Hamptons Artists and Their Hidden Talents on View in 'Alt-Egos'

A new exhibition from East Hampton artist and Neoteric Projects curator Scott Bluedorn at Crush Curatorial (68A Schellinger Road) in Amagansett this weekend takes a completely new look at a host of excellent East End artists. Opening Friday, April 28 and continuing through May 26, Alt-Egos breaks free of the styles and standards these artists have set for themselves with past work, and instead asks them to present their talents wholly outside the media for which they’re known.

“In a codified, commodified and often rigid art world, the artist is often stifled and forced into a clearly identifiable box in order to be successfully marketed,” Bluedorn explains in a statement about the show. “Galleries and institutions often pander according to taste, style and output—a practice that is limiting to the artist and often retards or extinguishes the creative mind in favor of consistency of brand,” he continues. “Yes, many artists are driven by obsession and fixation on particular forms and ideas, but many also explore their art in various channels and mediums—often without outlet or exposure.”

The 37 participating artists come from many stages of career, genre, mode and creative endeavor, and their selected works reflect an alternate portfolio from each artist, drawing from early work, experiments, side projects, hidden talents and even crafts. Among them are world famous luminaries such as painter Eric Fischl and printmaker Dan Welden, local favorites likePaton Miller and Peter Dayton, and lesser known talents who are just starting to blaze their trail in the art world.

Bluedorn, who’s well known for a wide range of work—including found object sculpture, surreal pen and ink, representational pieces, expressionist painting, furniture craft and much more—

“It is my belief that many artists foster multiple creative canons in their investigations of the world, and many have more than one outlet for their creativity,” says Bluedorn, who’s well known for a wide range of work, including found object sculpture, surreal pen and ink, representational pieces, expressionist painting, furniture craft and much more. “The ego in art can be synonymous with ‘style’ or ‘manner,’ and this exhibition would like to break that mold to offer the viewer a new look at the chosen artists’ oeuvre,” he adds. “An ‘alter ego’ or pseudonym is very liberating, it allows the artist to masquerade without self-consciousness, develop art that investigates alternative concerns, and stretches new creative muscles.”

The complete list of artists featured in Alt-Egos includes Andrea Cote, Janet Jennings, Bill Komoski, Saskia Friedrich, Mark Wilson, Karen Hesse Flatow, Hiroyuki Hamada, Will Ryan, Jon Kessler, Perry Burns, Hildy Maze, Eric Fischl, Randall Rosenthal, Paton Miller, Lucy Winton, Christine Sciulli, Bastienne Schmitt, Mark Perry, Philippe Cheng, Terry Elkins, Dan Welden, Li Trincere, Charlotte Hallberg, Colin Goldberg, Scott Bluedorn, Alex DiJulio, Kristina Felix, Jackie Black, Charles Ly, John Messinger, Gregory Johnston, Peter Dayton, Jane Martin, Idoline Duke, Kara Hoblin, Steve Miller and Dalton Portella.

Founded by Karen Hesse Flatow in 2013, Crush Curatorial is an artist-run curatorial project that collaborates with artists and guest curators to host exhibitions in New York City and Amagansett.

An opening reception for Alt-Egos kicks off at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 28 at the Crush Curatorial space at 68A Schellinger Road in Amagansett. The gallery will be open by appointment—contact info@crush-curatorial.com. A closing reception is scheduled for Friday, May 26 from 6–9 p.m. Visit crushcuratorial.com for more info.