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Angela De Vincenzo and Jeff Mayer with their son
Blocks, Trucks + Art, a gallery at 17 Washington Street, will be in the spotlight Saturday afternoon as the new art spot on the block — pun totally intended, because that’s just how chill its owners, Angela De Vincenzo and Jeff Mayer, like to be.
A reception for the Brooklyn-based photorealist painter Joey Glover is planned from 4 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, marking his first-ever solo show.
But the show is at once the gallery’s first and last official hurrah, as it will be shutting its doors after the show closes on May 5.
Having encountered a few difficulties since they tried to open their doors in January, Mr. Mayer and Ms. De Vincenzo are closing up shop and focusing on their summer activities at the Hayground School, which include bike and skateboard lessons, deejay lessons, art workshops and, of course, educational block-building activities.
“I think this art show is an amazing opportunity to see a show and learn more about Blocks, Trucks + Art and the work we do at Hayground,” Ms. De Vincenzo said.
They sought a special exception use permit from the Sag Harbor Village Planning Board for the educational component of their business. The process took a few months, Ms. De Vincenzo said. The board was set to approve that permit this week, but for a variety of reasons, the gallery owners said they had already made the call to close their doors.
But they couldn’t pass up the chance to show Mr. Glover’s work, which Ms. De Vincenzo said is “realistic, beautiful and colorful” art that “speaks to an aesthetic we’ve always loved, which is New York City street scenes.”
Mr. Mayer said Mr. Glover’s cityscapes “remind me of when I used to do photography in the city.”
“He paints from that perspective,” Mr. Mayer said. “It brings me back to a creative style that I can appreciate from living 20-plus years in the city.”
Mr. Glover, 41, said he’s excited to have his first solo show. He first met Mr. Mayer and Ms. De Vincenzo when their sons attended school together in Brooklyn three years ago.
He said the imagery of New York has inspired him to paint for the last 20 years.
“I really like the reflections in the city. That’s one thing that draws me to it,” Mr. Glover said. “I like architecture and the energy. Everything about it is so easy to capture, but definitely the reflections really draw me into some of those buildings.”
Mr. Mayer and Ms. De Vincenzo said they are looking forward to what the summer brings once again at Hayground School, where they have parked their 1981 Kenworth 18-wheeler truck, dubbed “Big Mama.”
“There’s a reason we have the phrase ‘Keep on Truckin’ on the side of our truck,” Mr. Mayer said.
on Apr 24, 2019