Within a handful of miles of Sag Harbor’s Main Street, there live an amazing number of renown contemporary artists. But while the work of these artists can be found in private and public collections around the world, there has been precious little opportunity to see art by these individuals here in our own backyard.
Until now, that is.
This weekend, an exhibit will open at Christys Art Center in Sag Harbor that has the potential to seriously up the ante by bringing a whole new artistic sensibility to the village. Entitled “Botanicals: Artists Interpretations” the show is a venture between antiques dealer Michael Eicke, owner of the Christys Building, and art dealer Peter Marcelle, proprietor of Hampton Road Gallery in Southampton.Â
This show is unusual in that it offers works by artists with names that are familiar not only on a local level — but internationally as well. Among the artists showing are Donald Sultan, David Slater, Kryn Olson, David Slater, Miriam Dougenis, Dan Rizzie, Daria Deshuk, Andrew Wyeth, Andy Warhol, Doris Downes and Charles Burchfield, to name a few.
“These aren’t minor works,” notes Marcelle of the heavy hitters in the line-up. And make no mistake, just because the name of this exhibit is “Botanicals,” it’s by no means simply a “flower show.”
“I’m not a fan of flower painting,” admits Marcelle. “But I looked through history and every artist does a flower painting. This show is the artist’s interpretation on the word botanical. It could even be a flower on a bumper sticker on a car.”
If the eclectic mix of artists represented in “Botanicals” sounds unique, so too is the venture, which is a meeting of three minds that all share a love for art and Sag Harbor — Marcelle, Eicke and artist Dan Rizzie, who has shown with Marcelle at his Southampton gallery for the last five years.Â
“The reason I wanted to do this show here was Dan,” acknowledges Marcelle. “I know Eicke and Dan and we were talking and Dan said, ‘I’d love to have a show in Sag Harbor.’”
“This whole thing is about Rizzie,” he adds. “He said, ‘I want to be in Sag Harbor.’”
“It’s very serendipitous for me, I love Sag Harbor,” says Rizzie. “I like the fact that it’s local talent along with the big names. As well as some of my favorite American artists.”
The seeds of this venture were sown over a year ago, when Eicke cleared out the ground floor of the Christys Building so Sag Development Partners could use the space as a sales office for the Bulova condominium project. But with Bulova at a standstill and an empty space on his hands, Eicke turned it into something for the community.
“We have to get the dark windows away. It’s an idea to bring fresh life into the art world,” says Eicke. “Because I’m the owner of the building, it’s a way I can support the art world in giving that space and designing something.”
“It’s my way of saving the life of Main Street,” adds Eicke. “A thank you to the art world. The idea is for Sag Harbor to really become known for New York style values and quality artwork.”
“The artists are really excited, and have been underserved,” he adds. “They’re devoted to Sag Harbor — their secret love. We have that ideal for the space.”
The plan is to offer rotating two week shows throughout the year at Christys Art Center. In addition to “Botanicals,” also planned is a July benefit exhibit for Save Sag Harbor featuring art by April Gornick and a solo show of Rizzie’s work. Though Eicke owns the building, Marcelle is the art dealer, and he will be the one who organizes the shows.Â
“He has a great knowledge of the history of the painters and is very well connected to the modern art world,” says Eicke who, along with his wife, Elfi, will retain the upstairs space of the building for their inventory of antiques and 19th century artwork. “We’re connected to the past. It’s a lovely mix. Our clients overlap very much.”
While Eicke saw a meaningful way to bring life to his building and the community with this venture, for Marcelle, who has long wanted a gallery in Sag Harbor, at nearly 3,000 square feet, the space represents an ideal — and rare — opportunity in the village.
“I’m attracted to the idea of that space,” says Marcelle. “I have a 1,600 foot gallery in Southampton — this is double that size. I’ve been living in Sag Harbor for 35 years. My kid goes to Sag Harbor Elementary, my wife is head of the PTA. It’s good for me.”Â
“This is a joint venture between both of us,” adds Marcelle. “The space in some ways is temporary. We have a casual relationship. Hopefully, if it works out I’ll stay. It’ll have to work for me. I need a big space. My idea is consistency.”
Marcelle, a Rocky Point native, is one of those dealers who learned the art business from the ground up. He began his career at the age of 16 in the shipping department of Coe Kerr, the gallery that represented Andrew Wyeth. In time, he and Wyeth became friends. Marcelle spent summers in Maine as Wyeth’s guest and eventually sold the artist’s Helga paintings for $50 million.
“I have an interesting group of clients that will go wherever,” says Marcelle. “I can have a gallery anywhere, so why not where it’s the most beautiful and where the artists live?”
As one of those artists, not only is Dan Rizzie happy that he now has a venue for his so work close to home, but he also finds this new gallery is coming along at a very opportune time for him personally. He hopes it bodes well for the future of art.
“The last year has been so difficult,” says Rizzie. “I got a call from Dallas — my big fancy gallery there has closed, which I showed at every two years. All these galleries are closing and going out of business. One thing I admire about Peter is when others are closing, he opens up another gallery. I’m thrilled I have a relationship with someone like him. We’re in the same age bracket. We’ve been through it and in the art business all our lives, me as an artist, he as a dealer.”
“It’s the only business he’s ever known. We’ve both been doing it for 30 odd years. It would be nice to know we could do it another 30,” adds Rizzie who jokes that the only downside to this new space is that now, he’ll be expected to produce.
“The list of people he’ll be showing is fascinating,” says Rizzie. “It presents a situation where I have to step up to the plate. You can’t run away with your tail between your legs. That part of it’s great.”
“My friendship with Mike and Elfi is great too — and the European sensibility of the Eickes. For me it’s a wonderful situation.”
“Botanicals: Artists Interpretations” opens with a reception at Christys Art Center (3 Madison Street, Sag Harbor) on Saturday, May 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. The show runs through June 5. For more information, visit www.petermarcellecontemporary.com.
Photo: a view of art by Doris Downes in the Christy Arts Center
