Login

Raandesk® Gallery > Press Releases > RAANDESK GALLERY SERVES VOYEURISM AT VINOVINO

02.15.2008

RAANDESK GALLERY SERVES VOYEURISM AT VINOVINO

Evocative Photography by Maria Bartolo Mejia on view at Inaugural Exhibition

New York, NY – Raandesk Gallery of Art announces the opening reception for "Phased," an exhibition of fine art photography at VinoVino, a wine bar / shop in TriBeCa on Thursday, March 13, 2008.   A series of new, limited-edition prints by San Francisco based artist Maria Bartolo Mejia will be on view through March 30, including imagery ranging from evocative and erotic scenes of strip tease to sometimes surrealistic moments of human interaction on the street or the subway.

WHEN:        Thursday, March 13, 2008, 6:00PM-9:00PM
                 Exhibition on view through Sunday, March 30.

WHERE:      VinoVino
                 211 W. Broadway at Franklin Street, NYC

HOURS:        Mon-Weds, 5-11PM; Thurs-Fri, 5PM-1AM and Sat, 2PM-1AM

Described as a "contemporarily gothic, yet romantic setting with an artsy crowd", VinoVino is an ideal setting to showcase Mejia's work, the first such exhibition in the wine bar/lounge.  Exposed brick and low ambient lighting add to the mystery and dark drama of her subject matter, where time is the subject and figures are often ambiguous, captured by the artist as a voyeur of rare moments.

"The contrast of Maria's stark black and white images in VinoVino's 'gallery' space alludes to the work itself," describes Raandesk founder and gallerist Jessica L. Porter. "Much like the frame and glass on her photographs that separates the viewer from the image, the glass wall between the bar and the shop area separates patrons from either side.  We're all voyeurs on some level."

With an exhibition record of more than two dozen solo and group shows, Maria Bartolo Mejia considers herself a documentary photographer, pushing the boundaries of how to connect with her subjects in found scenarios rather than staged or posed settings.  Most recently Mejia was featured "Skin Deep" at the ArtWorks Gallery in San Francisco and in "Solo Mujeres" at the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, also in San Francisco. In 2005 Mejia was a Selected Artist for PhotoGrafica/Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Photo Silkscreen Print Edition Project in San Francisco, CA.

More information on Mejia and a preview of work featured in "Phased" may be found at raandeskgallery.com.  All pieces in the show are framed limited edition chromogenic prints available for purchase.

PHASED
03.13—04.13.2008

RAANDESK® GALLERY OF ART, located in New York's Chelsea district at 16 W. 23rd Street, 4th Floor, is the premier resource for art collectors and art enthusiasts to purchase works by emerging artist talent from all over the world. The gallery was launched in 2006 by Jessica L. Porter, who had a vision of making art collecting a more accessible experience. Raandesk also provides art consultation services, art rentals, ART2Gift™, collection management and artwork installation.

The name Raandesk was conceived by Founder/Director Jessica L. Porter as a term to describe anything fun, interesting or unique. Raandesk is a name, a noun, an adjective verb, and a way of thinking.

Not only does Raandesk present a regular schedule of exhibitions, but Raandeskgallery.com serves as the wherever, whenever site to browse or purchase original paintings, photography, drawings and sculpture from the Raandesk collection. The vast selection of available work serves every taste, every style and every budget.

All media inquiries: media@raandeskgallery.com