​The debut exhibition of The Brush/Lens Project consisted of 26 image pairs, totaling 52 works that appear in this catalog.
Each pair was identified with its specific record location sinage that provided unique perspective and insight for the viewer to see photographs of the actual location as well as the creative interpretation of each artist.
The Jeanie Tengelsen Gallery of the Art League of Long Island is a 2300 square foot bi-level gallery that spans 208 linear feet. Twenty additional image pairs were excluded from the exhibition due to wall space constraints and as the collaboration continues new works are being created.
This museum quality exhibition is scalable and images can be selected to meet the criteria of individual curators.
The Brush/Lens Project Exhibition Catalog
The first connection between painter Ward Hooper and photographer Holly Gordon was made on Facebook. The first creative connection was made long before the collaboration began....when they were living independent parallel lives. The Brush/Lens Project has been transformative and inspirational.
The first connection between painter Ward Hooper and photographer Holly Gordon was made on Facebook. The first creative connection was made long before the collaboration began....when they were living independent parallel lives. The Brush/Lens Project has been transformative and inspirational.Describe your image here
The second visual connection via Facebook postings was inspired by mutual love of the tulip.
The second visual connection via Facebook postings was inspired by mutual love of the tulip.
This is the starting point of the actual face to face collaboration.Ward took Holly to his inspiration locations and showed her his point of vision...
...and of course added and deleted what he chose to paint. Holly laughed and said that was just what she did too!
At the foot of Northport Harbor is Scudder Beach where the caretaker's cottage sits.
At the foot of Northport Harbor is Scudder Beach where the caretaker's cottage sits.
Bayview Avenue is lined with historic Victorian homes that once belonged to early Northport sea captains.
Bayview Avenue is lined with historic Victorian homes that once belonged to early Northport sea captains.
Up on Bayview Avenue Seymour's Boatyard resides among the old historic homes of sea captains. It is the oldest working boatyard and in my estimation, the most photogenic boatyard on Long Island.
Up on Bayview Avenue Seymour's Boatyard resides among the old historic homes of sea captains. It is the oldest working boatyard and in my estimation, the most photogenic boatyard on Long Island.
Describe your image here
The vertical patterns of brightly colored sails are a dynamic contrast to the horizontals of the sky and water. Racing energy and
Color and light are the elements embraced by Ward and Holly. the bold patterns of color were the visual lure that got them both--hook, line and sinker!
Color and light are the elements embraced by Ward and Holly. the bold patterns of color were the visual lure that got them both--hook, line and sinker!
This painting had never appeared in any prior exhibition and Ward wanted it to be part of The Brush/Lens Project...so Holly expanded her quests to seek motorcyclists...proving that collaborations can be expansive in many ways.
This painting had never appeared in any prior exhibition and Ward wanted it to be part of The Brush/Lens Project...so Holly expanded her quests to seek motorcyclists...proving that collaborations can be expansive in many ways. He was stopped in traffic and I was ready to shoot. Reflections in the chrome and the shadow on the road were made to order.
Personal interpretation of the same location and viewpoint. Their collaboration continues to be a transformative journey with no end in sight.
Personal interpretation of the same location and viewpoint. Their collaboration continues to be a transformative journey with no end in sight.
The iconic landmark of the Northport stacks is telling, both in its presence and in its absence.
The iconic landmark of the Northport stacks is telling, both in its presence and in its absence. This is also a symbolic rail against encroachment of utility companies that deface our space and a peaceful protest to pursue solar energy.
The rugged coastal terrain of the north shore continues to be visual inspiration for artists as well as beach-goers, kayakers, fishermen, etc.
The rugged coastal terrain of the north shore continues to be visual inspiration for artists as well as beach-goers, kayakers, fishermen, etc.
Ward Hooper
Holly Gordon
Ward Hooper
Holly Gordon
While this is a popular spot for beach-goers, it is tantalizing for artists as the colors and textures and shapes continually undergo transition with the seasons.
While this is a popular spot for beach-goers, it is tantalizing for artists as the colors and textures and shapes continually undergo transition with the seasons.
Separated by states but united in vision we wanted our exhibit to show the diversity of our subject range as well as a varied palette. Ward had this brilliant painting in red and asked Holly if she had an image to pair with it....and of course she did!
Minneapolis, Minnesota was red, the Valspar Building, and Holly happened to photograph it a few years earlier when she happened to see it on her way to the Metrodome as part of a Jay Buckley Baseball tour just before the stadium was demolished. This image had been sitting on her Drobo...until now. Thanks, Ward!
Ward and Holly visited this location and created their paintings several months before the discovered that they were following in the footsteps of Arthur Dove and Helen Torr.
Ward and Holly visited this location and created their paintings several months before the discovered that they were following in the footsteps of Arthur Dove and Helen Torr.
Leading lines and the dynamic diagonal are elemental...but the image must resonate with the viewer. This secluded coastal area provides endless visual tranquility.
Leading lines and the dynamic diagonal are elemental...but the image must resonate with the viewer. This secluded coastal area provides endless visual tranquility.
Stained and weathered wood, bright colors, shadows and reflections and varied water tempos provide kaledoscopic visual stimuli for the 'boat of us'!
Stained and weathered wood, bright colors, shadows and reflections and varied water tempos provide kaledoscopic visual stimuli for the 'boat of us'!
At the end of Old Dock Road in Kings Park there once was a big white house that offered kayaks for rent. The house is still there as is a rickety old fence...but no kayaks to rent. People bring their own and there are plenty of kayakers, too!
At the end of Old Dock Road in Kings Park there once was a big white house that offered kayaks for rent. The house is still there as is a rickety old fence... Interesting how we choose to focus...sometimes taking a broad view and sometimes taking a small part and making it the entire story...
Ward's first new painting made during the Brush/Lens Project collaboration excited Holly enormously as she was able to see her influence/inspiration on his creativity.
Ward's first new painting made during the Brush/Lens Project collaboration excited Holly enormously as she was able to see her influence/inspiration on his creativity.
Visions of the boathouse during its 'golden age' is portrayed in Ward's painting. By the time he introduced this setting to Holly the boathouse was in grave disrepair and boarded up.
Holly immediately connected the color and light to painting of Venice and chose to focus on a perspective from the hillside above and have the shrubbery block the boarded-up boathouse.
Ward opted for the repetitive patterns and of the beachside dwellings and the muted colors of the landscape...all mirrored in the water.
It was a bright and opulently sunny day when Ward took Holly to Cove Beach where she was stuck by the intensity of the sky and clouds and patchwork of colors dotted on the sand. The Sunday New York Times chose to feature this image in promoting the Brush/Lens Project Exhibition.
This is the second painting that Ward created during the Brush/Lens collaboration. While Holly usually chooses to omit people in her work, both were struck by the light and shadows on the figures and said to each other simultaneously, 'William Glackens' and Holly took many photographs of the boys. Both were inspired to create and expand their vision.
This is the second painting that Ward created during the Brush/Lens collaboration. While Holly usually chooses to omit people in her work, both were struck by the light and shadows on the figures and said to each other simultaneously, 'William Glackens' and Holly took many photographs of the boys. Both were inspired to create and expand their vision.
Both Ward and Holly created images of their artist friends painting 'en plein air' long before the Brush/Lens collaboration began.
Both Ward and Holly created images of their artist friends painting 'en plein air' long before the Brush/Lens collaboration began.
Holly helped Ward name this painting and then went through her image inventory to find something to pair with it.
Holly helped Ward name this painting and then went through her image inventory to find something to pair with it. When she discovered a quilt of cineraria photographed several years earlier, she looked at it with new eyes and re-created this image...far more dynamic than her original...and that is why she describes some of her work as 'beyond photography' because the photograph was just the beginning.
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The Dove-Torr Cottage, listed on the National Registry of Historic Houses, sits lonely on the edge of Titus Mill Pond in Centerport, LI. It is boarded up and takes one's imagination as well as knowledge to comprehend that it was the hub for inspiration and creativity that came from Arthur Dove and Helen Torr...two early American abstract artists whose relationship effected and transform their art. This discovery was a eureka moment for Ward and Holly.
The Dove-Torr Cottage, listed on the National Registry of Historic Houses, sits lonely on the edge of Titus Mill Pond in Centerport, LI. It is boarded up and takes one's imagination as well as knowledge to comprehend that it was the hub for inspiration and creativity that came from Arthur Dove and Helen Torr...two early American abstract artists whose relationship effected and transform their art. This discovery was a eureka moment for Ward and Holly.
Ward Hooper paints on Arches 140 lb. cold press watercolor paper with Windsor & Newton, Daniel Smith and Grunbacher Finest Watercolor paints.
Paintings sized, matted and framed 32x25.5
Long Island City, matted and framed 40x32
Tony and his Harley, matted and framed 32x40
Holly Gordon prints on Epson Stylus Pro Series goclee printers using Epson archival matte paper and Epson archival ink. All work is professionally matted and framed with acid-free mats and conservation non-glare glass.
Images 28x20.5, matted and framed 28x20.5
Seymour's Boatyard and Swamped, matted and framed 50x33
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