Three art galleries of the City University of New York (CUNY) – the Shirley Fiterman Art Center at the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), the Lehman College Art Gallery and the Hall of Fame Art Gallery at the Bronx Community College (BCC) – are jointly presenting the exhibition “Incandescence”, which explores the motif of the chandelier in contemporary art and raises questions about consumerism, populism and other issues.
An opening reception will be held on September 5 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Shirley Fiterman Art Center at BMCC, 81 Barclay Street, New York, NY 10007. The exhibition will be on view at BMCC through January 4, 2025. The Shirley Fiterman Art Center hours are Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. and by appointment at [email protected] or (212) 776-5631.
An opening reception will be held on September 18 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Lehman College Art Gallery, 250 Bedford Park West (Fine Arts Building), Bronx, NY and the exhibition will be on view through January 18.
An opening reception will be held on Thursday, October 17, from noon to 3 p.m. at the BCC’s Hall of Fame Art Gallery, BCC2155 University Avenue (Bliss Hall), Bronx, NY, and the exhibition will remain on view through January 24.
The exhibition includes a 140-page, fully illustrated catalogue and was curated by Lisa Panzera of the Shirley Fiterman Art Center at BMCC, Patricia Cazorla of the Hall of Fame Art Gallery at BCC, and Bartholomew Bland of the Lehman College Art Gallery.
The 45 artists represented in the exhibition explore the motif and meaning of the chandelier through sculptural forms, photography, painting, drawing, installation and video.
These include Deb Achak, Julie Allen, assume vivid astro focus, Liu Bolin, Andrea Bowers, John Bowman, Adrien Broom, Clare Celeste, Lily Cox-Richard, Petah Coyne, David Antonio Cruz, Deborah Czeresko, Marc Dennis, Lesley Dill, Lee Essex Doyle, Lauren Ewing, Gonzalo Fuenmayor, Sunil Garg, Kyungah Ham, Kirsten Hassenfeld, Julie Heffernan, Jean-Marc Hunt, Ran Hwang, Michiko Itatani, Ilya and Emilia Kabakov, Brad Kahlhamer, Beth Katleman, Philipp Lachenmann, Jean Lowe, Kaoru Mansour, Virgil Marti, Lizbeth Mitty, Jonathan Monaghan, Andrew Moore, Matt Neff, Brian Oakes, Kayode Ojo, Carlos Rolón, Jeanne Silverthorne, Rachael Tarravechia, Barbara Earl Thomas, Karen Tompkins, Federico Uribe, Ken Weaver, Charlotta Westergren and Tim Wilson.
The chandelier as a motif sheds light on repressed narratives
“The motif of the chandelier serves as a powerful tool for contemporary artists to raise deeper questions about forms and concepts that both intrigue and create friction,” says BMCC Director Panzera.
“Many of the works featured in this exhibition explore the juxtaposition of luxury and oppression, consumerism and necessity, elitism and populism. Used as a tool of critique but also celebrated as an object of desire, the chandelier can represent a metaphorical illumination of the dark corners of history or personal memories, or be a means of shedding light on forgotten or suppressed narratives.”
A statement from all three curators said chandeliers were first developed in the Middle Ages and became increasingly opulent in the 18th century. They consisted of dangling strands of faceted glass and crystals that diffused light around the room. They adorned palaces, ballrooms and theatres. Candles were originally used and with the evolution to oil and then gas lamps and finally electric light, chandeliers became more affordable in the 20th century.th Century and appeared both in public spaces and in more modest homes and places.
Sponsors of the exhibitions
Support for “Incandescence: The Chandelier in Contemporary Art” at the Lehman College Art Gallery was made possible in part by supporters including the Charina Foundation, the Jarvis and Constance Doctorow Family Foundation, the Edith and Herbert Lehman Foundation, the Keith Haring Foundation, the Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation, the Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation, Art as a Third Dimension, the New York State Council on the Arts, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and New York City Council members Eric Dinowitz, Oswald Feliz, Kristy Marmorato, and Kevin C. Riley.
The Gallery Program at Bronx Community College is supported in part by the Art and Music Fund of the BCC Association, Inc., the Art and Music Department, and the Office of Academic and Student Success.
About the venues
BMCC’s Shirley Fiterman Art Center
The Shirley Fiterman Art Center presents programs dedicated to underrepresented artists and contemporary art that encourage critical thinking and support the preservation of the artistic and historical heritage of Tribeca and Lower Manhattan. Through its notable exhibitions, the Fiterman Art Center seeks to enrich the educational mission of BMCC and serve as a resource for the college and surrounding communities by providing a place to engage with contemporary art and examine its role in society in a venue that is free and open to the public.
Lehman College Art Gallery
The Lehman College Art Gallery is always open to the public free of charge and has been serving the interests of our diverse audience from the Bronx and greater New York City since 1984. The gallery specializes in thematic group exhibitions that bring together celebrated artists with emerging talent. Education is an integral part of the gallery’s program and forms the basis of its outreach to everyone from young students to senior citizens.
BCC’s Hall of Fame Gallery
The Hall of Fame Art Gallery at Bronx Community College is dedicated to presenting diverse and innovative artworks while providing a platform for contemporary social and cultural dialogues. Through exhibitions and events, the gallery seeks to inspire and encourage creativity in the Bronx community and beyond. The gallery is funded in part by the Bronx Community College Art and Music Department, the BCC Art & Music Consortium, and BCC, Inc.
About CUNY
The City University of New York (CUNY) is the public university system of New York City. It is the largest urban university system in the United States and includes 25 campuses: eleven senior colleges, seven community colleges, and seven professional schools. The system includes more than a dozen art galleries and centers spread across the campuses.
Please note: The thumbnail image for this article is: Gonzalo Fuenmayor, 6. Book of Moses2013, Archival inkjet print on metallic paper, 40 x 26 ½ inches (photo courtesy of the artist)
