ONLY BRIEFLY

Many years ago, I asked a prominent art historian how he would define “meaningful art.” His answer has stayed with me: “When you can visualize a work when it is not in front of you.” This most certainly applies to Amy Gelb’s work. In her stunning exhibition ONLY BRIEFLY (רק לזמן קצר), when I’m not “in front” of Amy’s art, I not only can visualize the work; it sparks an awakening of what I saw and felt at first viewing.

Whether in Amy’s photographs of Israeli landscapes; portraits of her daughter Ava; or the expressiveness of hands, the images engage us in time itself. We don’t just move quickly from one photo to the next - we STOP. The multiple layers of photographs on silk, chiffon, organza not only have us linger longer, they encourage a deeper level of “seeing.” The ephemeral nature of time itself is captured in the delicacy of the fabric and the mystery of the thread. Amy Gelb’s investigation into the nature of time, of air, of history, of memory all come into play.

There is an added depth to photography in Amy’s use of fabric and thread. As soon as the thread is sensitively pierced into the fabric and integrated with the photograph, rather than a moment captured “only briefly” by the click of a camera, the movement of the thread and fabric add a dimension to the viewing experience. There is a metaphysical nature to this work. The art insists we look deeper. As we experience the work, we experience the brief moments of time which enrich our lives: the viewing of an old tree; a landscape; youth; time... all of which capture moments of our being... only briefly on this beautiful earth.

Mindy Weisel, Curator

Gallery Openning Hours

Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday 10am-3pm