Opening Friday, January 16, 7 pm – 9 pm. On View through February 1

In Stephen Sondheim’s 1970 musical Company the composer/lyricist captured the spirit of New York City in the song “Another Hundred People”. He describes the constant comings and goings of a place where each moment “another hundred people” are choosing to stay or to go, to meet or to ignore each other. This “city of strangers” is full of excitement and possibility, but also randomness and loneliness. How is it possible to be surrounded by millions of people and not be able to make a connection?

Another Hundred People will explore this paradox of how we make connections both in the real life and online. Artists Pierre Chaumont, Simon Courchel (work pictured) and Audrey Ryan will examine the joys, hardships and contradictions that come from trying to make connections in our highly networked and anonymous world. Simon Courchel’s photography captures the “beautiful strangers” we see on the street or on the subway. Courchel puts his subjects against backgrounds that he likens to being on stage and in the spotlight, allowing us to appreciate their everyday beauty. In her “Left” painting series, Audrey Ryan creates intimate portraits with a catch – she shows only the subject’s back, leaving us with a detailed yet incomplete view of a beloved person. Pierre Chaumont takes on the possibility of human connection in the digital world through video and prints derived from a sexcam website. Under the name “xxXArtisticBitchXxx”, Chaumont performs readings and dances for paying customers and gives us a window into their world with altered prints of other users rooms.

Another Hundred People will open on Friday January 16th from 7-9pm. The opening will feature music by saxophonist Eddie Barbash and his bluegrass band. Gallery hours will be January 17 to February 1, Saturdays from 12 – 6 pm and Sundays from 11 am – 5 pm.

Curator Emma Katz is an arts entrepreneur, creative consultant, and producer. Her clients include Trestle Gallery, Hazel Village Toy Company, and many individual artists and collectors. For five years she was the Executive Director of Recession Art, where she was named one of ArtInfo’s 30 Under 30 Influential Arts Professionals in 2013.