The Pull

Melissa Dvozenja-Thomas, Executive Director, Arts Mid-Hudson

During the winter, finding indoor activities that can entertain the whole family can sometimes be difficult. My family, like many others, turns to puzzles, board games, and cards. Memories of laughing, learning something new, and friendly competition fill our weekends. The Pull, an exhibit by David Lionheart on view through April 14 at Grit Gallery in Newburgh, is an artistic representation of Lionheart’s 2-year experience collecting and playing one of the world’s most recognizable games, Pokémon.

“I found so much inspiration from seeing the joy and excitement that the cards and characters brought to the community of collectors of all ages. I pulled a card valued at $200.00 while opening my very first pack at Silver Sun game shop in Montgomery NY. I was hooked after that. There is such a strong dedication to preserving vintage collectibles and an electrifying excitement at the brink of every new release. It literally “Pulls” you in.”

Grit Gallery is located in Grit Works, a coworking space providing a collaborative environment where people can come together to build community. This perfectly selected location allows the ease of accessibility to an exhibit that could intrigue patrons of all ages.

The exhibit is composed of larger-than-life, fully textured paintings of the iconic characters. Even if you do not know anything about the characters, they are fascinating. The Test of Time, 36” x 36” fills the entire canvas with color and energy. Depicting the character Mew, who is connected to the universe in a way that is unlike any other Pokémon, it is only fitting that what appears to be the moon or sun sits in the top right corner with multicolors swirling all around it.

Pikachu, considered to be the most popular and well-known of the Pokémon species, can be seen in Light the Way. This bright yellow, mouse-like creature stands out as it is centered around dark hues almost sitting in the darkness. Adding a bit of magic to this piece, are the bits of gold scattered throughout the canvas, possibly a reference to the character’s electrical abilities.

The largest work in this exhibit is the Energy Forest, an earth-friendly sculptural experience re-purposing the bi-product of the collecting process; doubles, wrappers, boxes, packaging, and more. This magnificent room transports the viewer to an incredible place. Everywhere you look, there is something to examine. This includes flying birds made from books, roses created from foil packs, and rain from cards.

To share the game with the community, Lionheart and his team will be donating over 5,000 cards to kids who want to collect, play, and learn the game but might not have access or the financial means to do so. There will be scheduled art classes run out of the gallery, focused on engaging the community in exploring their artistic representation of the timeless characters.

A TRADE - PLAY - DRAW event on February 3 from 1 pm to 4 pm. Welcomes all to play/learn the game and if you are interested in creating art, there will be a station set up with free art supplies to create your favorite characters. What character will you create?

If you go:
The Pull
Grit Gallery - 115 Broadway - Newburgh NY
Dates: Open through April 14, 2024
Hours: Friday – Sunday: 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Contact: david@davidlionheart.art
grit-works.com/gallery