The Irma Freeman Center for Imagination presents Reflections: Out of Mind, an exhibition featuring the works of Allan Rosenfield and Geoffrey Gordon. The opening reception will be Friday, November 7, 6 - 9 pm. The exhibition will close on Saturday, November 29. Gallery hours will be held every Saturday, 2- 5 pm, and by appointment.

Reflections: Out of Mind is a rare and exclusive survey of the work of two dedicated individualists who have made their own artistic way regardless of the latest trends. Both Rosenfield and Gordon paint from the inside out, using an inner eye to create work that tells its own abstract narrative. Both painters acknowledge things seen. For Gordon, objects and figures emerge in a cubist space. Rosenfield refers to landscapes with multiple horizons or geological history. Yet, they both contradict their figuration by thick, seemingly random strokes of color (Gordon) and pigment saturated into raw canvas (Rosenfield.) While Gordon and Rosenfield look inward for their inspiration, their abstractions process the totality of each artists' lived experiences and sensual interactions with the world. The outcome of this process is an immediacy that is of this moment by default, precluding any need to strain for relevance.

Allan Rosenfield was originally from Philadelphia, which he fondly refers to as "The sinkhole of my ambition." After earning his BFA in Fine Art from Tyler School of Art of Temple University, he went to Chicago, where he studied Painting at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. After receiving his MFA, Rosenfield applied for and was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship for a year of study in Japan. While there, he pursued his interest in traditional and modern calligraphy and calligraphic painting. During an interim period with his family in Haddonfield, NJ, Allan won a Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant. Some promising early interest and sales in that area prompted Rosenfield next to move to Los Angeles. He met his husband, Harley, after a move to Albuquerque, NM. Allan and Harley moved to Pittsburgh, Pa. In 2017, where they live with their miniature schnoodle, George.

Gordon is a self-taught mixed media painter based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His work explores the space between abstraction and landscape, often combining the two in ways that invite viewers into a layered and evolving visual experience. Gordon was accepted into the Associated Artists of Pittsburgh in 2020 and is also a member of the Pittsburgh Society of Artists. 

Working primarily with mixed media, Gordon experiments with a wide range of tools and materials to create dynamic compositions. He embraces an intuitive process, often rotating the canvas or shifting direction entirely as a piece develops—reflecting his belief in the beauty of uncertainty, much like daily life itself.

“I like to offer more than one perspective in my work by leaving marks ambiguous or unfinished. A sort of push-pull happens where the viewer can entertain their own dialogue. In this way, we can give ourselves an opportunity for the eye to rest and an open place of open minds where we can connect.”

Gordon's approach is rooted in exploration and gratitude, finding meaning not in a fixed outcome but in the transformation that happens along the way.

The opening of Reflections: Out of Mind will be held in conjunction with Penn Avenue’s monthly art crawl, Unblurred First Friday on November 7th.

Instagram: @ifcenter / Facebook: The Irma Freeman Center for Imagination / Inquire through email: info@irmafreeman.org / phone: 412-924-0634 

The Irma Freeman Center for Imagination and Women of Visions presents Shades of Black.
This exhibition opening is a part of First Friday, Unblurred: Penn Ave's Monthly Gallery Crawl.

“Shades of Black unfolds a narrative that transcends the monochrome stereotypes of yesteryears. It is an ode to the myriad of hues within the spectrum of blackness, where each shade embodies a unique story and a distinctive journey.
“This exhibition is a testament to the vibrancy that arises from the diversity of our people. Just as colors multiply, so does the richness of our experiences and cultures. Each work of art represents a chapter in the epic saga of overcoming adversities and rising above the constraints of societal expectations.” ---Cynthia Kenderson, President Women of Visions

Women of Visions, Inc. is a historic collective of African American women visual artists in Pittsburgh and a contemporary organization of artists supporting the community and each other through exhibitions, education, mentorship, and professional development.

There will be a closing reception with the artist March 28th 7 - 10 pm. See WESA 90.5 story on the life of Chuck Barr story and radio spot. Join us for this wonderful celebration of the life and art of Chuck Barr & Friends.