Magnan Metz Gallery is proud to announce the opening of A Weekend in the Country, a group exhibition of contemporary artists Jude Broughan​, Ernesto Caivano, Anthony Goicolea​, Ellen Harvey​, Jason Middlebrook​, Donna Moylan​ and Spencer Tunick​, curated by Paul Laster.

Together, these artists explore a dialogue between landscape and abstraction.  

A visit to Donna Moylan’s magnificently restored 1820s’ residence in Kinderhook, NY and an awe-inspired viewing of Rob Marshall’s 2014 musical film Into the Woods, reminded the curator of how marvelously the compositions of Stephen Sondheim addresses contemporary times and brought his thoughts back to Sondheim’s whimsical tune “A Weekend in the Country,” which plays particularly well with the ironic engagement of nature in these seven artists’ works.

Donna Moylan makes psychologically charged, metaphysical paintings rich with abstract elements; Jason Middlebrook uses natural forms as a ground for his painterly explorations of geometric abstraction; Anthony Goicolea pushes painting and drawing into romantic, architectural realms in his magical, double-sided works on Mylar mounted on boards; and Ellen Harvey investigates history and geography in her aerial views of ruins married with abstract forms.

Likewise, Jude Broughan makes geometric montages that mirror painting while incorporating her own photographic imagery and Spencer Tunick conquers the landscape with his powerful installations of nude subjects reshaping nature at his command. And, finally, Ernesto Caivano’s panoramic drawings turn fantasy into reality as his hand dynamically translates philosophical thoughts to paper.

Paul Laster is a writer, editor, independent curator, artist, and lecturer. He is the

 New York desk editor at ArtAsiaPacific; a contributing editor at Whitehot Magazine of Contemporary Art, FLATT Magazine and artBahrain; and a frequent contributor to Time Out New York, New York Observer, and Modern Painters.

A Weekend in the Country will be on view from June 18 to August 7, 2015. The opening reception will be held on Thursday, June 18th from 6-8pm.

Gallery hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm through July 3 and Monday-Friday, 10 am – 6 pm, July 7 through August 7, 2015.