GREEN ACRES – EXPERIENCE THE RANDOMNESS OF NATURE IN ARTIST KEITH KATTNER’S SHOW IN NOLITA


Green Acres is the place to be.
Farm livin’ is the life for me.
Land spreadin’ out so far and wide
Keep Manhattan, just give me that countryside.
Theme song to TV hit show GREEN ACRES

Looking at Keith Kattner’s work and learning his back story – neurosurgeon turned artist turned renovator of a home built long before the 20th Century, can’t help but hear Eddie Albert singing the theme song to our favorite 1960s TV show, Green Acres. With love and dedication, Dr. Kattner speaks of putting in authentic barn beams and antique wood floors creating a universe in the Hudson River Valley that’s naturally rustic but made possible by modern tools.

A self-taught artist now painting scenes at once urban and bucolic, he hints at the past, subtly referencing the 19th century tradition of landscape painting. After all, the Hudson River Valley was a favorite destination of so many painters before him. In his art there may be countryside or at the very least, significant greenery, but often there is also city living – construction equipment and a silvery skyscraper or two. Animals wander through the art popping up playfully just as they do at his under-construction home, a place I envision surrounded with rolling hills as far as the eye can see, perhaps with a stray flock of wild turkeys scrambling over a stone wall or a random cat sidling up to a spacious porch. Though he may take from 19th century tradition of landscape painting, Kattner’s imagery is contemporary, modeled and rounded, think Claymation meets Lego.

Last chance before it goes to Dubai to see this highly enjoyable show at the Sylvia Wald & Po Kim Gallery 417 Lafayette Street 4th Floor New York, NY . .