NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Artworks depicting swimming and seances may seem to be an odd combination to share exhibition space in a museum. But in the kick-off exhibit for the Museum of Arts and Culture’s 2017-18 season, they share plenty more – namely, the artist.
Jane Zweibel, a Brooklyn-based artist who spent most of her childhood and teen years in New Rochelle, is presenting her works in the New Rochelle Fund for Educational Excellence’s Museum of Arts and Culture in New Rochelle High School. A reception was held Thursday evening for the exhibition, which runs through October 12.
Lately, Zweibel’s
art has explored the seemingly disparate subjects, leading to the exhibit, “Recent Work: Swimmers and Seances.”
“While they appear to be very different, they are both, in a certain way, about transcendence and transformation,” she said.
The artist presented her work at the Museum last year, and students and art lovers enjoyed it, said Andrea Berman, the Executive Director of the New Rochelle Fund for Educational Excellence, which manages the museum.
“That was a really successful exhibit,” Berman said. “She had spoken with some of the students and art teachers. Everyone liked her approach and how open she was. New Rochelle High School art students have already been creating work inspired by this year’s exhibit, too.”
Opened in October, 2006, the museum is located in the high school’s newer wing, off North and Braemar avenues. It is devoted to the fine arts, history, literature, science and technology. The public can visit 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, or can contact the New Rochelle Fund for Educational Excellence at aberman@nredlearn.org or (914) 576-4657 to arrange evening or Saturday visits. The exhibition space is also open on certain evenings for special events.
For Zweibel, it is meaningful to return to the space, and to the school where she took art lessons as a high school student.
“It feels like coming full circle,” she said. “And the fact that there is a strong educational component based on the work in the gallery is great.”
