1985 – 1989
George Ciscle Gallery
“The introductory exhibition, PRELUDE, served as an anthology of works that were chosen without prejudice for style or medium. It was a declaration of intent to support the unknown and the unfamiliar. Only after a long process of selection and rejection did these discoveries bring a new look that took not the historical, nor the easily categorized, but the creative as its point of departure.
The disclosure of one’s tastes and personal aesthetic judgements make a public stand for all to see. My choices were the result of initial and sustained astonishment at what these sixteen artists achieved in their work. A stage was designed for the audience to partake of the magic.”
- from PRELUDE to discoveries and disclosures brochure
A Singular Vision
By Linell Smith
“It should be a great consolation to you to know that, for a while, you fulfilled your dream, and on your own terms. Do you know how few human beings ever do that?”
Grace Hartigan in a letter to George Ciscle on June 10, 1989 after learning of the closing of the gallery. At the time, the late artist was director of MICA’s Hoffberger School of Painting.
1985
PRELUDE to discoveries and disclosures
Rick Horton
American Art Potters
Joan Stolz: Paintings and Pastels
The Cast Image: Sculpture of John Ruppert
1986
Rhode Island School of Design: Selected Faculty
Garry Mitchell: Paintings and Works on Paper
Collage: Fragments of an Inner Vision
John Van Alstine: Sculpture and Drawings
Maura Maguire
A Maryland Invitational
Ione Haney and Charles Springman
Paul Bowen
Art Aid: Exhibit and Auction to benefit HERO in the fight against AIDS
Skip Walker: “The Phoenix Bride “ Revisited: The Glory Days and War Stories
Classic Studio Pottery: Kenneth Beittel and William Pitney
1987
American Outsider Art
Robert Reid: Landscape with Figures
James Russell: Re: Joyce, Jazz, Japan and Jimmie
Trace D. Miller : Paintings and Works on Paper
European Invitational
John Ruppert
Duane Michals: The Nature of Desire
Rick Horton: Works on Paper
Danish Ceramic Design
Keith Martin Retrospective
1988
Kindred Spirits: metaphysical insights of seven sculptors
Folk Heroes: 20th Century American Self-Taught Artists
Joan Stolz: Paintings and Pastels
Garry Mitchell: Paintings
John Van Alstine: Sculpture and Drawings
Icons/Illusions to Form: Trace D. Miller and Skip Walker
Fabio Salvatori and Melinda Stickney-Gibson
Nade Haley: Recent Sculpture
Mary Roehm
Chris Staley
Robert Reid: Watercolors
1989
American Visionary Gerald Hawkes: US-Unity, Strength
Keith Martin: The Lost Portfolio
Marc Boone
Robert Aselage: Journey to the Source
Ione Haney: Recent Work
Nadezda Prvulovic: Blast Furnaces
Watercolor Invitational
1985-1989
1985
Prelude to discoveries and disclosures (Elizabeth Ahern, Paul Bowen, Arthur Cady, Ione Haney, Rick Horton, Gerald Immonen, Maura Maguire, Keith Martin, Garry Mitchell, Robert Reid, John Ruppert, Charles Springman, Morris Sokowsky, Joan Stolz, John Van Alstine, and Skip Walker)
American Art Potters (Beitell, Dillingham, Grueby, Fulper, Heino, Jensen, Karnes, Mayberry, Natzler, Ohr, Pitney, Roehm, Staley, Takaezu, and Zimmerman)
Joan Stolz: Paintings and Pastels
The Cast Image: Sculpture of John Ruppert
1986
Rhode Island School of Design: Selected Faculty (Tony Ascrizzi, Christina Bertoni, Dale Chihuly, Dagmar Frinta, Marc Harrison, Gerald Immonen, Gary Metz, Robert Reid, Jacquie Rice, Seth Stem, Joanne Stryker, and Ted Weller)
Garry Mitchell: Paintings and Works on Paper
Collage: Fragments of an Inner Vision (Margo Hoff, Keith Martin, James Russell, and Bert Yarborough) Traveled to Washington County Museum (Hagerstown, MD)
John Van Alstine: Sculpture and Drawings
Maura Maguire
A Maryland Invitational (Paul Daniel, Regina Keating, Trace D. Miller, Ralph Millet, David Plumb, Leonard Streckfus, and Tim Thompson)
Ione Haney and Charles Springman
Skip Walker: “The Phoenix Bride “ Revisited: The Glory Days and War Stories
Art Aid : Exhibit and Auction to benefit HERO in the fight against AIDS
Classic Studio Pottery: Kenneth Beittel and William Pitney
1987
American Outsider Art (Baldami, Carpenter, Charlie, Darger, Dawson, Finster, Gordan, Jones, McCarthy, MInchell, Sr Morgan, Piacenza, Pierce, Ramirez, Salvatore, Skylas, Tolliver, Tolson, Traylor, Nathaniel - Walker, Webster, Wentworth, and Yoakum) Co-sponsored by People Encouraging People (PEP) to establish American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM)
Robert Reid: Landscape with Figures
James Russell: Re: Joyce, Jazz, Japan and Jimmie
Trace D. Miller : Paintings and Works on Paper
Keith Martin Retrospective Traveled to Washington County Museum (Hagerstown, MD) and Academy of the Arts (Easton, MD)
European Invitational (Flick Allen, William Congdon, Georges Jeanclos, Wlodzimierz, and Michel Nedjar)
Duane Michals: The Nature of Desire
Rick Horton: Works on Paper
Danish Ceramic Design (Aaberg, Andersen, Bang, Bruun, Eriksen, Jensen, Kjaergaard, Kristiansen, Manz, Mullertz, Rokkjaer, Siesbye, Thing, and Saxbo Workshop)
1988
Kindred Spirits: metaphysical insights of seven sculptors (Robert Aselage, Sydney Blum, Petah Coyne, Ellen Driscoll, Ruth Hardinger, Carol Hepper, and Creighton Michael) Traveled to Trabia-MacAfee Gallery (NYC)
Folk Heroes: 20th Century American Self-Taught Artists (David Butler, William Hawkins, Sam Doyle, Frank Jones, and Jon Serl) Guest Curator Richard Edson
Joan Stolz: Paintings and Pastels
Garry Mitchell: Paintings
John Van Alstine: Sculpture and Drawings
Icons/Illusions to Form: Trace D. Miller and Skip Walker
Fabio Salvatori and Melinda Stickney-Gibson
Robert Reid: Watercolors
Nade Haley: Recent Sculpture
1989
American Visionary Gerald Hawkes: US-Unity, Strength
Keith Martin: The Lost Portfolio
Marc Boone and Robert Aselage (Journey to the Source)
Ione Haney: Recent Work
Nadezda Prvulovic: Blast Furnaces
Watercolor Invitational (Victor Elmaleh, Michael Iampieri, Ralph Rosenberg, and Richard Sober)