The paintings of world-acclaimed artist Adam Lowenbein are the featured exhibit at the Flecker Art Gallery on the Ammerman campus. Exhibiting a collection of large-scale paintings made during the COVID-19 lockdown, this DAYLIGHT collection derives its title from Lowenbein’s interest in things going from one to another, and the common saying that things will reveal themselves in the daylight.
Gallery Director Joshua Olsen, in choosing this exhibit, explained that when it comes to all things exhibition related, he is the one who coordinates and plans for it. Prof. Olsen tries to bring in artists who he believes are doing well and are worth learning from. The results are multiple exhibitions throughout the year; one faculty show, two shows by professional artists, and two student shows by either Suffolk County Community College (SCCC) students or high school students. Director Olsen coordinates all the moving parts and curates the shows – displaying the artwork in a particular way. An exhibit is created with only a secretary and few students that help put up the show and create promotional material such as catalogs handed out to viewers. Ironically, Josh Olsen was an award-winning Graphic Design Editor for our very own Western Student Press several years ago!
According to SCCC student Enrico Gomez, Lowenbein paints things he imagines in his head, and also the material located somewhere in between.
He showcased a total of nine paintings: Gate (2021), Reveri (2020), Backyard (2020), Picnic (2021), Attic (2020), Flash Flood (2021), Puddles (2020), Eagles (2020), and Glow (2020). Each painting was acrylic based, with large and small canvases used but the each more beautiful and profound than the last. When explaining his work, Lowenbein urged everyone to “embrace making big mistakes,” and doing it wrong. The only way to “figure out who you wanna be as an artist is to mess up and get it wrong.”
As a first timer going to see an art exhibit, along with WSP friend and fellow staffer Ronald Melgar, I was infatuated with the artwork displayed and the multitude of interpretations that could be behind each painting. “The art and Lowenbein’s description of the pieces were truly captivating,” Ronald said. “The way he perfectly captured the feeling of being isolated and that scary, lonely feeling during the pandemic in his Backyard painting is something absolutely remarkable.”
The exhibit runs through March 6th. Gallery hours are Monday through Thursday 10:00AM – 4:00PM (and by appointment). For more information, please contact the Flecker Gallery at 631-451-4093. For more incredible art by Adam Lowenbein, please visit adamlowenbein.com
