Jason Bard Yarmosky, The Boxer, 2012 Oil on canvas, 72 x 60 inches |
“Elder Kinder”
May 3 – June 2, 2012
Artist’s Reception:
Thursday, May 3, 2012 (6-8pm)
Lyons Wier Gallery
542 West 24th St.,
New York, NY 10011
Gallery Hours: Tues - Sat, 11-6pm
Nearest subway: C,E @ 23rd St and 8th Ave
"After changes upon changes, we are more or less the same."
– Paul Simon
Elder Kinder, Jason Bard Yarmosky’s first solo show with Lyons Wier Gallery, pays homage to the idea that age is not a deterrent to living fully, but rather a springboard for exploration.
Adding to his earlier works, these meticulously constructed and strikingly life-like new paintings examine the relationship between the limitations of social norms and the freedom to explore, particularly the juxtaposition between the young and old. The carefree nature that is associated with youth often gives way to borders and boundaries placed on adult behavior. As we transition from adult to elderly, these raw freedoms often reemerge. As a child you learn to walk; later in life we learn to unwalk, literally and metaphorically. However, the dreams of the young, often sublimated by the years, never really disappear.
The artist chose to explore this theme with two people very close to him, his eighty-four year old grandparents. The process of aging has always intrigued Yarmosky. "The lack of permanence in life and the inevitability of aging has always been on my mind growing up. I am also interested in how people, in both mind and body, respond to the passage of time." His paintings reveal an enduring truth. As Madeleine L'Engle said, "The great thing about getting older is that you don't lose all the other ages you've been."
The resulting paintings capture the intersection of the battered body and the vibrant soul. The images in this series can be seen as either humiliating or empowering. The pessimist sees the images through the lens of shame and vulnerability, weighed down by social convention. The optimist sees a sense of liberation, where an adolescent's playfulness and the freedom to dream complement the wisdom of old age.
Jason Bard Yarmosky is a graduate of the School of Visual Arts in New York City. His paintings and drawings have been exhibited and collected throughout the United States and in countries around the world. His work has appeared in numerous publications including American Artist, New American Paintings, Hi Fructose, 20 minutos, and The Huffington Post. He is a past recipient of the Elizabeth Greenshield Award. Jason Bard Yarmosky lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.
Click here for exhibition preview
For more information, please contact:
Lyons Wier Gallery
542 West 24th Street, New York, NY 10011
Tel: (212) 242 6220
Email: gallery@lyonswiergallery.com
www.lyonswiergallery.com
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