Fountain Gallery to Open INTO CENTRAL PARK Exhibit, 9/12

Fountain Gallery, located at 702 Ninth Avenue in New York City and representing artists with mental illness, announces the solo exhibition INTO CENTRAL PARK: Photographs by Leonard Aschenbrand, which will open with a Reception on September 12, 2013, from 6 to 8 p.m., and continue through October 30. Gallery Hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 11am-7pm; Sunday, 1pm-5pm.

"As I sifted through Leonard Aschenbrand's encyclopedic trove of images shot in Central Park, I began to see the Park through his eyes," said Fountain Gallery manager Ariel Willmott, who organized the exhibition. "Len's collection offers a getaway from hectic city life into moments of wonderment at the plants, wildlife, and grandeur of this place."

Aschenbrand, a self-taught photographer, has logged countless hours capturing images of the inhabitants and vistas of Central Park. In all seasons, he has traversed the terrain of this legendary urban oasis, documenting birds and butterflies, flowers and trees, monuments and structures. The works presented in this exhibition range from the brilliantly hued "Peak Fall Colors" and "Monarch Butterfly Feeding" to the strikingly composed "Central Park South Through Tree Branches" and "Pagoda Reflection Two." Also included among the show's 39 works is the darkly haunting "Armageddon," Aschenbrand's distinctly original take on Bethesda Fountain and its crowning angel, photographed under a threatening winter sky.

Fountain Gallery is the premier venue in New York City representing artists with mental illness. Founded by Fountain House in 2000 as a not-for-profit exhibition space for its member-artists living and working with mental illness, the Gallery sells original artworks and collaborates with a wide network of artists, curators and cultural institutions. Embracing artists who are emerging or established, trained or self-taught, Fountain Gallery cultivates artistic growth and makes a vital contribution to the New York arts community.

This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and by generous support from The Renate, Hans and Maria Hofmann Trust.

For more information, visit: www.fountaingallerynyc.com.