INSIDE/OUTSIDE Opens at Cooperative Gallery 213

An exhibit by Alla Boldina and Barbara Bernstein is titled: INSIDE/OUTSIDE . The exhibit, which will run through July 27^th includes acrylic and mixed media paintings by Alla and glass sculptures and mixed-media art by Barbara. A Closing Reception, open to the public, will be held at the gallery on July 27^th.

Alla Boldina and Barbara Bernstein will lead an interactive workshop exploring the concepts of the show, working from the inside  or working from the outside. The artists will explain their process. Participants will create a piece of art in the workshop. Part of the workshop experience will be live music by Hakan Tayga on cello. There will be a reception before the workshop with light fare. All are welcome; free of charge. Workshop starts at 2 pm with talks before.

At first Barbara thought she and Alla would make a strange pairing. “My work is figurative, while Alla’s is abstract. After we talked, I learned that Alla’s paintings depict emotions felt on the inside. That led us to the name for our show. My work often deals with emotions as they are visible on the outside. This show raises the question about whether to demonstrate or to evoke emotion in your work, one I’ve long struggled with.”

Alla explains her process. “I work from within out, that is, my work tries to capture the inner workings of the human emotional and intellectual spheres as they manifest themselves in a visceral and physically textured way. It makes my work tactile. Despite our unique and different artistic languages of expression, Barbara and I, ultimately, strive to embody the deeper layers of the human condition through color, texture, and form. We are like two distinct voices singing in unison, from inside to outside.”

The Cooperative Gallery, a popular stop on the First Friday Art Walk, located at Artists’ Row / State of the Art, at 213 State Street in Binghamton, is open on First Friday 3- 9 pm and regularly on Fridays 3-6:00 p.m. and Saturdays 12- 4:00 p.m. A free weekly e-newsletter is available by signing up at www.cooperativegallery.com or on Facebook at Cooperative Gallery 213.