One of Syracuse's more conceptual art galleries celebrates its 40th anniversary tonight. Point of Contact is as much about the ideas as it is about the works of art and writing.
"Key Works Alongside key text that was produced in the publication," describes Managing Director Miranda Traudt, " On this wall we have one of our most famous artists in the collection, Nam June Paik"
When Managing Director Miranda Traudt walked me through the Gallery she agreed many people might know Point of Contact a little more from its publication...but that's changing.
"We're focusing on the visual arts side now, so if you don't know Point of Contact because of our exhibitions, I would strongly recommend anybody come down to our gallery. We will usually bring 4 to 5 artists every year, mostly from Latin American descent, but from all over the world."
The current 40th anniversary exhibit incudes works from the gallery's collection, many made for and donated directly to Point of Contact. Traudt says she didn't want it to simply be a chronological exhibit of works through history, so she grouped things thematically. Still she selected works from key times in its history. Other works exhibited are from Judy Pfaff, and Founder Pedro Cuperman, as well as Liliana Porter and Anna Tiscornia who are appearing at the event...and produced both art works and comments.
"So a lot of time our artists are also scholars and poets so they write about each others' works which is pretty interesting."
And Miranda Traudt notes that was really at the heart of Cuperman's idea 40 years ago, when Point of Contact started at N-Y-U...then found a home at S-U several years later.
"Pedro is a very conceptual thinker and I think his main idea was that it was supposed to be a space, whether that was physical or a publication, but a space for artists, poets, scholars just to meet and share their thoughts, so again extremely conceptual. I don't think he really saw how that was going to play out."
Tonight's Gala starts at 6:00 in the gallery at the Warehouse downtown, 350 West Fayette St., Syracuse...tickets are available at the door. The Continuum Exhibit chronicling Point of Contact's history, runs through December 12th.
