Fountain Gallery Presents: A DECADE Collected Works by Fountain Gallery Artists

Fountain Gallery, celebrating its 10th Anniversary year representing artists with mental illness and located at 702 Ninth Avenue, today announced the upcoming opening of A Decade: Collected Works by Fountain Gallery Artists, showcasing artworks acquired by collectors over the past 10 years and loaned to the Gallery for this exhibition. The show will be on view from November 5 through December 29, 2010, with an Opening Reception on November 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. A Decade is curated by Elizabeth Szancer Kujawski and Suzanne Lemakis.

"For this special anniversary show, we have chosen from a collection of 1,000 works that are now in 400 public and private collections," said Kujawski, Art Advisor and Curator, The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. "A decade ago, Esther Montanez, Fountain Gallery's founding director, had a vision: to create the premier venue in New York City to represent artists with mental illness," continuEd Kujawski. "A Decade: Collected Works by Fountain Gallery Artists is a tribute to Esther Montanez and to her mission accomplished," concludEd Kujawski. Added Lemakis, Director, Department of Fine Art, Citi, "We are pleased to curate this exhibition of art that has been collected for the past 10 years. It is not often that we can support such a worthy endeavor through the purchase of extraordinary artworks."

Over the years, Kujawski and Lemakis have acquired numerous Fountain Gallery artworks for the corporate collections they oversee. In 2009, they were recipients of the Esther Montanez Leadership Award, presented at Fountain Gallery's annual Celebration of Life benefit. The 2010 Celebration of Life will take place on November 15 at Citi Executive Conference Center, where 100 original artworks by Fountain Gallery artists will be displayed for sale.

A Decade spotlights works in a variety of mediums, including paintings in acrylic, oil, gouache and watercolor; pen and ink drawings and mixed media pieces; and black and white and digital photograph

Among those who have loaned work for this exhibition are the corporate collections of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. and Citi, and the private collector Agnes Gund, President Emerita of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).

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

About Fountain Gallery

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 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 both emerging and established, trained and self-taught, Fountain Gallery cultivates artistic growth and makes a vital contribution to the New York arts community.

Artworks by Gallery artists can be viewed at: www.fountaingallerynyc.com.
For information about Fountain House: www.fountainhouse.org.

Fountain Gallery
702 Ninth Avenue at 48th Street
NYC 10019
212.262.2756
Hours: Tues.-Sat. 11-7; Sun. 1-5
More than a gallery. A movement.

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