Hartley Invitational 2024 Catalogue (flip pages below)
Hartley Invitational 2024 CatalogVIDEO of the reception speech given on May 9, 2024 (excerpt)
Milene-Fernandez-Hartley-Invitational-2024-Salmagundi
Transcript of Speech
Milène J Fernández, May 10, 2024
Thank you all for coming! We have a full house!
It is wonderful to have you all here to celebrate together these beautiful works on display and to celebrate the accomplished artists who created them.
I am Milène Fernandez, one of the three curators of this third annual Hartley Invitational, and the former second-vice-president of Salmagundi. I feel honored and very grateful for curating this exhibition, and sale—I should add.
(By the way, Brandon, our exhibitions manager is here. He has already sold some paintings—which is fantastic! Please reach out to him if you would like to own any of the available artwork here; not only in this exhibition but there is also the wonderful “Face to Face” portrait exhibition upstairs in the Smith Library, and the Spring Auction downstairs in the Rockwell gallery).
Before I go any further, I must thank Emeritus Salmagundian and co-curator, Alex Katlan, who encouraged me to take on this endeavor—something I had never done before. Alex was very steadfast contacting artists and securing loans from galleries and museums.
(Alex is at the moment in Italy. I imagine, having a wonderful time with friends, painting ancient ruins in Sicily, but I am sure he wishes he could be here with us tonight as well). Many thanks to Arcadia Gallery, to the Seven Bridges Foundation & Museum, and to the New Salem Museum and Academy of Fine Art for lending us (in total 6) stellar works.
I’m immensely thankful to co-curator Judith Pond Kudlow.
Judy, it has been a great pleasure making all of this happen together with you. Your enthusiasm, wisdom, and vision for what the Hatley is all about is truly inspiring. For me, your contribution has been like a cornerstone. Thank you! And, thank you for raising funds for the Hartley prize, which is quite significant.
We also thank Gregory Hedberg, the distinguished expert of European art of the 19th and early 20th centuries, and—more specifically—the author of prominent books on Degas. He juried this exhibition for the honorable mentions and the best-of-show award. He will announce and present the award shortly. Thank you, Gregory! I imagine it was not an easy decision to make.
We are also very thankful to: John and Cindy Sites, and to the following Salmagundians: Rod Brayman, Landon Clay, Tracy Dockray, Mr. and Mrs. Irwin Gusman, George Short, Carol Teller, Perry Van der Meer, and to our former vice-president, Patricia Watwood for contributing to the Hartley prize. Indeed, this is the first time the Hartley has given a prize, and it is the largest prize Salmagundi has ever awarded. It would not have been possible without their support.
Many thanks also to all the staff, especially Sydney and Brandon, and to all the volunteers who have helped in many, many ways, from working on logistics, to creating the catalog, to hanging the paintings, and so on.
And last but not least, we thank the celebrated artist, founder of Grand Central Atelier, and the former president of Salmagundi, Jacob Collins, for giving his full trust in the curators and for giving the largest contribution to the Hartley prize. Thank you, Jacob!
I should mention, The Hartley was initiated at the start of Jacob’s presidency, when he envisioned Salmagundi to become “a culturally transformative institution.” We hope that this exhibition serves as a valedictory at the close of his presidential term.
So, what exactly is the Hartley Invitational?
In short, it is the signature exhibition of Salmagundi, by invitation only, and with the endorsement of the president of the club.
Named after one of the founders of Salmagundi, Jonathan Scott Hartley, who was commissioned to create sculptures for prestigious institutions, including the Library of Congress. He helped establish the Art Students League of New York, and he was a president, and the first curator of Salmagundi.
Three years ago, the Hartley was initiated with the intention of elevating the profile of the club, while also furthering the mission and art tradition of its founders.
I would say this a somewhat challenging intention. Why? you may ask.
Salmagundi was founded—its mission—for “the encouragement of originality as artists among its members and the advancement of art of all kinds; the encouragement of the appreciation of art by the public by all available means; to provide a place for members where they may meet on a professional level in furtherance of these related purposes;…” and so on. This mission is still effective today and you may read it on a sign which is downstairs right above the bar. (So, anyone who orders a drink may be reminded of why we are here).
Now, the word “Salmagundi” derives from the old French and old English word, meaning “a mixture of things,” like a salad or a stew.
Now, that mission statement was formulated in 1871, before modernism came about, before the subsequent -isms and various art movements, such as: surrealism, abstract expressionism, minimalism, post-modernism, pop-art, conceptual art, etc. So, the way “art of all kinds” was understood more than 150 years ago was not as incredibly broad as we witness today. I don’t really need to mention any examples, but you know what I mean. In this context that we are in, in this present time, with ambiguous and baffling understandings of what art might be, when we speak of celebrating excellence and beauty and truth, that usually is met with some kind of opposition, or confusion at best.
So, what do we do?
As the curators for this year’s Hartley, our aim was simple: invite established and admired artists (both Salmagundi members and nonmembers, from around the United States and abroad) to exhibit their best work. Of those invited—about 100 were invited—61 agreed to participate. Thank you to all the participants!
When you look around, you will notice a variety of styles and subjects depicted. We have landscapes, still life, figure, and portrait paintings of all sizes—large scale and even a miniature. Some paintings are tightly rendered, others are more painterly, some are subdued in terms of color, while others are more chromatic, and so on. We have sculpture in various styles and patinas, from white plaster, to bronze, to even gilded in gold. We also have drawings, watercolors, and mixed-media artwork. This exhibition—in the Salmagundi spirit—is like a salad or a stew, with distinct and various pieces, carefully selected so that they harmonize each other.
Allow me to quote from The Hartley catalogue, which is available here for sale, and the hardcover will soon be available on Amazon:
With The Hartley, we want to celebrate the artists who follow in Hartley’s illustrious path of excellence, beauty, and truth by aspiring to create works that will uplift the hearts of art lovers throughout time. It celebrates painters and sculptors who’s works revere nature, the beauty of the human form, quietude, and respect for our environment.
You know you are looking at one of their pieces when you can’t take your eyes away from it. You are left feeling uplifted and awestruck. You are relieved and delighted because this feeling is what you expect to gain from art.
A few more words about Salmagundi. If you are not a member, and you are an artist, or a lover of the arts, or an art collector, and you like what you see here, I highly encourage you to consider becoming a member. Salmagundi is a very unique “club”—unlike any other in the city—because it is not a private club. It is a non-profit organization in service of the general public. It has a wonderful history, and we are working very hard to secure an equally wonderful future for many years to come.
Recently Salmagundi passed new bylaws, which are now fully compliant with New York State law, and subsequently we elected a new board. I would like to congratulate our newly elected president, George Grub and our newly elected chairman, Ray Cisneros.
So, without further ado, I will hand over the microphone to Dr. Gregory Hedberg, who will announce the honorable mentions and the winner of this year’s Hartley.
Thank you!
