Art Scene Summer Slumber Ending

By Charles Kessler

According to NYArtBeat.com, there are 24 openings in Chelsea Thursday night. From my experience, there could easily be twice as many, and if it's a nice night, and if Rosh Hashana isn't a factor, the streets will be packed. Highlights include:

• Frederick Hammersley at Ameringer|McEnery|Yohe, 525 W. 22nd Street. Hammersley was (he died in 2009) one of Los Angeles's early abstractionist. He may not be in John McLaughlin's league, but he's pretty good. 

Frederick Hammersley, Self centered, #4, 1994, oil on linen, framed: 20 3/4 x 20 3/4 inches. 

•  Chuck Webster at Betty Cuningham, 541 W. 25th Street. 
• "Paul Resika, 1947 - 48," Lori Bookstein Fine Art, 138 10th Avenue between 18th and 19th. 

Paul Resika, Lamp, Chair and Skull (Provincetown), June 1947, oil on Masonite, 48 X 39 inches.

• Michael Raedecker, Andrea Rosen Gallery, 525 W. 24th Street.
• Monique van Genderen, D’Amelio Gallery, 525 W. 22nd Street.

In Bushwick, according to the Bushwick & Ridgewood Gallery Guide (the most extensive and up-to-date guide), eight galleries are opening Friday night, six of them at the 56 Bogart building. Likely to be interesting are Richard Paul at Theodore:ART and Tim Spelios at Studio10, both at 56 Bogart. On Saturday, BTW, there's the opening of Deborah Brown's new large space, Storefront Ten Eyck, 324 Ten Eyck Street.

You can also expect a lot of openings on the Lower East Side Friday night when most of the galleries usually have their openings. Of special interest is "Cary Leibowitz (paintings and buckles)" at Invisible-Exports in their new space at 89 Eldridge Street (just above Grand); and "RICHARD KERN: Medicated, etc, " a photography exhibition and book launch at Feature Inc., 131 Allen Street (between Rivington and Delancey).

The best news is the Canada Gallery, on Friday the 13th, will open their new space at 333 Broome Street (between Chrystie and Bowery). The space has been a long renovation nightmare for them, and they will be opening with the work of Joanna Malinowska.  I love the gallery and wish them well.