FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 16, 2025

ARDEN KLEMMER & PAUL CHRISTOPHER CONTICELLI
Gonna Build a Heaven From a Little Hell

One of two “GARNER Tenant Exhibitions” to be on view this summer
Opening Reception: Saturday, June 28, 5-7PM

GARNERVILLE – GARNER Arts Center is proud to present “Gonna Build a Heaven From a Little Hell,” a multidisciplinary two-person exhibition by GARNER Historic District resident studio artist, Arden Klemmer, and colleague, Paul Christopher Conticelli, to be on view this summer in the Ned Harris Gallery at Building 35.

With “Gonna Build a Heaven From a Little Hell”, Arden Klemmer and Paul Christopher Conticelli envision a future of hope rising above despair, beauty overtaking destruction, and liberation born from entrapment. Thematically, the exhibition grapples with juxtaposing natural and artificial visions of the world, from dystopia to utopia.

Through a variety of mediums—including botanical paintings interwoven with symbols of modernity such as plastic and refuse, mixed-media abstract works, and poetry—the artists examine the delicate balance between human innovation and its impact on our inner and outer environments. The exhibition merges abstract and realistic visual art with evocative poetry, fostering a poignant dialogue about our responsibilities to the planet, one another, and ourselves.

Accompanying these visual works are poems that delve into themes of societal entrapment and a yearning for freedom, hope, and transformation. Together, the artworks and poetry provoke thought on the fragility and resilience of our shared world, providing visitors with layers of meaning to unpack. The exhibition holds cultural significance as a call to action and a celebration of creativity’s role in imagining and manifesting a brighter future.

"Gonna Build a Heaven from a Little Hell" is timely in its message of hope, responsibility, and resilience. It aligns with GARNER Arts Center’s commitment to fostering artistic ideas that emerge as a response to societal and environmental influences. The exhibition’s multimedia nature extends branches of connection to varied audiences, making it a fitting addition to GARNER’s year-round exhibition slate.

Klemmer and Conticelli’s “Gonna Build a Heaven from a Little Hell” was selected from an open call for GARNER Arts Center’s inaugural Juried Tenant Exhibition. The selection was conducted by GARNER’s exhibition committee, co-chaired by resident studio artist and board member James Tyler, along with Director of Programs and Operations Jesse Heffler. Fellow voting committee members include curators and resident studio artists Brett DePalma and Joe Fusaro, as well as artist Bel Falleiros.

“The recent addition of HVAC to our gallery allowed us to include an additional summer exhibition in our year-round roster,” says Heffler. “With so much talent and creativity surrounding us, the idea to open our gallery even more so to the GARNER tenant community came naturally,” says Heffler regarding GARNER’s “Juried Tenant Exhibitions.” “We found Arden and Paul’s proposal to be confident, imaginative, and soulful, showing excellent potential for a striking exhibition.”

A separate jury-selected exhibition of works, “Lucretius” by GARNER tenant artist Gordon Fearey, will run concurrently with this exhibition in Building 35’s Main Gallery. Both will run during “Upstate Art Weekend,” July 17 – 21.

You’re invited:

School and community groups are invited to schedule a special tour of the exhibition with the artist or curator. Please call Jesse Heffler at (845) 947-7108 for more information.

________

ARDEN KLEMMER & PAUL CHRISTOPHER CONTICELLI

Gonna Build a Heaven from a Little Hell

Exhibition Run: June 28 – August 3
Opening Reception: Saturday, June 28, 5-7PM
Gallery Hours: Fridays, 2-5PM, Saturdays and Sundays 1-5PM

WHERE: The Ned Harris Gallery at Building 35, GARNER Arts Center
ADDRESS: GARNER Historic District, 55 West Railroad Avenue, Garnerville, NY 10923
CONTACT: Jesse Heffler, Programs & Operations Director, (845) 947-7108; jesse@garnerartscenter.org

FOR APPOINTMENTS: (845) 947-7108 / info@garnerartscenter.org

https://garnerartscenter.org/exhibitions

For High-Resolution images and further information, please contact:
Jesse Heffler, Programs & Operations Director, (845) 947-7108; jesse@garnerartscenter.org

FOR PRESS:
Support for GARNER Arts Center is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, Rockland County Tourism, The Village of West Haverstraw, The Town of Haverstraw, the GARNER Historic District, and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.