The Arts Center of the Capital Region presents Abide With Me, paintings by Fern T. Apfel in Troy, NY from January 19, 2023 to February 25, 2023. The Fence Select 2020 Best-in-Show (juried by Ian Berry) recipient presents work from 7 series within her prolific body of work.

Follow along with Apfel to the opening reception on January 27, 2023 from 6-8pm during Troy Night Out.

In this solo exhibition, Apfel delves into remnants of the past in acrylic still-life paintings of old stamps, pages of diaries, and pieces from well-thumbed books. Her minimalist approach to transcribing the ephemera onto wood panels breathes a preciousness and curiosity into each work.

Playing cards, stamped letters, illuminated manuscripts, and articles of clothing activate open fields of color of Apfel’s numerous collections. Layers of paint and hand-printed archival ink capture every subtle detail to give reverence to each subject. More often than not, these subjects reference ephemeral relics of human connection.

By painting them in this light, Apfel draws attention to these forgotten moments, capturing them in enduring compositions.

(detail of 64 Squares)

In addition to an array of works included in the following series: Contemporary Illuminated Manuscripts(2022), Worn, Games of Chance, Dear Nobody, Tracking the Days, and Painted Quilts, Apfel will unveil her ongoing (started end of 2019 – 2022 Repainted) collection of work, 64 Squares. As an homage to Ellsworth Kelly’s Colors for a Large Wall (1951), 64 Squares honors Apfel’s deep respect toward Kelly as she remarks “Mr. Kelly was a lovely and generous man to the Columbia County community where I live.”