Jane Trigere - Women of the Balcony.

The Vered Gallery in East Hampton was the setting for a “SRO” gathering when Michele Kidwell, Chairperson of the Archaeology Committee of the National Arts Club spoke August 14.  A downpour could do nothing to dampen the spirit of the overflow crowd that filled the gallery to listen to her discussion of the inspiration of the ancient sites of Anatolia (ancient Turkey) on the work of Frank Stella, five of whose “mammoth sculptures” are on display at Vered’s Gallery I.

Stella’s interest in archaeology began while he was a student at Princeton University. Two of the sites – Hacilar and Tel Shimshara –  are represented in “massive cast aluminum and steel works” now on display.  According to Kidwell, the five paintings titled ” Monumental Wall Reliefs by Frank Stella” “demonstrate the influence of archaeological discoveries upon Stella’s fecund imagination and display his mastery of transforming the past into a tangible present.”

Kidwell noted that Stella travelled throughout the Middle East.  His experiences and the influence of the ancient sites reflected throughout his career.  Interpretations of aspects of each site distilled through his artistic inspiration appear in many of his works.

The Vered Gallery has mounted a unique exhibit which will run through August 30th.  As preparations for the holiday begin, the famed East Hampton art centre presents A Stitch in Jewish Time, an homage to the use of “materials, form, construction and creative reach.” Subjects of the pieces range from the Holocaust to history, patriotism to celebration, feminism to family, prayer to personal memory.

The concept of the exhibit was developed by Laura Kruger, who was curator at Hebrew Union College in New York.  The artists on display represent a wide range of mediums – from thread to metal, simple to complex – and exhibit influences of many cultures. The photographs of Ruth Gruber add a measure of stark reality, acting as a juxtaposition of reality to the pure imagination of the art displayed.

The Vered Gallery is at 68 Park Place, East Hampton, NY, and can be reached at 631 324 3303