Digital Photography for Traditional Photographers

Private Tutoring

One on One

If you've worked in a darkroom, understand traditional photographic techniques and are reasonably comfortable with a computer, Andy Foster, can teach you digital photography in 4 hours.

We customize the lessons so you learn exactly what you need. We work with your images and you leave with perfectly corrected digital files ready to be framed.

Call for questions and testimonials...

$300/4 hrs.

Raisa Nosova iPad Animations

Raisa Nosova - her work comes to life stroke by stroke!
Click here to view her iPad animations on Vimeo (Also available as limited edition prints)

Raisa Nosova is a classically trained painter and honors graduate of Fashion Institute of Technology. She grew up in Russia and speaks 5 languages. She has exhibited at the Morristown Museum, Art Students League of New York, the NJIT Museum, and Rhode Island School of Design. She has also done public art installations at Art Basil in Miami and the Armory Show in New York City. This is Raisa's first solo exhibition at Gallery 51. This new body of work continues Raisa's painterly style using broad gestural brush strokes to define light, space, shape, and detail.

Her show can be seen at Gallery 51 through March 4th

Anie Knipping

Time-Lapse

Click here to watch video on YouTube , Anie Knipping is an autistic synesthete with the unique ability to convey her world to those around her through text and image. Her first book, "Eccentricity" is a massively illustrated guide to her brain and psyche, created over the past seven years in an attempt to bridge her world with ours. It is currently available for order through the gallery. We ultimately hope to get it published.

YouTube

Scott Gordley Opening Movie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvNmZ31uKig

Montclair Gallery Walk: A Little Night Art VIII

Friday, October 21, 2011

6-9pm

Join us for an evening tour celebrating the Montclair visual arts community. Fourteen venues including a free tour at the Montclair Art Museum (reservations required).

Hop on the art bus!
Park free at the museum and take the complimentary shuttle to all venues beginning at 6pm where you will enjoy the work and meet many of the artists.

New Children's Program
Arts activities for the whole family from 3-5pm.

See full details and event schedule at www.montclaircenter.com!

Opening Reception: Scott Gordley

Saturday, Sept. 19

5-10 pm

time lapse photography will be in effect



Scott Gordley is the Chair of Art and Design at Montclair State University. He began his career in New York as an illustrator with clients including: Time, Esquire, Saatchi & Saatchi, and Ogilvy & Mather. In 1999 a retrospective of his work was held at the Avenida de Los Artistas Gallery in Vienna. In February of 2004 he was one of 40 artists selected by New Yorker critic Peter Schjeldahl to participate in the exhibition "Critical Mass." Mr. Gordley showed at the Museum of American Illustration in NYC and was recently honored by inclusion both the Society of Illustrators 48th Annual and in the American Illustration anthology: Best of American Illustration Anthologies 24 and 26. Most recently, Scott had a solo exhibition at the Apollo Theatre featuring his "Legends of Jazz" series. This is Mr. Gordley's 2nd solo exhibition at Gallery 51.

10% of all proceeds will be donated to Montclair State University

Scott Gordley

Feature Story

Scott Gordley deconstructs family myths in ‘Family Portraits’ (by Joan Finn - October 01, 2009)

Artist Talk and Book Signing
Sunday October 18 (2pm - 4pm)

Gallery 51 owner Andy Foster really has an eye for spotting artistic talent. Two years ago he knew he had encountered a remarkable talent when he exhibited the paintings of artist Scott Gordley in his Church Street gallery. The exhibit, called "Legends of Jazz," featured Gordley’s paintings of jazz greats like Ray Charles, Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk. It ran for seven weeks and garnered rave reviews from both critics and the public alike.

The artist’s current show, "Family Portraits," a collection of oils and watercolor paintings, mostly of his family, is his second exhibition at the gallery. It will be on view through Nov. 1. "When I look at artists to represent, I look at more than just their work. It’s really about the complete package," said Foster, who has owned the Church Street gallery for the past five years. "I liked Scott from the moment I met him and I didn’t even know he was an artist. He came to Gallery 51 during an exhibition of Tim Gaydos. Scott told me he was a jazz musician and would love to play a gig at the Gallery sometime — he didn’t even mention he was a painter. He talked for awhile about jazz and when he was about to leave mentioned he was a painter and a professor at Montclair State University … and gave me his card. I checked out his work online and was absolutely blown away. I thought he was one of the best painters I had ever seen." Foster called him the next day and they started planning the artist’s first show.

Scott’s work appeals to both the general public and serious collectors, according to Foster. One of his Fontainebleau paintings was purchased by New York Times best-selling author Dorothy Frank who lives in Montclair. The painting was highlighted in a feature article written about her. Frank stated the painting "takes her back to her own childhood" and "the surreal quality somehow makes it even more real because it appeals to your psyche and not just your visual sensibility."

Foster likes showing technical artists, and for sure, Scott Gordley fits that criteria. "He’s truly a world-class illustrator and painter and has the résumé to back it up," Foster told The Times. "He was a very successful commercial illustrator for 20 years with high-profile clients — top agencies, including Saachi & Saachi, Ogilvy and Mather, and Time and Esquire magazines. He’s had major retrospectives of his work shown in both New York and in Europe, and most recently had a solo exhibition of his ‘Legends of Jazz’ series at the Apollo Theater in New York."

Gordley is also the chair of the Art and Design Department at Montclair State University. "He’s a rare talent, an amazing artist, and an important educator," Foster pointed out. "On top of all this, he’s remarkably down to earth and makes himself equally accessible to undergraduate and graduate students alike."

Gallery 51 is genuinely committed to giving back to the community — specifically the arts — so when Foster proposed to give 10 percent of sales from the show to Montclair State University, Scott was thrilled. In fact, he was going to suggest the very same thing.

Like many university professors, Scott is also an accomplished author and lecturer, publishing numerous insightful essays throughout his career. Because of that, Gallery 51 will be hosting a book signing for him on Sunday, Oct. 18, from 2 to 4 p.m. The book is a detailed catalog of Scott’s two shows at Gallery 51 as well as other works. The featured essay, "Scriptures at a Deposition," illuminates how the artist approaches his art and is a perfect read as a psychological journal. In this essay, Scott tackles gender issues, the archetypes of masculine and feminine and the family unit as a whole. He has delivered this paper as a lecture at universities throughout Europe and Asia, and most recently in France and Japan this past summer.

Scott’s new and growing body of work of family portraits (dysfunctional as he describes it) is more personal and deeper than what may be immediately apparent. According to Foster, they are allegorical, and very referential both literally and within a historical continuum. They are painted from actual family photographs (some from the late ’50s and early ’60s), but the narratives and situations are often embellished, where the familiar characters are often transported into different scenes entirely. "I use my family and extended family as models for symbolic and metaphorical statements addressing issues of family, heredity, and in come cases, family dysfunction — inherent in most of the families I know," the artist went on to explain. "The new series is actually a continuation of what I have been working on for the past 10 years," he added. "Earlier, I painted and documented my life as a single parent to a young daughter. Still in the ‘family’ genre, I was most interested in issues of gender — masculine stereotypes and female commodification." "The first personal memories we have usually involve one’s own family, the beginning of our story — by far, the most fundamental influence," Scott went on to explain. "Those of us in the creative arts — whether visual, written or performed — spend the majority of our lives writing and rewriting our story for the sake of self-definition. Destroying the myths, false traditions, lies and distortions attached to family is the fuel.

"Picasso’s statement, ‘Every act of creation is first of all an act of destruction,’ never rang truer than it does today," the artist stressed. "It is important to destroy the false myths my family shares. To create new narratives from the debris of this destruction helps to better define us as individuals and influences our relationships with each other. It is a life quest, the only real artistic path I’ve followed. And like family, I didn’t choose it. It chose me."

Contact Joan Finn at finn@montclairtimes.com

Claire Rosen: Artist Talk

Saturday, June 6

6:30 - 8:00 pm

Claire Rosen, with guest curator Pat Bell, will be previewing Claire's new book "In the Dark" and giving insight into the exhibition.

Topics that will be discussed:

The Photographic Process

Selection and Framing

Installation

Public Relations and Marketing

Critics and Press

Publishing

Anie Knipping

Feature Story

'Gallery 51 exhibits the vibrant work of a gifted, autistic artist’ (by Joan Finn - May 06, 2010)

Gallery owner Andy Foster really has an eye for spotting artistic talent. And he's proving it again in his latest exhibition — a showcase of stunning artwork by Anie Knipping, a young Montclair artist living with autism. The exhibition opens May 8 at Gallery 51, located at 51 Church St.

Anie approached Foster during his annual Students and Intern Show last year. A recent graduate of Montclair State University, she was interested in both showing and working at Gallery 51.

"There were some issues, however," Foster told The Times. "She's autistic with Asperger syndrome, clinically depressed, suffers from extreme anxiety, agoraphobia, has sleep disorders, is obsessive-compulsive, and is oddly sensitive to light as well as atmospheric pressure.

"The good news is that she's truly gifted and very likable."

Anie had put together a book for her senior thesis at MSU called "Eccentricity." She had worked on it for more than seven years. "Eccentricity" is basically a beautifully designed, insightful psychology book (written in the first person) describing and illustrating her conditions and psyche.

"It's both philosophical and scientific," Foster pointed out. "While it is deeply personal, it is not sentimental or particularly emotional. It's very well written in an unpretentious, quirky style.

"And, of course, the illustrations are nothing short of astonishing," he added. "Gallery 51 published it in an on-demand format and it is currently available through www.Gallery51.org and can be borrowed from the Montclair Public Library as well. We are still looking for a larger publishing house or University Press to take it to the next level."

The exhibition "Eccentricity" is a combination of original pieces (watercolors, pen-and-ink drawings, oils and pastels) and limited-edition prints from Anie's book. Although the works for the book were actually created to specifically illustrate an idea or concept that she was writing about, they very much stand on their own as fine art pieces.

In an effort to give back and increase awareness of mental health disorders, Gallery 51 has partnered with Grasp.org and will be donating 10 percent of all proceeds.

Grasp.org is a non-profit organization committed to supporting people with all forms of autism and developmental disorders.

"Anie has a rare condition called synesthesia, which affects her life and clearly influences her art," Foster said. In explaining her condition, Anie told him: "Synesthesia literally means 'joined sensation,'" she stated. "It means that there are no barriers between my senses, allowing them to blend in unusual ways. I can hear color, feel a sound, and taste light. I've never tried psychedelic drugs, but from what people have described, it's sort of like that."

She also described for him her creative process and how she embraces digital technology. "I use the computer (Photoshop, Illustrator) not as a tool, but as a medium," she stated. "A blank computer screen is the same as a blank canvas, but better, because I have complete control over it. If I don't like the direction something is going in, I can change it. And the finished piece is exactly what I want it to be."

As a gallery owner/curator, Foster noted that there are two very exciting types of shows to produce. "One is doing a retrospective or showing unseen work by notable established artists, like Fred Stein or Scott Gordley. The other is showing unproven artists that are future legends, like James Adelman and Claire Rosen."

"And then, there's the wild card," he said. "And Anie Knipping is that wild card."

"She's a genius, with social significance, but because of her autism, I have no idea whether she will ever be commercially successful, and it doesn't really matter either way," he added. "What matters is that she's inspirational."

Contact Joan Finn at finn@montclairtimes.com.

Gallery51

Feature Story

'Gallery 51 showcases exhibitions with strong visual appeal’ (by Joan Finn - September 02, 2010)

Gallery 51 will be celebrating its sixth anniversary in Montclair this fall — a remarkable feat for any art gallery, especially in these difficult economic times.

That success is due, in part, to gallery owner Andy Foster, and his discerning eye for spotting artistic talent.

Over the years, the gallery has showcased more than 30 exhibitions featuring notable young artists (Claire Rosen and James Adelman) as well as the retrospectives of recognized masters (Fred Stein, Scott Gordley and Tim Gaydos). Gallery 51 tends to show the work of technical masters, as well as painters with strong illustrative qualities and photographers who merge fine art and commercial appeal.

"In the six years our doors have been open, we've had more than 6,000 visitors sign our guest book," gallery owner Andy Foster told The Times. "It's very satisfying just to know that people genuinely respond to what we are doing."

A successful commercial photographer and teacher himself, Foster has discovered tremendous talent through his internship program. He has sponsored more than 40 interns from Montclair State, Rutgers, New York University, Parsons and Carnegie Mellon. Interns not only work on actual productions, but get to show off their talents each year in the annual Students and Interns Show. Former intern Noa Griffel is now shooting for Tory Burch and Atlantic Records; Ariel Coronas went on to work with Betsey Johnson and is now a full-time designer with the legendary Norma Kamali; and James Adelman received the largest scholarship ever awarded from the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan, where he will begin his M.F.A. studies this fall.

"Our openings are always tremendous fun," Foster said. "Often with 200 people visiting throughout the course of an evening." Foster teaches the photography and video interns how to shoot and edit time-lapse movies of the openings, which are then put on YouTube. "There's no better way to learn than by just doing it," he said.

Gallery 51 has also hosted musical performances, film previews, artist talks and even book signings. "We really like to create a dynamically interactive atmosphere," he said. "For some of our larger exhibitions, we've even published catalogs, which is very unusual for a gallery of our size."

Montclair is the perfect community in which to open a gallery and Church Street is the ideal location, Foster pointed out. "Montclair is a thriving art scene and is a real destination," he said. "The Montclair Art Museum is a big draw, and being surrounded by a wine shop and fine dining, boutiques, and an art house movie theater, helps as well." He noted that Montclair State is a growing university that keeps expanding its art programs and that Scott Gordley, chair of art and design at MSU, has had two solo exhibits at the gallery. He also acknowledged that the Montclair Arts Council has helped with grants they've received for destination marketing, and that their Fall and Spring Gallery Walks are always great events.

"The economy has changed, and like everyone else, we've had to make adjustments," he said. "But we've been lucky that many prominent collectors have been there from the beginning and continue to look to us to showcase breakout talent. Patricia Bell, vice president of the Board of Trustees at the Montclair Art Museum, has a very well-known contemporary art collection and has been one of our greatest fans. She still looks to us to see who we'll discover next.

"Moving forward, I'd like to expand the educational opportunities at Gallery 51," said Foster, who also teaches photography and Photoshop privately and at the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey in Summit. "There is a growing audience for digital media. And the tools are becoming more and more accessible," he said. "For a photographer, educator and gallery owner like me, these are exciting times."

Dan Bischoff Reviews the 23rd International Juried Show at the Visual Arts Center of NJ

Read Dan Bischoff's review of the 23rd International Show at The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey

YouTube: Intens and Students Opening

Jan. 31, 2009

See the TimeLapse of the Interns and Students Opening Reception on YouTube


Pick Out Your Friends!

2nd Annual Interns & Students Exhibition

Feature Story

'Interns & Students': A New Generation of Emerging Artists (by Joan Finn - December 03, 2010)

Gallery owner Andy Foster always had an eye for spotting artistic talent. A successful commercial photographer and teacher, he has discovered a tremendous array of talent through his internship program at Gallery 51.

Over the past 15 years, Foster has sponsored more than 50 interns from Montclair State, Rutgers, New York University, Parsons, the Fashion Institute of Technology, Carnegie Mellon, |the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, and most recently, Yale University.

Interns develop their technical skills by working on real projects and are involved in the day-to-day operations of both a production studio and an art gallery. And they also get to show off their talents in the gallery's annual "Interns and Students" exhibition.

"It's exciting to see professional development. Despite a difficult economy, many former interns are experiencing notable success," Foster told The Times. Noa Griffel is now shooting for Tory Burch and Atlantic Records; Ariel Coronas went on to work with Betsy Johnson and is now a full-time designer with the legendary Norma Kamali; Gustavo Montoya is chief graphic designer at the Montclair Art Museum; and Arthur Kobin was recently promoted to studio director at Gallery 51.

"Portfolio development and helping students get into desired colleges is equally rewarding," he said. Julie Reiter began studying photography with Foster when she was a freshman at The Montclair Kimberley Academy. She is now a freshman at Yale.

"Getting into top universities is so competitive that sometimes being a straight A student and having big SAT scores isn't enough," he pointed out. "They look for special talents and achievements in areas beyond academics. But a well-developed portfolio is a huge plus." And that's where Foster excels — focusing on portfolio development for college admissions.

Foster also works with adults, developing their photography and Photoshop/Lightroom editing skills. "Many of my clients are frustrated adults who have a decent understanding of photography and may have even worked in a darkroom at one time. Some want to learn to make more compelling travel photos while others really want to learn the art of portraiture. I teach them to cross over to digital and master the editing tools needed to produce competitive images," he said.

All of Foster's employees are former interns. "It's a win-win for everyone," he said. "We already know we work well together and everybody knows what's expected. It's difficult finding work in one's specific field of study, so getting a job is huge for a young person.

"It's cliché to say, but I think I learn as much from my students as they do from me," he added. "They help me stay on top of fashion trends, social networking, and pop culture in general. There is a paradigm shift under way where information, media and entertainment is being consumed very differently. It's important to understand this in order to continue to be successful."

As a gallery owner/curator, Foster noted that there are two very exciting types of shows to produce. "One is doing a retrospective or showing unseen work by notable established artists. The other is showing unproven artists that are future legends like these interns."

Opening Reception:Interns and Students Exhibition

Saturday, January 31

5pm - 10pm

Gallery 51 will be showcasing its first annual Interns and Students Exhibition. The Opening Reception will be on Saturday January 31st, and the show will run through March 1. Gallery 51 will be featuring the extraordinary talents of 6 female artists: Julie Reiter, Noa Griffel, Raisa Nosova, Lauren Brown, Sam Scannell and Ariel Coronis (ages, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 24 respectively) and Ira Wagner (retired 27 year Wall Street Veteran). The work includes large scale figurative and abstract painting, conceptual BW photography, documentary and landscape photography, fantasy illustration, and fashion design. The work is fresh and innovative but still meticulously executed, meeting the demanding standards that you would expect for all artist we represent at Gallery 51. We are currently looking for new Interns to work at Gallery51 and show their work in next years exhibition.



Lauren Brown (Intern: Spring 2007)
Montclair State University: Senior
Lauren Brown is an exceptional illustrator focusing on fantasy characters and scenarios. She hopes to pursue a career as a video game designer.

Ariel Coronis (Intern Summer:2006)
Canegie Mellon University: BFA 2006
After completing her internship at Gallery 51 and Graduating from Carnegie Mellon University Ariel was able to secure a designing internship at Betsey Johnson. She later parleyed her experience into a full time design position with the legendary Norma Kamali.

Noa Griffel (Intern: Fall 2008)
Montclair State University: BFA 2008
MFA School of Visual Arts: First Year
Noa is something of a prodigy. After recieving her BFA at the age of 17 from Montclair State University, she was immediately accepted to the renowned Masters program at the School of Visual Arts. Her work ranges from traditional B&W photography, to complex digital imagery and interactive design.

Raisa Nosova (Intern: Fall 2008)
Fashion Institute of Technology: Junior
Raisa immigrated to United States from Russia 7 years ago. Raisa is not only an award winning painter and illustrator, but a classically trained ballerina, and pianist. Some people are just way too talented!

Sam Scannell (Intern: Spring 2009)
Montclair State University: Senior
Sam works in various mediums, including oil, pastel, and watercolor. Her work is mysterious and has a distinct sense of freedom.

Montclair Gallery Walk

Friday, October 24, 2008

6-9pm

To visit the Montclair Arts Council Website and learn more about upcoming events and projects, click the below link...

http://www.montclairarts.org/projects-gallery.asp

The Montclair Arts Council along with the Montclair Gallery Association has organized the second installment of A Little Night Art. Participating galleries include: Brassworks, Essex Fine Arts, Gallery 51, Gallery Loupe, George Segal Gallery, Kling Arts, MFEE/Laraja Gallery @ Montclair High School, Montclair Art Museum, Montclair Public Library, and Studio Montclair – Block Gallery. Each Gallery will host its’ own special event and reception. There will be 2 FREE shuttle busses providing non-stop transportation from one gallery to the next. You can park at the Montclair Art Museum for free and catch a ride there. Gallery visitors will be able to validate their gallery card at each location and with five or more signatures; they will be eligible for a raffle with the grand prize being an exclusive chocolate tasting at The Chocolate Path. Many local restaurants are also offering amenities and bonuses such as complementary appetizers and deserts!

Opening Reception:James Adelman

Saturday, Sept. 27

5-10pm

Saturday, September 27

5- 10PM
Come join us and celebrate with wine, champagne and desert! It's James Adelman's 2nd solo exhibition at Gallery 51... This exhibition will feature large scale oil paintings as well as works on paper, sketches and studies.

YouTube: Opening Reception Timelapse

Saturday, August 9, 2008

See the TimeLapse of the Photography Opening Reception on YouTube Pick out your friends!

A Little Night Art

Friday, May 16

6 pm - 9 pm

Claire Rosen: Montclair Times Feature Story

Wednesday, February 27, 2008
By JOAN FINN
of The Montclair Times

Andy Foster, owner of Gallery 51, knew he had encountered a remarkable talent when he exhibited the work of photographer Claire Rosen, last year, in his Church Street gallery.

The exhibit, called “Me,. Myself and I,” ran for four weeks, and garnered rave reviews from both critics and the public alike. In it were two unique bodies of work — “Dolls in the Attic,” a documentary exploration of European dolls from the 1800s, and “Me, Myself and I,” a series of self-portraits by the artist.

Foster had been introduced to the artist by art advisor Patricia Selden, chair of public art for the Montclair Arts Council, who said he had to see her work. And she was right.

When Claire Rosen showed him both her ‘Dolls in the Attic’ series and about 10 self-portraits, and he knew immediately this was an artist he wanted to represent. ”We did her first show in February 2007. It was successful and we decided to make Valentine’s Day an annual event for Claire.” Her second show, which opened in early February, and continues through March 30 at Gallery 51, features new self-portraits by the artist. “It is the most successful show we’ve had to date,” Foster said.

Beyond Claire’s impressive portfolio of work, “she’s charming, and although only 24, she’s an old soul,” according to Foster. “Claire is extremely well versed in the history of photography as well as art in general, and has a great sense of contemporary design,” he said. “She has the instincts and sensibility of an artist, but the work ethic and mindset of a business professional.”

“‘Dolls in the Attic’ was one of the most original series of photographs I had seen in a long time,” the gallery owner said. “They didn’t suit my tastes on a personal level, but their artistic integrity couldn’t be ignored. They were mysterious, haunting and down right creepy. I was unsure whether I should show them, but in some ways, my apprehension is what convinced me to do it. People either love or hate them, but fortunately those that love them, have to have them….and sales were very strong.”

“Unlike Cindy Sherman, who Claire is often compared to, Claire’s self-portraits are quieter,” Foster pointed out. “They are created from a definitely feminine perspective but are not feminist. I see them as personal and introspective as opposed to being political. They are not commenting on society or making statements. Each portrait is more like a dream or scene from a film, where Claire, the costume and the scenery all reference and reinterpret a known fairy tale, myth or legend.”

Foster also noted that in addition to being a very technical photographer, Claire is also a brilliant costume and set designer. He feels the success of her self-portraits has very much to do with the overall art direction of her photo shoots.

After graduating from the Savannah College of Art and Design with a BFA in photography, Claire moved to Maine to work with the highly regarded fine art photographer, Joyce Tenneson, and the Maine Photographic Work-shops. Under Tenneson’s mentorship, Claire developed two bodies of work — “Dolls in the Attic” and “Me, Myself and I.” In “Dolls in the Attic” the portraits are stunning in their resolution and detail, illuminating every fold and every chip in their hand-painted porcelain faces. And from this project evolved an examination of self that materialized as the self-portrait series, “Me, Myself and I.”

In commenting on “Dolls in the Attic,” Claire said “I was immediately intrigued by the dolls as objects of another time — fixed within their periods, yet still able to speak to us today. They’re quirky, bizarre, imperfect and damaged. As inanimate objects, they have an almost human quality. They started out as innocent playthings and as the years have passed, they’ve become quite haunting.”

Regarding her self-portrait series, she noted, “There’s a universal impulse to do self-portraits as a means of personal introspection.” But Claire’s self-portraits started as a lucky accident. She had scheduled an elaborate fashion photo shoot, but the model suddenly was unavailable. So she shot the images with herself as the model, just so she wouldn’t waste the set-ups and the assistant.

When her mentor, Joyce Tenneson was reviewing the images from that day, she commented that the shots were more interesting than if they had been done with a model. “The personal involvement gave them an intimacy that made them more powerful reflections of me and my creative instincts,” she said.

Joyce Tennyson was one the people Claire most admired while studying photography at college. “Working with someone I have revered is inspiring and has given me the confidence to pursue my own path,” she said. “Joyce is incredibly generous with her time, ideas and energy, and has been unfailingly supportive of me on a personal and professional basis.”

Just two years out of college, Claire has already attracted widespread attention with her work already featured in seven exhibitions, from New York City to Atlanta, and New Jersey and Maine. Most recently, her work has been included in the permanent collection of Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen and Hamilton, a firm that was awarded last year for having the most important corporate art collection in New York City.

“It’s exciting to do something you’re passionate about,” said Claire, who grew up in Montclair, but now ho di-vides her time between Montclair and Maine. “I almost can’t believe I get paid to be a photographer. Who wouldn’t dream of waking up every day and doing a job that they love?”

The eldest of four sisters, Claire has yielded to this fascination with the psychology of childhood and the feminine. Claire notes that she has a creative mom — Dolly — a great cook and well-known baker. She reports that her sup-portive father — Edward — has indulged her creative and esthetic impulses, but claims “it’s not accidental that my mother’s name is Dolly and my first big show was a collection of doll images.”

Claire’s artistic heroes include Maggie Taylor, Sarah Moon, Franchesca Woodman Cig Harvey, Robert and Shana Parke-Harrison, and the French illustrator Louis Icart. Most of her influence has been drawn from works by Hans Christian Andersen, The Grimm Brothers, Lewis Carrol, Frank Baum and Dare Wright.

Claire’s work has been compared to Cig Harvey, Cindy Sherman and Franchesca Woodman, but she believes her self-portraits most closely resemble Cig Harvey’s images. “There is something universal about the insecurities and vulnerabilities that women who take self-portraits are trying to express and communicate,” she said. “I remember seeing Cig’s images for the first time and feeling like someone completely understood how I felt.”

“We all want to express ourselves in ways that are personal,” she concluded. “Photography is a particularly good medium for self-expression because it works on so many levels — it’s art, craft and technology. It’s visual, creative and esthetic. It gives me the opportunity to communicate and connect with people in ways that are beyond what I might say with words.”

“Claire is an artist that will continue to impress,” Foster said. “I have no doubt that she will be showing in prime time New York galleries in the very near future. This is Claire’s second show at Gallery 51, and has been amazingly received by both critics and patrons. With that said, I wouldn’t be surprised if her next body of work is a total departure from what she’s showing now.”

“Clare enjoys success but won’t let it dictate her artistic direction,” he added. “She is young and brave and poised to become a real player in the competitive world of fine art photography. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!”

Claire Rosen: Opening Reception

Saturday, February 9

5pm - 10 pm

Gallery 51 will be featuring new work from Claire Rosen’s photographic self portrait series “Me, Myself, and I” in a solo exhibition opening Saturday, February 9 and running through March. A catered opening reception will be held on the 9th from 5pm to 10pm.

After graduating from Savannah College of Art and Design with a BA in Photography in 2006 she moved to Maine to work for the highly regarded fine art photographer, Joyce Tenneson and the Maine Photographic Workshops. Under Ms. Tenneson’s mentorship, Ms. Rosen has developed two very provocative bodies of work. The first project is a documentary exploration of antique European dolls from the late 1800s; the series of over 100 images is compiled into Ms. Rosen’s first book, Dolls in the Attic. The doll series inspired her second project, Me Myself and I.

Through self-portraiture, Ms. Rosen explores concepts that go beyond the everyday world. Although the images may seem realistic enough and have recognizable landscapes woven into them upon closer inspection there is much more to be derived. The subtle unrealistic nature of these images is important as it gives insight into the internal processes taking place in the individual. Her concern is not to document the external world but to provide a mirror of personal inner experience.

The character created in these self-portraits expresses both a bold self-awareness and also an unmistakable alienation. Simultaneously there exists a fascination and ambivalence about being female. Ms. Rosen explores the power of beauty to seduce and at the same time victimize. This dichotomy reveals itself beneath the surface of the mythical isolated worlds she creates. While these images reflect personal vulnerability they are sentiments that remain universal for most women.

Claire Rosen grew up in Montclair, NJ. She is the eldest of four sisters and has had a life long fascination with the psychology of childhood and memory. Much of her inspiration has come from fairy tales, nursery rhymes, fables and other children’s stories. She is drawn both to beauty and darkness, as it exists in life, and her images explore this duality.

NJ Monthly feature: Stein exhibit

Extended - Feb. 2

New Jersey Monthly
Fred Stein
Small-Camera Giant

By Eric Levin

In the pantheon of Europeans who pioneered 35-mm photography, the name Stein may not resonate like Kertész or Cartier-Bresson, but it belongs. Born in Dresden in 1909, the son of a rabbi, Fred Stein arrived in Paris in 1933 with a law degree (the Nazis wouldn’t admit him to the bar), a bride, and a Leica camera. His photos of Paris and, after 1941, of New York, are as notable for their unobtrusive acuity as for their diverse subject matter. Had he not died in 1967 at 58, Stein would surely be better known today. His son, cinematographer Peter Stein, and gallery owner Andy Foster have put together 70 pictures that show why Stein deserves to be remembered.

Fred Stein Opening Reception

Saturday, November 17

5pm - 10pm

Fred Stein is in the permanent collections of the National Museum of American Art, the International Center of Photography (ICP), The National Portrait Gallery (Smithsonian), the Musee Carnavalet (Paris) and the Jewish Museum. The first retrospective of his work was held at the International Center of Photography in 1995. Helen A. Harrison of the New York Times wrote, "Like all good photojournalists, Fred Stein had an eye for intriguing detail and a knack for capturing the revealing moment. But more important, he combined a documentarian's acumen with an artist's visual sensibility."

Fred Stein (1909-1967) was born in Dresden, Germany. The son of a Rabbi, he became a brilliant law student and fervent anti-Nazi activist. In 1933, he fled to Paris and living among a circle of expatriates, he began his career in photography. Armed with a Leica, he became a pioneer of the new hand-held 35mm format. When war was declared, Stein was put into an internment camp. As the Nazis invaded Paris, he managed to escape to America with his wife and baby daughter. In New York, he quickly became a well respected and successful photographer. In addition to documentary street photography, Stein did portraits of over 1200 personalities, including Albert Einstein, Eleanor Roosevelt, Georgia O'Keeffe, Salvador Dali, John Steinbeck, and Marc Chagall. To see more of Stein's work, go to www.Gallery51.org and plan a visit to the Gallery.

Gallery Walk: Scott Gordley Trio

Sunday October 14

noon to 5 pm

The Montclair Arts Council has brought together 10 Montclair Art Galleries, The George Segal Gallery at MSU and The Montclair Art Museum...

The Scott Gordley Trio will be performing throughout the day at Gallery 51. This is a very special opportunity to see both sides of the artist, the visual and the musical. It's free plus plenty of refreshments!

You can pick up a map at any of the participating galleries or download one at www.montclairarts.org.

Scott Gordley Opening Reception

Saturday October 13

5pm - 10 pm

Scott Gordley is currently a Professor of Fine Arts at Montclair State University. He began his career in New York illustrating for clients including Time, Esquire, Reader’s Digest, Newsday, Saatchi & Saatchi, and Ogilvy & Mather. In 1999 a retrospective of his work was held at the Avenida de Los Artistas Gallery in Vienna. In February of 2004 he was one of 40 artists selected by New Yorker critic Peter Schjeldahl to participate in the exhibition “Critical Mass.” Gordley had two major exhibitions in Manhattan in the summer of 2004 and participated in the American Exhibition at the Museum of American Illustration in NYC. Most recently, he was honored by inclusion in the Society of Illustrators 48th Annual American Illustration exhibition and in the American Illustration anthology: Best of American Illustration.

Montclair Gallery Walk

Sunday May 20

Noon - 5:00 pm

The Montclair Arts Council (MAC) and the Montclair Gallery Association invite you to their second Gallery Walk on Sunday, May 20, from 12-5 pm. This is a free event.

You can pick up a map at any of the participating galleries or download one at www.montclairarts.org.

There are eleven stops to make along the way, from the George Segal Gallery at Montclair State University to others located in Upper Montclair, Frog Hollow, Walnut Street, and Montclair Center. Participating galleries include Artspace 129, Dupre Gallery, Gallery 51, Gallery Loupe (new addition to the Gallery Walk), George Segal Gallery at MSU, Jacklyn Kling Gallery, JKK Fine Arts, Makeready Press Gallery/Gallery 214 ArtSpace, Midland Gallery, the Montclair Art Museum (free admission), and Studio Montclair's Block Gallery.

Take this opportunity to see new art offerings and enjoy the special events scheduled at the many fine galleries located in Montclair. Each gallery has a unique perspective on artists and their work, guaranteeing the gallery-goer an interesting tour.

Introduction to Digital Photography

February 6 - March 13

Tuesday Evenings 7:00 - 8:30pm

Andy Foster, renowned commercial and fine art photographer, will host a 6 week class.
You will learn the basics of Digital Photography including post production processing (Photoshop and other popular Digital Imaging Programs)

Genres of Photography We Will Study
Family Portraits and Pets
Landscapes
Sports
Theater/Performance
Low Light/Night
Travel
Architecture
Still Life/Products

Call or Email to save your Spot Class is limited to 6 $300
CLASS IS FULL
MORE WORKSHOPS TO COME

Summer Reception

Saturday, July 21

6pm - 10 pm

It's summer and what a better time to party! Come on by, have some wine, socialize and check out new works by Andy Foster. We will be showing scenes from Montclair, large scale panoramas, Chihuly at the New York Botanical Garden, Bangz the "Art of Hair" and excerpts from Window Seat Photography.

Paul Grech Artist Reception

Saturday, Sept. 15

5pm - 10 pm

Back by popular demand! Paul Grech, artist and molecular biologist, will be having his second solo exhibition at Gallery 51 from September 8 through October 7. Come out for this very special Artist Reception on Saturday September 15th. From 5pm to 10pm we will be serving wine and refreshments.

51 Church Street | Montclair, NJ 07042 | 973.744.4484 | info@gallery51.org