New at Gallery A3: PERSPECTIVES Join the Political and the Personal
Left: Rochelle Shicoff, So It Occurs, acrylic and embroidery thread on canvas; Right: Diane Steingart, It Can Get Rocky, acrylic on paper. Photo: Gallery A3
Source: Gallery A3
In PERSPECTIVES Join the Political and the Personal at Gallery A3, Rochelle Shicoff and Diane Steingart invite viewers into their diverse visual worlds. Shicoff’s series of paintings express her responses to the current conflict in Gaza while Steingart’s process-driven paintings explore an inner world of emotions, memories, and dreams.
The exhibit at Gallery A3 opens on Thursday, October 2 and will run through Saturday, November 1. There will be an opening reception at the gallery on Friday, October 3 from 5-7 p.m. There will be a free Art Forum Online on Thursday, October 16, at 7:30 p.m. Pre-register here. Gallery A3 is located at 28 Amity Street 1D. Gallery hours are Thursday–Sunday, 2:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m.
Rochelle Schicoff, Day and Dark: Unthinkable Choices/Gaza
Day and Dark: Unthinkable Choices/Gaza reflects Rochelle Shicoff’s feelings and thoughts about the ongoing crisis in Gaza. She explains that it was emotionally difficult to produce these paintings because the conflict is so complicated, both politically and personally. “Though I am Jewish with family members who died in the Holocaust, my concern and empathy for the Palestinian people is shown throughout this series,” she says. As she worked on the paintings for over a year, she did not focus on the suffering of Israelis as a result of this war, but she does include The Hostages—from Morning till Night in the exhibition. Hand stitching with embroidery thread, embedded in the paintings, provides a visual container for various groupings.
Shicoff’s interest in the Middle East goes back to her visit to Egypt in 1980. “This trip still resonates within me: the grandeur of the desert, the spectacular ancient monuments, the Arabic language, the markets and the people,” she recalls. Her initial interest became a more sustained engagement as she lived in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, for many years, among neighbors from Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, and Yemen. She became involved with the Arab American Association of New York and interviewed women members about their country of origin and experiences living in the U.S. In response, the women often told her they were gratified for the opportunity to tell their stories.
Diane Steingart, You Can’t Push the River
A mixed media artist, Diane works by experimentation, although she begins her creative journey in the same way each time. Working on paper, canvas, or wood, Steingart starts by creating marks and shapes, using acrylic paints, pencils and markers, and found objects to create the under-painting. Using paint and collage and employing a variety of ways to create depth and texture, she layers her work extensively. Each layer modifies the effect that came before and evolves into the next. “The process can be challenging,” she says, “but often leads to revelations and insights. And when it goes smoothly, it is a joy!”
Diane’s artwork frequently names itself after each piece is done. If viewers perceive the connections between the titles and the artwork, then that adds to the enjoyment she receives from creating art. Diane’s studio time is her meditation time, where her mind quiets down and she connects with herself. Making art is a process and Diane finds that when she lets go of control, the work emerges. She has discovered through many years of practice that you can’t push the river.
Art Forum Online
On Thursday, October 16, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. on Zoom, Shicoff and Steingart will speak about their work and the different perspectives they bring to their artwork. Steingart will concentrate on her art-making process and will address aspects such as listening to your intuition, communicating with the painting, paying attention to your emotions, and dancing. Shifcoff will show images spanning many decades, and explain her deep involvement in the Middle East and its culture and people, particularly women.
Pre-register for this program, which is free and open to the public, at www.gallerya3.com
About Gallery A3
A cooperative, contemporary fine arts gallery located in downtown Amherst, Gallery A3 is celebrating its 23rd anniversary this year. Current members include painters, sculptors, photographers, printmakers, and mixed media artists. Over its two-decade history, A3 has been home to over 60 member-artists, mounting monthly exhibits and offering cultural events and community collaborations. The Gallery hosts opening receptions every month and community outreach programs, free and open to the public, are scheduled on the third Thursday. This Art for Community outreach program is supported in part by grants from the Amherst Cultural Council and the Pelham Cultural Council, local agencies, which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.