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Arts & Entertainment

Artist Nina Bentley Takes on Healing Trade

In 'A Taste of Your Own Medicine,' the artist offers up a dose of humor and a dash of commentary

In her upcoming show, "A Taste of Your Own Medicine," assemblage artist Nina Bentley simultaneously pokes fun at -- and  expresses her awe of --  the healing trade.

The show, which opens at the Fairfield Arts Council on Sept. 10, makes full use of the artist's inherent  love of  words, her trademark wit and her deep sense of creativity

"'A Taste of Your Own Medicine' is a skewered look at an industry that confounds most people," Bentley, a Westport resident, says. "This exhibition is assemblage of work that I have done over the years."

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Pieces in the show have clever titles, such as "Bones of Contention," which is an apothecary jar filled with bleached animal bones. One each bone, either Nina or her husband, Richard Bentley, expresses something within their relationship that annoys them.

"'Bones of Contention' was in my head for 10 years," says Bentley. "I was a copywriter at one time and I love words. Sometimes my pieces start with the title, sometimes they start with the material."

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For this exhibit, she had plenty of both. Her son-in-law, Randy Zuckerman, a surgeon, provided her with some of the materials she has made use of in her artwork.

The titles, however, are Bentley's alone. Pieces in the show, which incorporate the use of colored resins, glass containers and silver spoons, include "Serum of Sarcasm," "Cream of Criticism," "Unguent of Anger" and "Tincture of Bitterness."

"It has been great fun conceptualizing Nina Bentley and this exhibition," says FAC curator Laura Einstein. "Nina is a true wordsmith.  Clever wordplays and associations are always at hand to make a visit to Nina's studio an absolute delight.  I know that each visitor to the exhibition will come away with at least a few smiles and all-too-familiar memories of a recent medical experience." 

Einstein adds, "Nina's work is a comment on her exciting life.  She is always great fun and the conversations are always stimulating and compelling."

In all, Bentley will have about 20 pieces on view at the exhibit. Some of the pieces are of a more serious nature including "The Good Doctors," which she created in 1999 as a comment on abortion. "'Good Doctors' is a surgical assemblage wall piece of antique photos of male doctors," explains Bentley. "Inside is a traveling tool set for a surgeon as well as blood and cotton."

"A Taste of Your Own Medicine" will include a new medium for the artist. "This show features my very first electronic piece," she said. "It's a telephone receiver, hanging from a wall, that has the message: 'In case of an emergency, please call back …'"

Decorated medicine cabinets, titled "Mother's Little Helpers," also will be a part of the show, as well as renderings of X-rays.

Bentley is looking forward to the Fairfield exhibit. "I really like the FAC gallery," she said. "I like the people aned I like the atmosphere. It is hip, friendly and welcoming."

The opening reception on Sept 10 takes place 6-8 p.m. The exhibit remains on view through Oct. 16.

A Brown Bag lunch discussion with Bentley and Einstein will be offered Thursday, Sept. 30, 12:30-1:30 p.m.

 About Nina Bentley

Bentley has had numerous one-person shows in both Europe and America.  She has won a number of awards in regional juried shows including Art of the Northeast, the Mattatuck Museum, the Katonah Museum and the Discovery Museum in Bridgeport.  She was held a solo show at the New Britain Museum of American Art in their NEW/NOW series. Her works are also included in many private collections.

Bentley was chosen by Barney's New York in 2004 to be their featured artist in the annual show "Madison Avenue: Where Fashion Meets Art" and in 2005 had a solo show at Silvermine Guild,  titled "Self Improvement."

In the last several years, she has exhibited at various galleries in Connecticut including New Haven University, Seaton Gallery and Central Connecticut State University.  She has also curated numerous local exhibits for the Flynn Gallery in Greenwich, the Westport Historical Society, Westport Arts Center and the Rye Art Center.

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1939, Bentley attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where she studied fine art and graduated in 1962 with a bachelor's degree in History.  She lived much of her adult life abroad in such places as Bologna, Frankfurt, London, Zurich, Santiago and Caracas.  In the 1980s, Bentley, then living in Larchmont, N.Y, worked as executive director of the Rye Art Center and, now resident in Westport has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Westport Arts Center.  She is also active with the Silvermine Guild Arts Center.

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