What a Reception at Hawk Hive

Artwork on display at Hawk + Hive Gallery by Christopher Gee

Hawk + Hive curator Jayne Parker with guest artist of the ‘Elsewhere’ exhibition Anthony Chase 

Allan and Judith Maguire, Holly Cohen, Scott Hill, and Brook Alderson all in attendance to see this magnificent exhibition 

ANDES — With hints of spring here in the northwest Catskills hamlet of Andes, Jayne Parker of Hawk + Hive Gallery curates an exhibition that attracted dozens of people with the opening reception of Christopher Gee and guest artist Anthony Chase. 

Gee’s influences are as diverse as they are profound. Drawing from the rich tapestry of art history, he finds inspiration in Northern Renaissance painting, Folk Art, and the Romantic landscapes of Caspar David Friedrich. Yet, his works also bear the imprint of more contemporary influences, such as the naive paintings of Alfred Wallis. Literary influences, particularly the novels of Hermann Hesse and W.G. Sebald, further enrich Gee’s artistic vocabulary, infusing his paintings with layers of meaning and depth. In a world that often seems consumed by noise and distraction, Christopher Gee’s paintings serve as an oasis of quiet contemplation. Through his evocative imagery and masterful execution, he confidently invites us to pause, immerse ourselves in the stillness, and rediscover the beauty of solitude. In the enigmatic world of Gee’s paintings, time stands still, and the whispers of history call upon us to listen. In Gee’s website profile, he chooses the work of writer Robert Walser. In closing of the piece Gee uses to highlight his perspective, “An inexpressible silence rules the surround” an impactful way of helping to describe his environment of the London suburb of Essex, easily identifiable as the stillness of winters we experience in the Catskills. Gee shares his connection with the passage on his biography page, “Robert Walser is one of my favourite writers and this passage from one of his short stories (Berlin Stories) has stuck with me for a long time. I just feel it perfectly encapsulates the feeling and atmosphere I try to convey through my work, and I particularly like 'nothing disturbs his reverie' “

Years back, this reporter mixed with all sorts of journalists and reporters, but the most down to earth and kind reporter through my years in the DC area was Miguel Marquez of CNN. While collecting information for this piece on Gee, I noticed that Marquez liked several of Gee’s posts on Instagram.  It turns out he is a big admirer of Gee’s work as he describes, “I met Christopher years ago when he was selling his work at a stall at the Broadway Market (my favorite London Saturday market). I love his work. His style and aesthetic resonate with me. I’m excited by his new work. He’s incorporating more color, and, for me, it really captures and communicates something essential about our world.” Marquez commissioned a fabulous painting of his German Sheppard, Monty, which can be found @miggymoo. Gee explains how he has been able to solely focus on his artwork, as some artists lean on alternative sources of income, “I have been working as a full-time artist for around 8 years now. Before this I was living in London for 13 years working for various museums and an auction house. My commissions help me to support myself full time, especially the dogs and cats. Ha”

Curator Jayne Parker included a piece by Anthony Chase, who lives in Delhi. The “Deimos Beckoning “2024 - 60”x36” pigmented lime plaster marble dust and iron paste, is a masterful work of art that glistens magnificently and is a great compliment to this exhibition. Chase describes this piece, “In these new paintings I’m exploring depth & mystery evoked in the tonal burnishing & luminescence of polished plaster and its counterpoint. As a longtime sailor I spent many nights gazing into the dark and experiencing the awe this evoked.” Chase will be having a solo show at Hawk + Hive Gallery August 3rd through to September 1st. 

This exhibition includes a fantastic volume of work by Gee, including 22 pieces that drew a packed gallery of local artists and patrons from all around the Delaware County area. There’s just so much to appreciate in this prolific body of work. It will take this writer a few visits to fully appreciate the greatness that Parker has gifted us with in this showing.