“Fifty years ago, I dedicated my life to fine art,” said Jim Gingerich. Recently the artist was invited by co-founders Eric Fischl and April Gornik to be the first visual artist-in-residence at The Church in Sag Harbor.
Gingerich follows the Martha Graham Dance Company who held residence at The Church during February. During his residency, Gingerich will work on a new series of sculptures entitled “The Hallelujah Maquettes,” integrating them with paintings he created over the past 50 years.
“I’m extremely happy for this special opportunity to work at the beautiful studio at The Church,” said Gingerich. “Clearly a great honor and a call to action. I plan to push ahead with my sculpture as well as a new series of paintings referencing my abstract work from the ’70s and early ’80s.”
“If I can feel the magic in my hands and put that feeling into a figure — like a spark struck into dry kindling — and blow a flame to life, then hopefully the viewer feels this warmth and feels connected to the creation and becomes part of the performance,” the artist continued. “This sharing of emotion, this imaginary projection of one’s self into ‘the other’ — to inhabit the other body and experience that life for a moment — this is a form of compassion, of aesthetic empathy.”
Sara Cochran, executive director and chief curator of The Church, said, “We are delighted to have Jim working in the space. It feels so hopeful to see the studio full of his paintings and sculpture and to see him busy creating. After such a dark year, it is great to see creativity in action.”
Two questions Gingerich asks himself before he starts a body of work are “Does it have a heart?” and “Will this make people feel better or worse?” he said. “Working at The Church is a very special opportunity. The interior is inspiring as it is its own work of art.”
The Church is operating as an artist residency, exhibition space, and creative center in the heart of Sag Harbor’s village. The goal is to foster creativity on the East End and honor Sag Harbor’s long tradition of technical and artistic innovation as a makers’ village.
Gingerich’s residence takes place from March 25 through April 23.
For more information, visit www.saghaborchurch.org.