Transcending Terrains Laura Duggan • JoAnna Johnson • Donna Levinstone • Marlene Rye

May 2nd – 31st, 2012 Reception: May 3rd, 6-8pm

Franklin 54 Gallery + Projects is pleased to present an exhibition of 4 artists that transform the landscape into mystical meanderings. Each accomplished artist invites us into their interpretation of terrains, exploring a full spectrum of emotion including delight and curiosity, tranquility, peace and entrance into the dark side.

Marlene Rye’s colorful paintings are of this world, bright and cheerful, fun, full of life and we cannot help but be excited by these fairylands – we want to laugh, be happy and romp through her fields of brilliant color that are infused with nature. Marlene lives and works in Massachusetts; this is her first exhibition with the gallery.

Laura Duggan’s paintings are minimal and meditative. Her colors are quiet and serene as the works ferry us across to the “other side”, peaceful they are the in-between and here one can rest for a very long time contemplating the cross over into the next terrain. Laura is a Franklin 54 artist and lives and works in New York City.

JoAnna Johnson’s photographs take us to the beyond – they are mystical and mysterious, dark yet majestic forms in stark landscapes. These compositions of handmade dresses in unusual landscape settings open up an emotional quagmire. JoAnna lives and works in Texas and is exhibiting for the first time with the gallery.

Donna Levinstone’s pastel pieces take us to that final resting place- they are of a higher heavenly order in the peace and restfulness we can feel from them, not only because of the imagery but our connection to them. We can barely keep ourselves from floating into the picture plane where we can experience first hand this other-worldly spiritual existence. Donna maintains a studio In Long Island City, NY and is also exhibiting with the gallery for the first time.