Art Deco catalog imagery and “windows into vitality” at 434 39th Street

Sunset Park artist Joe Bertino will present Thaw Pieces, a solo exhibition of new collage works, at Thomas VanDyke Gallery (434 39th Street) from March 12 through March 22.

The exhibition features 18 works that use imagery from Art Deco household catalogs, including vases, thermoses, and lamps. Unlike Bertino’s earlier, densely layered compositions, these pieces are spare and carefully constructed. Most use only two source materials and, in many cases, a single cut.

The series was inspired by “American Modern,” a catalog of Art Deco objects from 1925–1940. Bertino owned two copies of the book. One is older and visibly aged, the other is newer and bright. Rather than emphasizing deterioration, he layered the aged pages over the newer ones, creating what he described in a recent interview as “windows into vitality.” The resulting works reflect on seasonal change, particularly the idea that winter’s stillness and isolation can serve as preparation for renewal.

In the same interview, Bertino connected his collage practice to experimental music. As a teenager, he was influenced by sound collage artists such as The Books and Kid Koala. “No source material is off limits,” says Bertino. “Anything can be related to anything by the simple act of willing it.” That approach remains at the core of his work, where everyday objects can take on new, symbolic roles.

Thaw Pieces represents a shift in direction. “This series is a major departure for me stylistically,” Bertino noted. The compositions are restrained and calm. “The scenes are tranquil and not wild and frenetic,” he said, describing the work as a move toward minimalism.

Bertino does not seek to provide fixed interpretations. “I don’t make art for other people, ever,” he said. He recalled a friend’s comment on his work: “I know there’s a story here, I just don’t know what it is.” For the artist, that ambiguity is intentional. He wants viewers to engage with the work on their own terms, even if it means feeling “awed, even confused … lost but safe.”

With Thaw Pieces, Bertino offers a quieter body of work that focuses on simplicity, transition, and the possibility of growth emerging from stillness.

An opening reception will be held Saturday, March 14 at 2 p.m., and artist roundtables will be held on March 14 and 22, also at 2 p.m.