PAST EXHIBITION
Tamara Kowal: Bitches Brew
May 8, 2008—June 6, 2008

Press Release

Brooklyn, New York - Ch'i Contemporary Fine Art is pleased to host the first solo exhibition at the gallery by Tamara Kowal entitled Bitches Brew from May 8 - June 6th 2008.  Join us on Friday, May 9th, from 6-9 PM for an opening reception with the artist at the gallery's Williamsburg location of 293 Grand Street, between Roebling and Havemeyer. The public is invited to attend this event and to visit the exhibition during gallery hours: Wed- Sun 11 AM - 7 PM and Mon 9 AM - 5PM.  For more information contact the gallery at 718 218 8939.

Showcasing two series of paintings and an installation, the title Bitches Brew is taken from the 1969-Miles Davis album. The following excerpt from a review of the album surmises the emotions of the recording, "Over three days anger, confusion, and sheer will and emotion that resulted were percolated and edited into an astonishingly organic work." - John F. Swed.  For Tamara Kowal, these sentiments attest to the inner turmoil of self-imposed ideals of perfection in the roles of our lives.  While on the other hand, the acceptance of our vulnerability and imperfection enables us to reconnect with others and ourselves, acknowledging these ties that bind us, becoming one and the same. The Pleiades: When Pluto was demoted as a planet aliens colonized it and created their version of Vegas (Vegaspluto).  The Pleiades, a cluster of stars are the showgirls of Vegaspluto; their names are Sterope, Merope, Electra, Maia, Taygete, Celaeno, and Alcyone.  Each painting in the Pleiades series animates the celestial quality of each star, transformed into vibrant and exotic entities.

About Tamara Kowal

Born in Dinslaken, Germany, Tamara presently lives and works in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.  Having studies Fine Arts at Queens College, Tamara moved to SoHo in the early 80s to pursue her career as a painter.  During that time she also became part of an artist collective and formed the not-for-profit gallery "Pushkin Gallerie".  She enjoyed early success as a painter participating in group shows to benefit the Anthology Film Archives and the Children's Aid Society.  In the 90's Tamara moved to a 3,000 square foot loft in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn and has painted in seclusion for over 10 years to develop a body of work that has only recently been shown in a handful of private shows throughout Williamsburg.  Working historically with oil on canvas, Tamara recently began experimenting with glass blowing, textiles, and small works on paper.

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