Unapologetic in Newburgh
Melissa Dvozenja-Thomas, Director, Development & Marketing, Arts Mid-Hudson
Whenever I travel, I always look for a small local coffee shop. These types of businesses usually tell you so much about the community and the people working there are so in tune with the arts and culture of the area. 2 Alices Coffee Lounge in Newburgh, NY is no different. I remember the first time I went there and noticed their walls displaying local artists, which perfectly complements their delicious food and beverages. So when meeting family and friends this holiday season, why not head to a place where you can support local businesses and take in an exhibit? Unapologetic, a collection of works by Naomi Berkery will be on display starting December 10 with an opening reception from 3 to 6 p.m.
Berkery, who is a Newburgh native, attended Pratt Institute of Art in Brooklyn, NY receiving her MFA in Art and Design Education with a concentration in Art Therapy. She began teaching art in New York City in 2003 and in 2006, she became the head of the art department and head teacher for special needs students at a school in Manhattan. Berkery moved back to Newburgh in 2019 and immediately submerged herself into its bustling arts community.
The work in Unapologetic was created during a major transitional period in Berkery’s life. Her work references mental health, astrology, nature, lore, and tradition. “It is an emotional journey towards self-discovery and acceptance,” Berkery says. “A visceral beckoning for my audience to experience my deepest thoughts through their very own eyes, making connections to their own experiences.”
“Begin Again,” a 24”x30” mixed media piece, depicts a female looking directly at the viewer with daisies in the background and in the forefront of the top of the piece. In Norse mythology, the daisy is known as the sacred flower for the goddess of love, beauty, and fertility. Daisies often symbolize new beginnings, which you feel the presence of when you look at this piece. Colors of yellows and light blues, and whimsical lines throughout the work, brings a feeling of a light spring breeze. So like nature, beginning again in Spring, Berkery welcomes the viewer into this new beginning of her artistic journey.
“Shaken Not Stirred,” also mixed media on canvas, was created in 2022. This piece is incredibly relatable to so many people. It is an image of a woman, with one eye closed and one open with almost a cyclone of turquoise lines moving from her head, around the top of the piece to the bottom right corner where it turns into the stem of flowers. Processing new ideas, having new thoughts for the next project, move or step in life and then planting the seed into reality not only mirrors Berkery’s recent transition but also the process so many go through in life.
No matter your journey, Unapologetic will leave you inspired by Berkery’s transitions and reflective of the past few years of your own life as well.
If you go:
Unapologetic
December 10, 2022 - March 1, 2023
Opening Reception, December 10, 2022, from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m
2 Alices Coffee Lounge, 117 Broadway, Newburgh, NY 12550.
Monday-Saturday: 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Contact: naomiberkeryart@gmail.com
Instagram: @naomi_berkery_art
