TABLA RASA GALLERY
presents
“Coney Island Hysterical”
3:00 PM Sunday, November 20, 2011
A talk with artists Philomena Marano and Richard Eagan of The Coney Island Hysterical Society plus screening of Lila Place’s 15-minute film “Under the Roller Coaster,” a portrait of the late Mae Timpano, who lived in the iconic “house under the Thunderbolt coaster”
“Souvenir views of Coney Island” artists Philomena Marano and Richard Eagan sculpture
FREE
General gallery hours: Noon – 5:00 pm
THURSDAY, FRIDAY & SATURDAY
Call 718.833.9100 for events and schedule updates.
TABLA RASA GALLERY
224 48 Street (between 2nd & 3rd Avenues)
Brooklyn, NY 11220
718. 833-9100
info@TablaRasaGallery.com
http://www.tablarasagallery.com/
About “Coney Island Hysterical!”
Artists Philomena Marano and Richard Eagan of The Coney Island Hysterical Society will present a gallery talk in conjunction with their work in “Childish Things”, the current exhibit at Tabla Rasa Gallery, 3:00 PM Sunday, November 20, at the gallery- 224 48th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues, in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
The artists will speak about their work and the people who influenced them, take questions from the audience, and present a 15-minute film Under the Roller Coaster.
Brooklyn natives Richard Eagan and Philomena Marano formed their pioneering art collaboration, The Coney Island Hysterical Society in 1982 after discovering each other and their common fascination for their childhood playground at Coney Island’s historic amusement beach. They were the first visual artists to work in Coney Island during the area’s “artists’ renaissance”, as detailed in Charles Denson’s 2002 book Coney Island: Lost and Found.
Philomena Marano, a one-time studio assistant to Robert Indiana, developed her highly evocative cut paper technique at the same time Richard Eagan was following a series of dreams that led him from cabinet making to architectural sculpture. The two met while exhibiting at 1981’s Coney Island Show, the third in a series of breakout independent art shows following The Times Square Show and The Real Estate Show.
Throughout the ‘80’s, Eagan and Marano worked on projects in Coney, including sign and ride painting, a 2500 square foot mural titled Steeplechase Park- Come Back!, and ultimately Spookhouse, in which they transformed a derelict dark ride into a “Ride-Through Gallery in the Dark”, employing the talents of some fifteen artists and community youth.
There they befriended many of Coney’s old-timers and veterans, relationships which informed their work with a vitality and personality that raised their imagery from the generic to a level of intimate biography. In works such as Fred’s House, Sugar Rush, and 25 Shoot, their love for the people and culture of Coney Island is more than evident.
Following the artists’ talk, there will be a screening of Lila Place’s 15-minute film Under the Roller Coaster, a portrait of the late Mae Timpano, who lived in the iconic “house under the Thunderbolt coaster” (featured in Woody Allen’s Annie Hall as well as Eagan’s constructed painting Fred’s House).
RSVP to Tabla Rasa at 718-833-9100 to ensure a seat for this event!
Tabla Rasa Gallery is free and open to the public.
General gallery hours are Thursday, Friday and Saturday 1:00 until 5:00 pm.
CHILDISH THINGS remains on view through Saturday, December 10.
Call 718.833.9100 for additional hours, events and schedule updates.
Richard Eagan
Philomena Marano
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About Tabla Rasa Gallery
Tabla Rasa Gallery is located in the burgeoning art destination of Sunset Park, Brooklyn. The outlier gallery is known for their consistently stunning exhibitions. Within the 4000 square foot turn of the century carriage house, the gallery exhibits primary and secondary market artwork by emerging, mid-career, and established artists, in all media, including painting, sculpture, installation, drawing, print media, digital, film and video.
The gallery is located two “D” or “N” express subway stops from Manhattan to 36th Street Station, plus one “R” stop to 45th Street (or a just few short “R” stops beyond Park Slope).
Exhibitions are free and open to the public. It is recommended to call 718.833.9100 for events and schedule updates.
Directions to Tabla Rasa Gallery
Subway: From Manhattan, take D or N to the Brooklyn 36th St. station plus one R stop to 45th St.
Driving: Tabla Rasa is on 48th St between 2nd and 3rd Aves, Brooklyn.
Ample street parking is available.
