This exhibition at 292 Gallery, Bullet Space, on Third Street is well-worth the stroll to East Side. Out of this World: Paintings, Drawings, Sculptures has art work by Regina Bartkoff, Charles Schick, Greg Bernail, Rick Prol, Lori Taschler, Sally Eckhoff, and Carl Watson. But RUN, don’t walk, as it is closing on July 31, 2025. Hours are 1-5pm.
Each of the artists’ individual works are exceptional, but it’s the swelling of emotion you feel as you look at the large number of works together, then you go on to the next artist’s work and you get the sense you’re wandering a huge museum—all in one LES gallery.
Immediately at the entrance area are the magical paintings by Sally Eckhoff. These horses might be nearly hidden in the vegetation or bursting from the picture in white skeletal frames. The size and colors of the paintings offer a viewer a sense of the beauty and power of these animals.
Then the next room holds a wall of Charles Schick’s paintings of mysterious figures, some also hidden in the background design. The way his colors might run down the canvas in abstract style gives the figures a mystic quality. Next to the art work was the artist label, for which,. I assume some megadonor supplied the funds to create this high-quality signage.
Nearby on the wall are a series of Greg Bernail small drawings of horses with personality. Unfortunately I didn’t get an even barely decent photos of these wonderful images.
Lori Taschler’s astonishing paintings of doors and windows and openings onto another world were set around a real window, leaving the viewer unclear about the difference between reality and artistry.
The far wall was filled with Regina Bartkoff’s colorful haunting images of women. Each loaded with the sad yet wonderous eyes of adult children.
A small back room contains Rick Prol’s uncontainable, explosive, graphic, graffiti-like images.
And, as if this wasn’t enough, one can pass Lori Taschler’s painting of doors and windows to find yourself in the back yard with Carl Watson’s compelling sculptures made with found objects. It appears people are losing lots of rhinestone pieces of jewelry which he so capably transforms to eyes. These are set in a half circle around the artist’s desk with typewriter, as though the sculptures were inspiring, connecting the writer to the power of a universal spirit.
Carl Watson Sculptures
Like I said, run don’t walk to see this exhibit before it closes on July 31. Thanks to Regina and Charlie for a great exhibition. Wishing you health and happiness.
