First, as an adjective, it means “of great breadth.” Then, as an adverb, “fully, completely, whole.” And, finally, as a noun, “a usually offensive term used to refer to a woman.”
In the early 1900s, “broad” also referred to a ticket of admission and, around the same time, showed up in reference to prostitutes. But time and women themselves have flipped the script — using “broad” to proudly refer to their female power and resilience, a sly reclamation of an old-fashioned term.
In the same vein, Grenning Gallery’s group show, “Broad Impressions,” pays homage to women painters, opening with a reception on Saturday, April 13, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in Sag Harbor.
“It’s broad in the first sense, with the show demonstrating a great breadth in subject matter and technique,” according to a press release. “Resilient and amid a sense of power, however, applies to each of the ‘broads’ in this show.”
Participating artists include classically trained painter Amy Florence and figurative painter Kelly Carmody, whose meticulous narrative scenes celebrate contemporary family life.
“These scenes are carefully designed to evoke the advantages to the more traditional life of a modern family,” the release said. “She borrows from Mary Cassatt but pushes through to the 21st century with her inclusions of men, fathers and grandfathers as active participants.”
The show will also feature artists Barbara Thomas, Rachel Personett, Sarah Lamb and Tina Orsolic Dalessio, a recent graduate of the Florence Academy of Art, who left a 10-year career as a lawyer and law professor to chase her new life as an artist.
“That fact in itself is, truly, post-feminist feminism — in that many women in our generation started out with clear career goals, only to discover they were externally motivated and failed to scratch the itch of our true passions,” the release said. “An especially wonderful thing that seems to happen with these post-feminist feminists is that we are able to pivot when we needed to, and that is exactly what Tina Orsolic Dalessio is in the middle of — pulling this transition off with flying colors. She has almost sold out of her first group of local paintings, and we are now showing her second batch of increasingly interesting works.”
Rounding out the show are seasoned painter, wife and mother Melissa Franklin Sanchez; self-taught artist Maryann Lucas, who is continually inspired by the natural beauty and bounty of the East End; and gallerist Laura Grenning herself, “who promises to step away from her gallery and parenting life long enough to paint a few new small works to show.”
“Broad Impressions” will remain on view through May 12. For more information, call (631) 725-8469 or visit grenninggallery.com.
on Apr 10, 2019