Two Approaches to Nature at the Woodstock Playhouse Gallery Show

In this show, Tor Gudmundsen and Gertrude Abramson have different interpretations of the same subject matter; the land scape of upstate New York. Sharing a love of nature, they have different approaches to their experiences.

Traveling together, they would explore the countryside stopping at views that caught their eye; and this show is the result of their wanderings.

 

Although Tor Gudmundsen mainly works in acrylic on board, his approach to working is similar to that of the traditional 19th century Hudson River School of Artists. The sketches and drawings that he does on location are taken back to his studio to develop into paintings which he hopes will be an authentic interpretation of that which inspires him.

Tor has always enjoyed creating art. While attending Dutchess County Community College, he decided that teaching art would be the most practical way of supporting himself as an artist. After graduating from SUNY New Paltz with a teaching degree, Tor secured a position as an art 
teacher in Saugerties, NY; a stone’s throw away from the many Hudson River School’s motifs. During those years he had many shows gleaning awards for his work both locally and regionally. 

Gertrude Abramson uses her senses to capture the feelings of the movement of water and the stillness of rock. To this end, she uses pastel and mixed media to capture the environment she loves.

 

She brings a wealth of lived experience to her art. Gertrude’s history includes having been a professional ballerina in various companies to include Harkness Ballet Company, NYC, Les Grande Ballet Canadian, and Bot D’Or in Israel.

A life-long artist, Gertrude had studied at the Art Students League (NYC) with a variety of teachers receiving awards and scholarships for her talent. She had been in many shows in NYC before moving to Mt. Tremper, NY to become a monastic for 11 years at the Zen Mountain 
Monastery and later a Zen priest and certified chaplain and certified chaplain/supervisor. Her spirituality is at the heart of what she does as an artist.

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Elliott Landy's Woodstock Vision: The Spirit of a Generation

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Elliott Landy, born in 1942, began photographing the anti-Vietnam war movement and the underground music culture in New York City in 1967.

He photographed many of the underground rock and roll superstars, both backstage and onstage, from 1967 to 69.

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His images of Bob Dylan and The Band, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Joan Baez, Van Morrison, Richie Havens, and many others documented the music scene during that classic rock and roll period which culminated with the 1969 Woodstock Festival, of which he was the official photographer.

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After that, Elliott moved on to other inspirations and art forms, photographing his own children and travels, creating impressionist flower photographs and doing motion and kaleidoscopic photography in both still and film formats.

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His photographs have been published worldwide for many years in all print mediums including covers of Rolling Stone, Life, the Saturday Evening Post, etc. and album covers, calendars, photographic book collections, etc.

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He has published Woodstock Vision, The Spirit of A Generation, in book and CD-ROM format, and authored the book Woodstock 69, The First Festival.

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He is currently publishing a series of limited edition lithographs of his classic rock photographs. To additionally view and purchase Elliott Landy's photographs and merchandise, click here to visit his website.