Coalescence is a two-person exhibition featuring small and medium-scale oil paintings by Paul Jay Edelson and wood and resin sculptures by Arthur Bernstein. These two unique artists use inspiration from nature to materialize elegant compositions and abstract forms. Edelson’s alla prima paintings condense nebulous liminal atmospheres formed where land, sea and sky meet. He captures these protean seascapes through expressive, balletic marks that reference the initial subject, often the shores of Long Island, while simultaneously exploring abstract moments of color and texture. The graceful abstract sculptures of Arthur Bernstein allude to solidified fluid movements and organic forms, which are often informed by the wood itself. The works are primarily carved from black walnut, which is native to Long Island and sourced locally. Bernstein’s attention to the balance of negative space and his gently curving forms creates engaging structures for viewers to navigate.

Born in Brooklyn, Paul Jay Edelson currently lives and works in Poquott, New York. Edelson has been included in numerous exhibits across Long Island. Arthur Bernstein is a Setauket-based sculptor. He studied with Kiril Tzotchev of the Classical Art School, Robert White, and Sheila Solomon at Stony Brook University and is a Salmagundi Club award recipient.