Myth and Magic on the Hudson

I'm prone every now and then to a "painter's crush." It comes and goes, sometimes it's a lasting relationship, in honor of February -- kind of a painter's Valentine. Recent crushes have been Tom Nozkowski, Katherine Bradford, and Dana Schutz: it's most always a living artist.

This past weekend I added a new one, after attending the opening of Kyle Staver's exhibit at John Davis Gallery in Hudson, N.Y. Ms. Staver makes big, luscious paintings that make the ordinary grand, the grand accessible, and the women are voluptuous and strong.

Her figures seem to emerge from a mystical darkness, and we are voyeurs for a brief moment. Will the aerial artists in Trapeze make the death-defying, mid-air/-life connection? Will the beautiful Diana in the wonderful triptych Diana and Actaeon, ever be able to have a stable relationship? Stay tuned.

Kyle Staver, Paintings, Prints, Reliefs is on display until February 24.