Coral reefs are some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. The exquisite colors, shapes and sizes of coral species, the diversity of the fish and animal life that live in the reefs support more than 25 percent of Ocean Life. Coral reefs provide an important ecosystem for life underwater, protect coastal areas by reducing the power of waves hitting the coast, and provide a crucial source of income for millions of people. Many consider coral reefs the rainforest of the oceans, central to all planetary life. Unfortunately, the number one threat to coral reefs is the warming of the oceans due to climate change.
The global degradation of the Coral Reefs prompted an evocative and timely mixed media art project by Peekskill multi-discipline artist, Christine Knowlton in collaboration with underwater photographer Bob Gould and audio/projection artist Gene Panczenko. Together they have created a Coral Reef Immersive Multimedia Exhibition entitled “Collateral Damage Below”.
Photo Courtesy: Christine Knowlton
The installation opens today, October 14 and runs through November 17 at Wilfredo Morel’s, H-Art @Steel Imaginations Gallery in downtown Peekskill located at One South Division Street on the 2nd Floor above the Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce.
On October 19th, from 3 to 5 p.m. artists and the public are invited to gather for the opening reception and an artists’ talk about the art installation, Christine’s art making process, and Bob’s underwater photography. The artists will also discuss the challenges they faced and also reference current scientific research and remediation efforts.
The art installation also includes three unique musical performances and interactions with coral reef biosphere recordings over the course of the month-long installation including Skin Against Metal Improvised Marine Music on Sunday, October 27th, The Aquatones featuring Steve White on Wednesday, November 13, and Aquatic Saxophonic by Steve Frieder on Sunday, November 17.
From a young age Knowlton began turning scraps of materials into unique creations. Many know her work locally when driving by the Rt. 9 wall on South and Requa Streets where Five Arches mural is located. Knowlton and Candace Winters collaborated on the murals as part of a Peekskill Community Art Project and part of the City of Peekskill’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative. The murals were installed in April 2023.
In Collateral Damage Below, Knowlton, using Gould’s underwater photography , experimentally collaged a series of five large mixed media canvases to evoke the loss happening over time below the surface. She uses textural abstractions scattered with mirror fragments, sand, sea salt, dead coral dust and photo emulsion residue to immerse the audience into the large panels.
As attendees interpret what they see, Bob Gould’s colorful photography and underwater reef videos by the late Lesley Avery Gould will glide across the ceiling and walls, across the art panels, reflective shards, and a suspended fishing net piece, Catching Closure. Lighting and video projection are made possible by Peekskill-based artist Gene Panczenko.
On Sunday, October 27th, from 4 to 5 p.m., Skin Against Metal Improvised Marine Music will be performing. Skin Against Metal was founded in 2000 by percussionist-vocalist Nanette Garcia and pianist-electronic nerd Maurice Minichino. They are composers and sound sculptors based in Westchester and have collaborated with some of the most innovative choreographers and multimedia artists throughout the Hudson Valley and beyond. In addition, they founded The Talking Arts Performance Space in Yorktown Heights, a creative hub for established and emerging experimentalists.
On Wednesday, November 13, from 7 to 8 p.m., The Aquatones featuring Steve White will be performing. The Aquatones is a submersive soundscape combining electronic exotica, global rhythms and recorded sound of the coral reef. A vibe steady ambiance invites your attention. Steve White, an original cast member of Blue Man Group Boston has performed in NYC for more than 13 years, and is a Producer/Composer, Sound Designer, Musician and Performance Artist. Steve has worked in co-creative collaborations for over 40 years with a background in Neo- Classical, Brazilian, Afro-Cuban and West African Percussion.
The closing reception, artist discussion and a final musical performance will occur on Sunday, November 17. Following an artist discussion of the artwork and installation over the past month at 4:30 p.m., Steve Frieder’s Aquatic Saxophonic will begin at 5:30 p.m. Frieder, is a saxophonist/composer and a recent Peekskill resident who was raised in Croton. He attended Hendrick Hudson schools where he played jazz at a young age with seasoned musicians. Frieder studied Jazz Saxophone Performance at The New School and was the 2013 Valedictorian, followed by studies at the Manhattan School of Music. When not on tour or performing regionally in a range of genres (2023 with Boy George’s Culture Club, the Mets Stadium National Anthem, on land and water). Frieder is a Saxophone and Clarinet Teacher at The Cortlandt School of Performing Arts in Croton-on-Hudson.
If you cannot make any of the above dates to see the installations or listen to the musical performances, attendees may see Collateral Damage Below when the H-Art @Steel Imaginations Gallery is open. Dates are:
- Monday, October 14 – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 23 – 4 to 8 p.m.
- Wednesday, October 30 – 4 to 8 p.m.
- Sunday, November 3 – Noon to 3 p.m.
- Sunday, November 10 – Noon to 3 p.m.
- Friday, November 15 – 3 to 6 p.m.
- Sunday, November 17 – 2 to 7 p.m.
For more information contact [email protected], or on Instagram. Let the artists know you heard about this event by reading it in the Peekskill Herald.
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