September 11 - October 7, 2025

Unrestricted Access, 50 Years of SOHO20
Marjorie Abramson, B. Amore, Nancy Azara, Karen Baldner, Milenka Berengolc, Darla Bjork, Elena Borstein,Diane Churchill, Maureen Connor, Linda Cunningham, Martha Edelheit, Anne Elliott, Louise Farrell, Lisa Fischetti, Ginny Fox, Janet Goldner, Lannie Hart, Susan Hockaday, Lucy Hodgson, Gail Hoffman, Carla Rae Johnson, Cynthia Mailman, Anne Marie McDonnell, Elizabeth Michelman, Vernita Nemec, Afarin Rahmanifar, Debbie Rasiel, Lucy Sallick, Rosalind Shaffer, Madelaine Shellaby, Kathy Stark, Judith Steinberg, Georgia Strange, Eleonora Tammes, Gayle Tanaka, Virginia Tyler, and Sharon Wybrants.

Observatory Redux: Ann Kronenberg

Opening Reception: Thursday, September 11, 6 - 8pm
Performances: Thursday, September 25, 6:30 - 8pm
Panel Discussion: Saturday, October 4, 4 - 6pm

Unrestricted Access, 50 Years of SOHO20 Gallery

Founded in 1973 by Joan Glueckman and Mary Anne Gillies, SOHO20 Artists Inc. is one of the oldest galleries dedicated to increasing public awareness of art created by women. As stated in the gallery’s first press release, In keeping with the feminist ideal of women defining themselves, the criterion for membership is professional excellence without restriction on style, medium, or theme.

Since then, SOHO20 has sponsored exhibitions of the work of over 1000 member artists. In addition, the organization has invited over 600 non-member artists to exhibit. As a fully non-profit organization, the gallery has secured funding for many themed exhibitions which were devoted to showcasing work that was directed to specific causes, including the work of senior women artists and that of emerging artists. Solo, group, and thematic shows have been reviewed in New York Times, Village Voice, Arts Magazine, Soho Weekly News, Art in America, Art Forum, and Craft Horizons, among others. For years, the gallery hosted various panel discussions, performances, and events, as well as weekly presentations by Artists Talk on Art, in which individual artists could present and discuss their work. For a number of years, the gallery provided an invitational exhibition space and a residency program with a private studio.

In this fiftieth anniversary exhibition, we are privileged to present the work of six original members of SOHO20 and 31 artists who have shown in the gallery over the span of half a century. Participants include former and current members. The artistic styles, modes, and concepts broadly reflect nearly every major type of art that has emerged in New York City since the 1970s. While often addressing feminist issues, the paintings, drawings, prints, and sculptures deal with political, environmental, social, and racial concerns.

SOHO20 has served as a springboard for emerging artists and enhanced the careers of those who have achieved greater recognition. While the opportunities for women artists have improved over the last 50 years, there is still a need to keep such work in the public view and to realize that regressive politics can undermine even the most enlightened thinking.

Exhibiting artists:

*original member

Observatory Redux

Observatory Redux by Ann Kronenberg encompasses many interpretations relating to using art, science, and religion to create order, unity, and comfort with the disorderly and vast reality of space, and internal psyche. This eighteen foot installation in CBG’s On the Wall space is built from polychromed wood, electrical wiring, bulbs, and bookwork. The first interpretation, an observatory, is meant to display the stars in anthropomorphized constellations as they have been throughout history to give a more concrete connection between space and humanity. By displaying the stars in this way, Observatory Redux conveys a sense of cosmic connectedness that is attainable through art. Much like art, religion also aims to connect humanity to abstract ideas. Because of this, the piece resembles an altar that demonstrates the kinship of religion and art. Thirdly, Observatory Redux can be interpreted as a rocket ship to demonstrate that humanity aims to control the vastness of space to avoid seeking solutions to problems on Earth. The mythologic stories conveyed in Observatory Redux are used to parallel Kronenberg’s own conflicts and life. Finally, the connection of individuality and the stars demonstrates the complementary principles expressed in the Yin-Yang of Chinese philosophy. Observatory Redux is meant to express numerous ideas relating to the need of humanity to understand and control abstract ideas.

Ann Kronenberg is a versatile artist and writer whose creative endeavors span a wide array of mediums, including sculptural objects, installations, book works, works on paper, handmade paper works, wearables, and performance art. Beyond her visual creations, Kronenberg also delves into literature, crafting memoirs and texts for her book works, adding depth and narrative to her artistic expressions. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and exhibition spaces in New York City and across the nation. With a rich background in education, Kronenberg has shared her passion for art with students of all ages, teaching adult education courses, children and adolescents, and facilitating continuing professional education. Her extensive experience extends beyond the classroom, encompassing roles in arts and non-profit administration, editorial work for artists' newsletters, published art criticism, clothing design for retail markets, and costume design for performances. Additionally, her illustrations have been featured in national magazines, showcasing her multifaceted talents. She studied art and art history extensively, earning her MFA in sculpture from Hunter College.  However, her academic journey began with her undergraduate major in biological sciences, receiving an AB from Cornell University, and continued with years of teaching science and working in laboratories. This unique background infuses her art with a distinctive perspective, as her scientific training informs both her subject matter and analytical approach to artistic creation.

Observatory Redux is on view until November 8, 2025.