 pm. For more information regarding Memento Mori and the Ann Street Gallery, contact Virginia Walsh, Director at (845) 562-6940 ext. 119, vwalsh@safe-harbors.org, or visit www.annstreetgallery.org.