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Sarah Hart
Arts and Education
Graphic Art
Dance New Amsterdam
United States
New York City
New York
New York, NY

Gallery@DNA Presents Kelven Robertson DNA Drawings (July 23-August 30, Manhattan)

by Sarah Hart
July 23, 2009
Dance New Amsterdam
280 Broadway, 2nd floor
(Entrance on Chambers Street)
New York, NY 10007
(212) 625-8369
Dance New Amsterdam (DNA) is pleased to present DNA Drawings, an exhibition of new work by Australian artist Kelvin Robertson. The collection of drawings created from months of observance will be exhibited July 20–August 30 in DNA's 2nd Floor Gallery at 280 Broadway (entrance at 53 Chambers). This Exhibit has been funded in part by a grant from New York State Assemblymember Deborah J. Glick through the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.


An opening reception will be held at DNA on Thursday, July 23rd from 6-8pm.


DNA's Gallery Hours are 9am – 9pm Monday – Sunday


There is no charge for admission to the exhibit.


Artist Statement

These works are about looking… about looking at dancers… feeling their presence… the magic… the authority and grace of their movement… striving to capture this… dynamic expression of human form… in line and colour… in drawing and painting…

-Kelvin Robertson


About the Artist

Born in 1953, Kelvin Robertson studied at The National Art School Sydney. In 1981 he won the Peter Brown Memorial Scholarship to The New York Studio School. He returned to Sydney in 1983 with a desire to draw life through art. At the invitation of Brian Syron, he worked with performing artists at City Acting Studio, drawing at classes and rehearsals. Later that year he held his first solo exhibition at The All Nations Club.


In 1987 Kelvin was invited to draw classes and rehearsals at the Sydney Dance Company. He continued this until he moved to New York in 2008. From 1992 until 1997, he drew The Australian Ballet. He was then invited by Edward Villella to spend three months each year drawing the Miami City Ballet. Paul Taylor invited Kelvin to work at his Dance Company from 2006 to 2008. He began drawing at Dance New Amsterdam earlier this year.


Kelvin Robertson has had over 20 solo exhibitions in various commercial art galleries and Government run art centers, including - The Queensland Performing Arts Gallery, The Victorian Arts Center Melbourne, Casula Powerhouse Arts Center - in Australia. In Miami he had a major exhibition, 'Miami City Ballet Drawings' at the Miami City Ballet Gallery in 2002. In 2008 he did a site specific installation Alice In Wonderland at the Paul Taylor Dance Company.


The work in DNA is both a continuation and a further development of all the work he has done with performing artists. He has introduced a new approach to color in his drawings from life by manipulating photos of black and white DNA drawings and then turning them into color photo copy enlargements. During the Paul Taylor installation, Kelvin stopped framing his work. Directly onto the wall, he has put photo copy enlargements of his drawings as well as sheet music of one of his songs and a graffiti page that included irreverent scribbling such as Robert Rauschenberg Can't Draw, Jasper Johns Sux, Anne Loves Dicky and Alison is getting married. Having been a professional musician as a teenager, Kelvin has found a way of combining his prolific song writing with his vast body of work in drawing and painting and is currently writing a Dance Opera to be called Pictures at an Exhibition. Kelvin Robertson sees the Dance New Amsterdam exhibition as part of his life long commitment to exploring Life through Art.


Dance New Amsterdam (DNA) is proud to celebrate its 25th year as an agent of experimentation for New York City dance arts. Since 1984 DNA has been dedicated to the pursuit of artistic excellence in dance performance, education and creative/administrative services. An incomparable resource, DNA's 25,000 square foot facility is a pioneer infrastructure for the performing arts by housing both a professional theater and education center – cultivating dance in all its forms and guiding dancers through the various stages of their career. DNA provides valuable opportunities for the aspiring, emerging and established artist, including classes, artistic residencies, and studio and administrative office subsidies. DNA also commissions new choreographic works and presents a year-round performance season of fully produced dance works and world premieres. Founded in NoHo and originally known as Dance Space Center, DNA changed its name in 2005 and relocated to 280 Broadway shortly thereafter. The state-of-the-art facilities include a professional 130-seat theater, six studios, a wellness program, two galleries and a reception space. DNA was the first not-for-profit arts organization to move to Lower Manhattan after 9/11 and plays a critical role as an asset for the dance community, as well as a renewing force in downtown Manhattan's cultural landscape.


DNA's 2009 Season is made possible with DNA program revenue along with generous support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York; Mertz Gilmore Foundation; New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), a state agency; and New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA), a city agency.


For more information and press inquires please contact Amanda Szeglowski, Manager of Public Relations & Corporate Development at 212.625.8369 ext. 226 or visit www.dnadance.org.
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