It is not a secret that few professional galleries in Manhattan present and support new artists, although New York has long been reputed to be the hub of the art world where new talent can be shown. There are even fewer galleries in Manhattan where quality works of art are offered at moderate prices. Viewpoint Gallery, however, is an alternative Manhattan gallery which shows contemporary art in a warm and supportive ambiance and where one can savor rare books and records at the top of Union Sqaure.
The Gallery is a special place to visit. It is located at Union Square in the heart of New York’s university district. It sits on the ninth floor of one of those long-established buildings on the Square, over 100 years old, where artists and designers have their workspaces. The Gallery is small and friendly with a spectacular view of Greenwich Village.
For over twenty years Viewpoint Gallery has reflected the combined interests and passions of its founders, Elizabeth and Robert Pettit. The Gallery houses Robert’s collection of fine books and recordings, which reflect his artistic, literary and musical tastes. These are combined perfectly with Elizabeth’s background in painting, sculpture, theatre and dance. It is this mix which helps to give Viewpoint Gallery its special atmosphere.
At Viewpoint Gallery painters, sculptors, and writers gather to discuss and sell their work. There are spring and fall shows which include paintings, drawings, sculpture and art photography by skillful and creative new artists. At other events authors and poets read from their books and musicians meet to perform together. Visitors can also enjoy browsing the bookshelves for titles in the visual arts, as well as history, politics, food, literature, music, dance, photography, and theatre.
Viewpoint Gallery was established in 1981 by Robert and Elizabeth Pettit. Their vision was to find an exhibit space that would bring the arts together and provide the opportunity for new artists to show their work.
The Pettits have often used the word ‘eclectic’ to describe the Gallery. Viewpoint is ‘an eclectic mini-Gallery for books and art,’ says Elizabeth. Robert once said that ‘What this Gallery is about is taking talented artists, giving them a little visibility and introducing them to people.’
Viewpoint’s open-house style reflects the Pettits' varied viewpoints. The Gallery’s shows often combine sculpture with paintings, drawings and graphics, or pottery with photography.
Robert and Elizabeth Pettit created Viewpoint Gallery to support their strong interest in the arts. Robert was a banker with a strong literary and music background. He developed his artistic skills with his father when he was very young. Robert played the clarinet and organized his own band at the University of Virginia. Robert and his father shared interests in books, opera, chess and jazz.
Elizabeth, whose mother was a painter, and who herself is a psychologist and dance therapist by profession, was fortunate to have Martha Graham as a mentor and teacher who helped steer her life. Martha Graham, a genius and original choreographer of 180 ballets, is considered to be a national and international influence in the world of dance, theatre, music and art. Aaron Copland and the famed sculptor Noguchi were just two of her famous collaborators.
Elizabeth studied at Columbia, Barnard, and the New School. She and two close artist friends developed an arts program in the early eighties to reach poverty area schools and children. Elizabeth was deeply concerned because the quality arts were never included in the early education of our students. Her company is called Education in Dance and the Related Arts, and you can visit its web site at www.educationindance.org. Creative movement, music, self-esteem games, nutrition, tumbling as it applied to dance and the introduction of both classic and jazz performers such as Antonio Vivaldi and Scott Joplin form part of Education in Dance’s curriculum. Children start at the age of four. The program is taught in over fifty schools.
Viewpoint Gallery is a very intimate space, reminiscent of a Parisian atelier. In many ways it is like stepping into someone’s living room. The Pettits searched for some time before finding this site, and they have given it a strong sense of place and space highly appropriate for an alternative gallery. It is a salon and a gallery which looks beyond commerce in art to the life and viewpoint of the artists themselves. The Gallery is not bound by current artistic categories, big prices, or artistic politics.
Viewpoint invites gifted painters, sculptors and writers to submit photographs of their work (no slides please) for possible inclusion in a spring or fall show.