Judith Schaechter’s "MAKE/BELIEVE" is currently on view at Claire Oliver Gallery in Harlem. Presented in lightboxes, six new stained glass paintings will remain on display through December 17th, 2022. Drawing on the past few years, the exhibition reflects Schaechter’s experiences through the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement. Using centuries-old techniques combined with innovative engraving and layering processes that she developed herself, Schaechter narrates stories of social upheaval and change. Along with the stained glass pieces, she also designed a custom wallpaper that will be put up in the gallery for the duration of the exhibition.
The result of a lifelong fascination with pattern and vibrant colors and deliberately ambiguous in nature, "MAKE/BELIEVE" comprises works that focus on both the big and small happenings of life, leaving their interpretation in the hands of each and every viewer. For example, Dirty Snow speaks to the metaphorical significance of Covid-era dog walkers carrying around little bags of waste. Raft of the Medusa is based on the BLM movement, depicting the danger and the kindness involved in risking one’s life for a cause at the height of the pandemic. Another poignant piece, Ax Wielding Maniacs, comments on deforestation and the climate crisis. Varied in theme and origin, the six pieces come together to create an introspective experience, urging the viewer to ruminate on natural beauty and the preservation of it, whether it is human lives or environmental concerns.
IF YOU GO:
Judith Schaechter
"Make / Believe"
October 21st through December 17th, 2022
Claire Oliver Gallery
2288 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blv
New York, NY 10030
Exhibition Website