By Brian J. Howard
Jo-Ann Brody and Don Keene had never met before Bill Maxwell paired them for an exhibit at his Peekskill gallery.
In fact, neither had ever collaborated with another artist to create a completely new exhibit. But that's what Maxwell, ever the teacher, had in mind.
"The way this gallery works is I try to introduce two artists together and they create a dialogue," said Maxwell, who teaches art at the College of New Rochelle in addition to staging four to six exhibits a year at his Peekskill gallery.
'The result, in this case, was "Speaking Figuratively, Anatomical Metaphors of the Body," which opened this month and runs through Jan. 11 at Maxwell Fine Arts,, 1204 Main St . Together, Brody, who lives in Crompond, and Keene, a former student of Maxwell's, explore the human figure in contemporary abstract sculpture and painting.
While efforts to relate a visual medium with words often fail, "Speaking Figuratively" merits some description. -
Brody, a sculptor whose studio is in downtown Peekskill, created an array of female figures. in clay, which - she then fired in various kilns. and ovens, bronzing some. The figures are arranged in a circle, surrounded by Keene's richly colorful oil paintings. The contrast and .the interplay between the two creates a powerful effect Keene credits Maxwell for that.
The end result was really a surprise for everyone because we didn't really know how it was going to look," the Mamaroneck High School teacher said.
Brody calls the effect a "visual bang," adding "You want them to see every single piece. You have to have that circle." The circular arrangement and the stark podiums on which her figures are mounted were Maxwell's idea.
Maxwell selects artists open to his hands-on involvement. That could be inhibiting if he weren't sensitive to their perspectives. Brody and Keene both said the director's input enhanced the exhibit. That has much to do with Maxwell's understanding of his own exhibit space.
He converted a former carriage house behind his home at Main and North Broad streets into a two-level gallery and studio. Wood-planked floors and a hayloft doorway are evidence of the sleek interior's past. It isn't large, though, so exhibits must be tailored to avoid a crowded feel.
"Speaking Figuratively" ultimately melds Keene's and Brody's impressions on the human form. And while they relate vastly different perspectives, each is expressive and emotive in their own way. Keene said.
"I guess what's going on is there are two different ways to think about the figure that aren't that common but that are fresh," he said.