"The Essential Moment - A Survey of the Paintings, Works on Paper and Sculpture of Joseph Peller" will be on display at the Thomas J. Walsh Gallery at Fairfield University, June 7 through August 4. An opening reception, including an informal lecture and gallery walk-through with the artist, will take place Saturday, June 8 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Peller's goal is to capture the unnoticed rituals of modern urban life: A group of women seated in a murky nightclub, for example, or a garment worker taking her coffee break. He carries a notebook with him at all times to record gestures, quick impressions and changes in light - observations that he can apply to the artwork he creates in his New York City studio. Peller experiments with a wide range of techniques, including oils, pastels, printmaking, drawing and sculpture.

Born in Toronto in 1953, Peller studied privately with the Canadian artist A. K. Scott and formerly at the University of Toronto's School of Architecture, the Art Students' League and the National Academy of Design. His work is exhibited in public, private and corporate collections across the United States and Canada and his awards include the National Sculpture Society Award for Figurative Sculpture in 1992 and the Len G. Everett Award for painting in 1994.

The Walsh Gallery is located in the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts. Peller's work can be viewed Tuesdays through Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call (203) 254-4000, ext. 2969.

Posted On: 05-13-2002 09:05 AM

Volume: 34 Number: 222