STILL LIFE

BELLA FOSTER & ELWYN PALMERTON

18 January – 24 February, 2008

SOUTHFIRST gallery is proud to present STILL LIFE. The two-person exhibition pairs recent paintings by Bella Foster with new mixed media sculptures and graphite drawings by Elwyn Palmerton. The exhibition is on view from January 18 - February 24.

Ceramic Foo Dogs as portraits of their imaginary owners, and concatenate Styrofoam packing material piles as a reflection of America. As the objects in a still life reveal themselves, we see something else: an empty home, a garbage glut, an obsession with opulence. It’s not only our eyes that make this case, and sometimes tables do in fact dance. But occasionally a cigar is just a cigar. Foster’s paintings of vases, interiors and chairs nod to Cezanne, Van Gogh and Mary Fedden, while Palmerton’s sculptures, with titles including “America Runs on the One and Only Cool Bubble Guaranteed in Every Box,” demur to a more pop sensibility.

Bella Foster graduated with a BFA from SVA. Her work has appeared at Printed Matter, Champion Fine Art, and ATM gallery, among other venues. She lives and works in Brooklyn.

Elwyn Palmerton graduated with an MFA from SVA in 2004. He has exhibited his sculpture in numerous group and solo shows, most recently “The Revolution” at HQ gallery. He curated “Homing Devices” at Broadway Gallery, writes about art, and lives and works in New Jersey.

SOUTHFIRST is located on 60 N6th Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Gallery hours are Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 1-6 PM and by appointment. Subway: L train to Bedford Avenue. For more information, please contact Southfirst at 718 599 4884 or info@southfirst.org.