Karl with "Old Friends"
Karl W. Blunck’s second life as an artist began years ago after a heart attack forced him into retirement at the tender age of 57. Recent regional awards are now being followed by an acceptance for the second year in a row in a juried show at the historic Salmagundi Club on Fifth Avenue in New York City. This time his “Old Friends” has been selected. Members of the club, which originated in 1871, are mainly residents of the Tri-State area, but others hail from throughout the Unites States, Canada, and Europe. Since 1917 the club has called a mid-nineteenth century brownstone home, and this is where Karl’s art work will be hung.
Competition to be chosen for exhibition at The Salmagundi Club is brutal, and those accepted are amongst an elite number. The membership of the club though is not elitist, and the preserved architecture of their building harkens back to a genteel period when artists gathered in friendship to share passions, ideas, talent and socialize amongst kindred spirits. This historic nature of the club is reflected in the architecture of the building with many of the rooms preserved with original woodwork, but the main gallery area provides a contemporary space where the art can be fully appreciated.
The non-member juried shows sponsored by The Salmagundi Club are considered two of the most exciting exhibits in New York City. The two events cover different art mediums, and Karl Blunck’s work will be exhibited in the Painting and Sculpture exhibition which runs from June 29th thru July 10th. The gallery is open to the public from 1p to 5pm seven days a week, and is located at Forty-Seven Fifth Avenue right near Washington Square Park. (Salmagundi.org )
The accompanying video was created by an award winner from the 2008 juried show…Hopefully, Karl will be accepting additional honors at this summer’s event.