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Senior Artists To Spend Two Weeks Painting in Chelsea Gallery

By Mathew Katz | July 10, 2012 10:18am
'Icon III' by David Cerulli, one of the three artists participating at '3 at 307'
'Icon III' by David Cerulli, one of the three artists participating at '3 at 307'
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David Cerulli

CHELSEA — Call it an elder art-a-thon.

Starting next week, three senior citizens who are also artists will hunker down at the Carter Burden Center for the Aging's Gallery 307 for a two-week-long open studio project.

Artists Marilyn Sontag, David Cerulli and Emily Rich, who declined to give their exact ages but whom are all over 60, will share a studio space in the gallery for a project called "3 at 307."

Each will be able to create his or her unique works of art on a 9-foot section of wall in the gallery — all while it's open to the public, and passersby can wander in off the street to chat with the artists, or even just to enjoy a bit of art and air conditioning.

"These people will usually work in the privacy of their studios," said Marlena Vaccaro, director of the gallery at 307 Seventh Ave., which showcases work by mature artists over 60 years of age.

"Now they're working in public, with other people working around them, people coming in, talking to them. It's not three people who have ever worked together or even really know each other."

Each artist has over 30 years of experience with painting, sculpture and mixed-media.

The artists will begin the daunting project on July 16 and work until July 27. Vaccaro admits she doesn't know exactly what the artists will produce when the final product is unveiled Aug. 2.

"You can watch the creative process unfold and influence it," she said.

"These three artists will influence one another — that's why it's so unique."

The gallery will be open to the public on weekdays starting July 16 from noon to 1 p.m.

The show of finished artwork will run Tuesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Aug. 2-16.