Art gallery meets bakery: CU alum showcases her work at The Local Store

These days, due to the plethora of food establishments in Manhattan, a bakery only stands out if there is something extraordinary about it—be it delicious oatmeal raisin cookies or the smooth frosting of a red velvet cupcake. But at The Local Store on East 49th Street, it’s not the food, but rather the art, that makes the coffee shop stick out among the hundreds of cafes in Manhattan.
Lining the upper part of The Local Store’s walls are abstract paintings by Israeli-born artist Yael Degany, GS ’03 and GS ’09 (her multiple graduation years are the result of two different degrees—one in math and one in visual arts). Comprising an exhibit titled “Leaving New York,” Degany’s works on paper are made of materials ranging from oil pastels to food coloring. Inspired by music, they come in three different sizes, the largest resembling a sheet of 12’’x8’’ computer paper, and are all covered in colorful drips, lines, and patterns.
One canvas in particular—second from the left and above the long mirror running down the length of the cafe—is strikingly beautiful, with purple and pink drips and splashes oddly reminiscent of Pollock. Another work is covered in a multitude of dark shapes with a few yellow spots making an appearance through the layers.
A group of four smaller canvases, placed on the wall space adjacent to the “milk” area, have a textural quality not visible in the other works. The canvases seem almost sculptural because of the dark and thick application of paint.
But although Degany’s works are formally attractive and technically interesting, they lack the surprise and panache of much contemporary art. These works don’t feel like museum or gallery pieces. Even the title of the exhibit, “Leaving New York,” is odd, since the canvases don’t seem to have any thematic connection to the city whatsoever. Wall text that might have illuminated the connection of the title to the work is disappontingly missing.
These problems may be due to the fact that the venue, which just opened earlier this summer, is incapable of properly displaying the work. The paintings are placed rather randomly around the cafe. One small canvas hangs on the wall space next to the entrance and can be easily overlooked. There are missing spots and open spaces between the other paintings, making the exhibit seem unprofessional.
It is unfortunate that such curatorial problems overshadow Degany’s works. But as the first exhibit at The Local Store, there’s only room for improvement.