First Street Gallery is pleased to announce the debut exhibition of artist Mark Gotbaum.

Gotbaum's artistic influences range from Renaissance painters to classic comic books. His themes, much like his artistic influences are broad, from social commentary, to sports and the banal. Gotbaum resists any mechanical or technological aides. He is a master technician and the one constant in his art making is the love of process: mark making, the touch, the 'schmere', the drip of paint, the accident — all are the active elements of his creative play.

One can also see the influences of the "mean streets" of the east Bronx circa 1950, where sports and fighting were the norm but art gave him cache and acceptance.  Here Gotbaum first became aware — that art had power, while it had quietly captivated his heart.

First Street Gallery will be closed November 26th, 27th, and 28th in obervance of Thanksgiving

[Click here to see additional work by Mark Gotbaum]