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Diversity: Paintings by Robert Allen ?>

Diversity: Paintings by Robert Allen

Diversity: Paintings by Robert Allen

RECEPTION June 11th at 6pm 

The Fordham University Galleries
Ildiko Butler Gallery
June 5 – August 23, 2026
Fordham University at Lincoln Center map
113 West 60th Street at Columbus Avenue
New York, NY 10023
fordhamuniversitygalleries

I prefer to avoid claiming any profound meaning to be found in the images I create. These
paintings are simply meant to be looked at, and it is hoped that they communicate in a purely visual language, not needing a narrative explanation. Either the work captures a viewer’s imagination or it doesn’t. Frankly, unfortunately, some of that ‘art critique stuff’ can be rather pretentious.

However, I do believe creative acts represent attempts to validate self-worth, or a means of documenting one’s existence, announcing that, for a short time, “I was a part of humanity.” So, these paintings are reflections of my imagination, starting usually as doodles, then turning into temporary obsessions. That said, it would be disingenuous not to admit that I am inspired by the works of other artists, often resulting from a ‘throw-back’ to works seen in museums, galleries, books, then trying to prove to myself “I can do that.” A spark ignited by another artist is then transformed into something derived from my own alchemy of psychological history mixing subject matter, color, design, etc., into something a little different, made up of other’s ideas, but resulting in ‘art’ which I am uniquely responsible for.

This explains why these works seem to lack any central style or theme. I like the challenge of “differences” and not just in art. So, if this exhibit represents anything more than viewers getting lost in the visual language of art, and escaping into something perhaps personally “meaningful,” let it applaud the theme of diversity – an openness to recombining concepts and how we think, transforming old ideas into something a little different, which inherently requires and welcomes sharing, a process which often brings about something positive and worthwhile because it emanates from a collective inspiration. I am happy to share this work, a small contribution, created during my time of ‘being a part of humanity.’

Bob Allen
June 2026

Pictures of Ghosts, by Kleber Mendonça Filho ?>

Pictures of Ghosts, by Kleber Mendonça Filho

Pictures of Ghosts, 2023, directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho

Tuesday, April 14, 6 pm, Lincoln Center, Visual Arts Complex, RM SL24L
Panelists: Associate Professor of French Audrey Evrard, Department Chair, Languages & Cultures, and Professor Carl Fischer, Professor of Spanish, Department of Languages & Cultures. Moderated by Professor Apicella-Hitchcock, Head of the Visual Arts Program. Open to all. There will be pizza and a raffle prize.

Pictures of Ghosts, from acclaimed Brazilian director Kleber Mendonça Filho, “Is a multidimensional journey across time, sound, architecture, and filmmaking that explores the rich, complicated history of the filmmaker’s home city of Recife—the coastal capital of the state of Pernambuco—through the great movie theaters that served as spaces of conviviality during the twentieth century. Paeans to dreams and progress, these temples of cinema have also come to reflect major shifts in Brazilian society and politics. Combining archival documentary, mystery, film clips, and personal memories, Pictures of Ghosts is a map of a city through the lens of cinema, offering a delightful tour…”

About season two:
This spring, Films Worth Talking About, Even If Difficult, expands its programming into a broader interpretive territory. “Difficult Films” is not limited to films that are emotionally challenging or politically provocative; it can also refer to films that are visually experimental, sonically demanding, historically complex, or with multi-threaded or temporally shifting narratives. Ultimately, the series is a cinematic pretext for hanging out, eating, and talking—a communal exercise where we discuss, discover, and sometimes disagree, which is all part of the experience.

The Office of the Arts & Sciences Dean invites you to step outside your regular streaming queue, experience something different, and join a community of curious film lovers throughout the year. Please bring your friends, an open mind, and have a question ready. Additionally, to sweeten the deal, we offer raffle items connected to the film. By participating, you could walk away with a special prize AND a different perspective.

Sound Stories ?>

Sound Stories

In VART 2222 Art of the Interview, students record interviews with community members who discuss the past, present and future of the Lincoln Square neighborhood, which was demolished in the 1950’s to build Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Fordham College at Lincoln Center, and other developments.

This Fall 2025 class was generously supported by funding and staff at Fordham’s Center for Community Engaged Learning

On Wednesday December 17th, the Fall 2025 class presented videos highlighting various stories at Good Shepherd Faith Presbyterian Church, where many interviewees are members:

This short film by Nora Kinney features interviews with Freddie Richardson, Humberto Pichardo, Jackie Brown Richardson and Tanisha Hill

Good Shepherd-Faith Presbyterian Church, by the way, is the last standing church to predate the Lincoln Center urban renewal project that demolished the rest of the neighborhood, and has a rich civil rights history.

Video by Ayden Suber, featuring a story told by Huberto Pichardo

Lauren Vaughn and Kylie O’Toole made this video from an interview with longtime Lincoln Square community member, Mr. Freddie Richardson

Phillip (Rohde) Costello created this piece from interviews with Freddie Richardson and Humberto Pichardo.

Here is Amanda video featuring stories told by Freddie Richardson and Tanisha L. Hill.

Sage Rochetti’s video features stories by Freddie Richardson and Tanisha L. Hill.

Cartographer’s Tunnel ?>

Cartographer’s Tunnel

Paintings by Mason Saltarreli

The Fordham University Galleries
Ildiko Butler Gallery
October 10 – November 19, 2025
Fordham University at Lincoln Center map
113 West 60th Street at Columbus Avenue
New York, NY 10023
fordhamuniversitygalleries

Cartographer’s Tunnel

Certain abstract paintings live as maps towards our interior labyrinth. Through their silent direction we might arrive into our deepest accommodations.

Not far from our front door on 60th Street towards the Hudson River was a hill which led to a tunnel. We would enter through a hole in the metal fence. Passing trains rolled by. People lived there. Each visit was mysterious.

On one occasion a man walking on the train tracks stopped and spoke with me as he was headed deeper into the tunnel. His eyes were experienced. The conversation was brief. I am grateful for his words.

Moments of surprise ferry oxygen to my internal incandescent candle. These paintings are some of its light.
— Mason Saltarrelli
 

Mason Saltarrelli navigates a bridge between beings and spirit by engaging with a succinct collection of discovered and abstracted characters and syllabaries. Painting and drawing intuitively—his expressiveness articulates continuing, woven motifs which invite unlimited exploration from the watcher. Saltarrelli’s jubilant work transforms human, animal and inanimate beings into buoyant embracing remembrances in an ever-evolving carousel of shape and color.

Mason Saltarrelli (b.1979, New Orleans, LA) graduated from Fordham College Lincoln
Center with a B.A. in Photojournalism in 2001. His work has been shown at Turn
Gallery, NYC, Timothy Hawkinson Gallery, Los Angeles, Ca, The Mass, Japan,
Meessen De Clercq, Belgium, Guild Hall, East Hampton, Ace Hotel, New Orleans,
Marvin Gardens, NYC, Galleri Jacob Bjorn, Denmark, Shrine Gallery, NYC, and Gallery
9, Australia among many others.

Ulrike Ottinger’s Shadows ?>

Ulrike Ottinger’s Shadows

screening + conversation

Thurs Oct. 2, 2025

7pm – 8:30pm (doors open 6:45), tickets here

Microscope Gallery | 525 W 29th St, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10001

Chamisso´s Shadow, photo Ulrike Ottinger, 2014 © Ulrike Ottinger

Ulrike Ottinger is described by Richard Brody of the New Yorker as “One of the crucial modern filmmakers… For Ottinger, the play of imagination is an essential realm of freedom, a way for women to defy and liberate themselves from the misogyny that’s embedded as deeply in consensus styles as in consensus politics.” As part of her New York tour, Ulrike Ottinger will screen an hour-long excerpt of her 12-hour long film, Chamissos Schatten (Chamisso’s Shadow, 2016) and then take part in a short conversation with scholar Dr. Nora Alter, who has written extensively about Ottinger’s work. More event info here. 

Chamisso´s Shadow, photo Ulrike Ottinger, 2014 © Ulrike Ottinger

6:45 PM – Doors Open

7:00 PM – Film Screening: Excerpt of Chamisso’s Shadows

8:00 PM – Post-Film Conversation with Nora Alter

8:30 PM – Program Concludes

Trockenfisch, das Brot der Nordländer, 2014 © Ulrike Ottinger

Chamisso´s Shadow, photo Ulrike Ottinger, 2014 © Ulrike Ottinger

About the film:

Chamisso’s Shadow (Germany 2016, 720 min [excerpt is 53 min])

Adelbert von Chamisso accompanied the Romanzow research expedition on the Rurik from 1815 to 1818 as a botanist. Inspired by his descriptions as well as those of the other great explorers such as Forster and Anderson with Captain Cook, Steller with Bering and Humboldt I came up with the idea to create a cinematic evocation of these travel experiences, both past and present. I believe the past and the present of these journeys belong together and can’t be separated just like poor Schlemihl and his shadow in Chamisso’s ‚Wondrous Story’, where Schlemihl seeks to recover and reinstate his lost shadow as he travels through the world.

“But there on the sunny sands, a human shadow, not unlike my own, slid past, wandering alone and seemingly strayed from his Master. This sight awakened in me a powerful drive: shadow, thought I, are you looking for thy Master? Your Master I will be.” – From Schlemihl by Adelbert von Chamisso

Readings from the many, very vivid, observations from those early explorers will be combined with my visual materials. Together they contrast and complement and enter into a dialogue that tells of the loss of knowledge of ancient cultural techniques and about learning a new. The desperation and the disintegration will be manifest but maybe, in some cases, this will provide a sense of relief, for it may show that it is only through comparison with the past that progress and change can be made visible.

Learn more about Ulrike Ottinger and Nora Alter:

Ulrike Ottinger 

Nora Alter

This event is presented by Fordham University and Microscope Gallery as part of the Fordham course Intro to Art & Engagement: Protest, Participation, the Public, and Other Performance Practices, taught by Catalina Alvarez.

Admission is free for all Fordham students with ID.

The event is conceived and organized by Catalina Alvarez, with co-organization by Jennifer Moorman. Support comes from Fordham’s Center for Community Engaged Learning and the Departments of Theatre and Visual Arts, Communication and Media Studies, and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. The film excerpt is courtesy of the Arsenal – Institute for Film & Video Art.