Scenes of Rye Explored in Benefit Exhibition
Not only does the new exhibition at the Rye Free Reading Room display the colorful abstract oil paintings of accomplished artist Ellen Liman, but full proceeds made from the exhibition’s sales also benefit the library directly.
According to Liman, a longtime resident of Rye, the donated proceeds are “a small token of appreciation for the opportunity to be inspired by the scenic [town].” The artist lived in Rye for 35 years – with a boathouse studio on Kirby Mill Pond, which is the subject for the original works on view at the library from October 2-30.
Liman, a graduate of Barnard College, Rhode Island School of Design, Arts Students League, Columbia University and National Academy of Design, is known for her color-filled canvases. The benefit exhibition is far from Liman’s first philanthropic foray. The artist has been a longtime supporter of the arts in Westchester.
Liman says that it is important to her to share these paintings since “the pond is such a major beautiful asset for the area.” In fact, the “fantastically beautiful area of Westchester” attracts bikers and joggers who travel its trails, fishers who enjoy the town’s marina, and lovers of the varied wildlife that lives in the pond.
The exhibition also comes on the heels of the launch of the Palm Beach Art Collective, a project that provides collectors with high-end original art at accessible prices. Liman and co-founder Julie Roberts formed the project, which will launch on ARTSY in November. The online gallery “showcases works of art by established national and international contemporary artists vetted by the Liman Gallery” and makes them available to collectors.
An opening reception for the Rye Free Reading Room exhibition will take place on October 2.
A version of this article first appeared in the October issue of ArtsNews, ArtsWestchester’s monthly publication. ArtsNews is distributed throughout Westchester County. A digital copy is also available at artsw.org/artsnews.
About ArtsWestchester
For more than 50 years, ArtsWestchester has been the community’s connection to the arts. Founded in 1965, it is the largest private not-for-profit arts council in New York State. Its mission is to create an equitable, inclusive, vibrant and sustainable Westchester County in which the arts are integral to and integrated into every facet of life. ArtsWestchester provides programs and services that enrich the lives of everyone in Westchester County. ArtsWestchester helps fund concerts, exhibitions and plays through grants; brings artists into schools and community centers; advocates for the arts; and builds audiences through diverse marketing initiatives. In 1998, ArtsWestchester purchased the nine-story neo-classical bank building at 31 Mamaroneck Avenue which has since been transformed into a multi-use resource for artists, cultural organizations and the community. A two-story gallery is located on the first floor of ArtsWestchester’s historic building on Mamaroneck Avenue. artsw.org
