Winter in New York can be brutal, with icy cold weekends that seem to never end. But amidst the chill, there is a beacon of warmth and joy at a show aptly named “Play!” This exhibit offers a welcome reprieve from the bleakness of the season, inviting visitors to bask in the creativity and whimsy of contemporary and vintage artworks.
One of the standout contemporary artists featured in the show is Libby Rosen, whose luminous textile works crafted from marbled quilted fabric exude a sense of ethereal beauty. Elliot Camarra, hailing from Cape Cod, showcases pieces made from paper, metal, glass, and wood that evoke the tranquil essence of the sea. Additionally, McCollough’s interpretation of a Queen Anne’s cabinet adds a touch of magic to the space, with a surprise waiting behind its doors.
Among the vintage treasures on display is a 1989 chaise lounge with wrought iron arms shaped like a horse, a pair of whimsical Murano glass pendant lights inspired by the circus, and a sleek 1973 coat rack designed by Ettore Sottsass. Not to be missed are the fruit-shaped silver boxes used for storing betel nut, a popular stimulant in Southeast Asia. A true show-stopper is a lamp created in 1977 by the late Garry Knox Bennett, illuminating the space with a touch of whimsy.
Gallery owner Sullivan, originally from Massachusetts and now based in New York, has created a space that blurs the lines between decorative arts and fine art, seamlessly blending pieces from different eras. She explains, “We don’t really differentiate…it’s just all living, breathing things in a room.” However, it took time for people to grasp this concept, as Sullivan notes, “There was no real blueprint, which is fun but also a little bit challenging, doing something that doesn’t necessarily fit within the contemporary art space or an antique showroom.”
