Exhibition Opening | Joe Sorren "The Great Cantaloupe Day"

Joe Sorren: The Great Cantaloupe Day "...it's like hanging out with the most magnificent creatures, sometimes small, sometimes big, sometimes mean, always fleeting." ~ Joe Sorren about his paintings  Exhibition dates: February 24 through March 31, 2013 Opening reception for the artist: February 24, 2013, 6 - 9pm AFA of SoHo presents a collection of new paintings and sculpture by Joe Sorren, accompanied by a retrospective of more than 30 graphics, plus three new releases. This exhibition marks the beginning of AFA's exclusive representation of Mr. Sorren's artwork in New York, New Orleans and France.  The Overture and Into the Light, Lost    Mr. Sorren's fluid and expressive brush strokes convey deep care. His compositions are soft and soothing, and invite the viewer to explore deeply emotional subjects within hazy and dreamlike landscapes.     Mr. Sorren allows his artworks to evolve naturally and subconsciously. During the months and sometimes years that it takes for a painting to manifest, as new layers of paint are added, a figure may develop into a hill in a landscape, or perhaps a tree morphs into into a creature.     Current developments in Mr. Sorren's painting style evince a new manner of gravitas not seen in his  earlier compositions. Recent works are more abstract, using less contrasting forms with a lighter palette. They play with a more shallow depth-of-field, highlighting the tender faces and gestures of his signature figures.    Joe Sorren was born in 1970 in Chicago, IL. He was raised in Arizona and spent his childhood drawing on anything and everything that didn't move. After he earned a BFA from Northern Arizona University in 1993, he worked as the creative director for Transworld Snowboarding Magazine while raising his two children Martha Elaine and Henry Vincent. His first solo exhibition took place shortly afterwards in 1995 in Los Angeles. For the past 15 years since, he has shown his artwork in solo  exhibitions in galleries and museums in the United States and abroad. His artwork has appeared in publications such as The New Yorker, TIME and Rolling Stone, in addition to numerous cover stories in art publications, such as Juxtapoz. He has been awarded several coveted accolades, including a gold medal from the Society of Illustrators in New York, and a silver medal from the Society of Illustrators in Los Angeles. His first museum retrospective was held in Santa Ana in 2010, and his most recent book, Joe Sorren: Painting + Sculpture (2004-2010), was released in conjunction with that same exhibition. Currently working from his studio in New York City, Joe relies on a skateboard to get around town and has a serious love for telling duck jokes.    IMAGE The Great Cantaloupe Day © Joe Sorren  Original: 30" x 30" acrylic on canvas  New Graphic: Signed, 24 x 24" paper size, 20 x 20" print size.  Edition of 100 + 10 Artist Proofs   AFA 54 Greene Street, NY NY 10013 Hours: Monday - Saturday, 10am - 7pm / Sundays 11am - 6pm RSVP / Phone: 212.226.7374 More information:  Samantha Levin / 212.226.7374

"Awakened" - AFA Group Exhibition

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Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened. ~ Anatole France  WHO | AFA and Sloan Fine Art present an exhibition comprised of artwork from over 50 artists. Pia Salk, Adopt-a-Pet.com spokesperson and animal welfare expert will host a live auction.  WHAT | "Awakened," a special ten-day art exhibition and fundraising event inspired by, and benefitting, the pet companions that brighten all of our lives. Curator Alix Sloan has challenged over fifty artists to create works inspired by the powerful impact of animals in our lives and homes. A portion of the proceeds from every sale will be donated to Adopt-a-Pet.com in support of their mission to help find loving homes for homeless pets. In addition to the exhibition of original artwork, hard to find prints by Nicoletta Ceccoli, Tom Everhart, Shepard Fairey, Marion Peck and others will be available in a live auction, led by Pia Salk, the night of the reception.  WHERE |  AFA, 54 Greene Street @ Broome  Mapstrong>   PREVIEW | September 20, during the SoHo Arts Walk   EXHIBITION | September 20-29, 2012  RECEPTION FOR THE ARTISTS | September 22, 5-8PM CONTACT | Alix Sloan    RSVP | RSVP@afanyc.com GALLERY HOURS | Monday-Saturday, 10-7PM & Sunday, 11-6PM / 212.226.7374 PRESS RELEASE | Here   For more information about Adopt-a-Pet.com, North America's largest non-profit pet adoption website that helps shelters, humane societies, SPCAs, pet rescue groups, and pet adoption agencies advertise their homeless pets to adopters for free, contact Dana Puglisi or go to adoptapet.com. Participating artists, including several from AFA and Sloan Fine Art's rosters, include: Jessicka Addams, Jennybird Alcantara, Nicole Alvarez, Nana An, Jean-Pierre Arboleda, Carrie Anne Baade, Rebekah Bogard, Mia Brownell, Tim Burton, Bill Carman, Bryan Cunningham, Jason D'Aquino, Michelle Doll, Peter Drake, Nicole Etienne, Tom Everhart, Eric Finzi, Marc Finzi, Erik Foss, Camille Rose Garcia, Kady Grant, Leontine Greenberg, Linda Griggs, Gris Grimly, Evan B. Harris, Jason Holley, Anthony Iacono, Kate Javens, Lisa Lebofsky, Travis Louie, Julia Marchand, Elizabeth McGrath, Daniel Merriam, Gabriela Mesa-Jonassen, Scott Musgrove, Kathie Olivas & Brandt Peters, Joshua Petker, Ransom & Mitchell, Kirk Reinert, Martha Rich, Paul Richard, Ron Richter, Chris Roberts-Antieu, Jean-Pierre Roy, Jonny Ruzzo, Isabel Samaras, Ryan Scully, Heather Sherman, Nathan Skiles, Sally Sloan, Aaron Smith, Owen Smith, Nathan Spoor, Jonathan Viner, Melanie Vote, Lindsey Way, Casey Weldon, Eric White and Brad Woodfin.         Image: Jennybird Alcantara, 23" x 26" framed. Oil on wood in antique frame. AFA | At AFA, we are inspired by wildly imaginative artwork that indulges the senses and engages the emotions with layers of  symbolism and dark complexity. We exhibit paintings, drawings and sculptures created by extraordinary established and emerging artists who are highly skilled and have a unique vision. AFA participates in the SoHo Arts Walk, now in its fifth year. Artwork copyright protected. All Rights Reserved.

AFA | 212.226.7374 | 54 Greene Street | New York | NY | 10013

New paintings from Imaginary Surrealist Daniel Merriam

WHAT | New paintings from Imaginary Surrealist Daniel Merriam, The Greatest Show on Earth

WHERE | AFA, 54 Greene Street @ Broome

EXHIBITIION | May 26th - June 20, 2012

RECEPTION | May 26th from 6-8pm, rsvp@afanyc.com

MORE INFO | Heidi Leigh at heidi@afanyc.com or 212.226.7374

GALLERY HOURS | Mon. - Sat., 10am - 7pm and Sun., 11am - 6pm

PREVIEW | Here

Although life in the circus depends on discipline, struggle and sacrifice, it is divergent thinking that is the catalyst for the magic. This show is dedicated to the performer and the double lives they must lead.

"It has been said by many artists that art is often the result of a struggle. I can attest to this based on years of devoting my abilities to an art form heavily reliant on discipline. Both the body and the mind are fully employed in such an effort.  In my case it is the urge to create ever upstaged challenges both in my paintings and my real life as well, that gets me from frenzy to frustration to exhaustion.  I strive to work sculpturally and architecturally as I paint. Each time the environment becomes more of an obstacle as I encounter the physical limitations inherent with being human."

Born in 1963 in a rural town in Maine, Daniel Merriam is one of seven artistic children. He taught himself to paint at a very young age, and used his art as a method of reflective play throughout his childhood. He went on to study mechanical and architectural design at Central Maine Vocational Technical Institute. While still in school, he applied his dimensional skills and passion for architecture to his family's design and construction business.In 1986, Merriam shifted his focus solely to fine art, and later that year had his first solo exhibition in Maine. Since then, his exhibitions throughout the United States & Europe  have been lauded and achieved critical acclaim. Merriam's work is included in countless private collections and in such public collections as The Riverside Museum of Art in California, The Gesundheit! Institute in Virginia, the Manhattan Club in New York, and the Merrill Lynch collection.