Following its century-and-a-half-long tradition of promoting excellence, beauty, and truth in art, The Salmagundi Club is celebrating its third Annual Hartley Invitational Exhibition with works from some of the greatest names and rising stars in the classic realism style.
From the bathers caressed by natural light in Joshua LaRock’s paintings and the captivating landscapes of Joseph McGurl to newer names such as Alex Venezia—winner of the $15,000 Hartley Prize—the exhibition displays a diverse yet harmonious selection of artworks that come together to revere nature—their main inspiration.
“We wanted artwork that was excellent in terms of skill and in terms of content. We wanted it to be uplifting,” Milène Fernández, an arts writer and one of the three curators of the exhibition, told The Epoch Times.
The exhibition is named after one of The Salmagundi Club’s founding members: American sculptor Jonathan Scott Hartley. The participating artists were invited after a careful selection by the three curators: Ms. Fernández, classically trained artist Judith Pond Kudlow, and art conservator Alex Katlan. The three had to fully agree on every artist who would be invited to ensure that those selected followed Hartley’s path: art that reveres nature, quietude, and the beauty of the human form. Upon invitation, 61 artists submitted their artwork.
The Salmagundi Club derives its name from an old French and English word that means “a mixture of things,” a reference to its founding artists’ goal of promoting art of all kinds. “This exhibition—in the Salmagundi spirit—is like a salad or a stew, with distinct and various pieces, carefully selected so that they harmonize [with] each other,” Ms. Fernández said.
The mixture to which Ms. Fernández refers can be seen in many of the exhibition’s aspects. The types of painting range from landscapes and still lifes to figures and portraits, and there are miniature paintings, sculptures in various patinas, and drawings. Even the artists invited are a mix of Salmagundi Club members and nonmembers, American and from abroad. But the exhibition as a whole is a harmonious celebration of artistic mastery that guides the visitor through color and value, from the whites in the hallway to the blues and greens of the nocturnes, and from subdued, golden hues to bright reds.
“For example, the Kathy Anderson [painting] of those beautiful flowers in golden colors [‘Pink Hydrangea With Sunflowers’] ... and the beautiful tonalist painting by Thomas Kegler [’Closing ensemble, I Thessalonians 1:3‘] that has this gold light of the sunset. So Johanna Schwaiger’s gold statue [’Lotus Hand'] went perfectly in that corner,” Ms. Fernández said.
In a new development, this year’s Hartley Invitational exhibition was juried by distinguished art historian and curator Gregory Hedberg, who selected the “best in show,” awarding it a prize of $15,000—the largest ever offered by The Salmagundi Club. Mr. Hedberg selected “Autumnal Hymn” by Mr. Venezia, on loan to The Salmagundi Club from Arcadia Gallery, as the winner of the Hartley Prize.
‘Autumnal Hymn’
The 37-by-29-inch oil on panel painting by Mr. Venezia is a stunning painting of a woman surrounded by nature that transports the viewer to a fine autumn day, filled with emotion and serenity. The woman’s face and hands are beautifully rendered, with the soft autumn sun gently touching her skin, while the less-defined leaves in certain areas of the background add variety and naturally draw the eye to the figure.
“It has a feeling to it. So when I look at it, I just see this woman leaning on a tree,” Ms. Fernández said. “She’s probably been walking through the woods ... and she’s taking a moment to contemplate. She could even be praying or wishing something ... and the way that the light is interpreted is just beautiful.”
Although the original intention was to declare only one winner of the Hartley Exhibition, Mr. Hedberg also awarded honorary mentions. These were granted to Constance Bowden for her sculpture “Brianne,” Carlos Madrid for his painting “Composition in Grays and Red,” John Morra for his painting “Merz #28,” Gregory Mortenson for his painting “The Little Wrangler,” and Manu Saluja for her painting “Sequel II.”
The third Annual Hartley Invitational Exhibition will be on display and some artworks for sale at The Salmagundi Club until May 31. A catalog of the event is available, which includes a touching mention of English painter Justin Coburn, who passed away in December 2023, soon after being invited to the exhibition. One of his paintings, “Whippet Head Study,” was loaned to the Hartley Invitational by the New Salem Museum. Softcover copies of the catalog are available at The Salmagundi Club, and hardcover copies will soon be available on Amazon.
