The White Room Gallery Debuts in Bridgehampton

According to artist and gallerist Andrea McCafferty, Bridgehampton is situated in the center of a thriving art and cultural scene. McCafferty’s newest gallery, The White Room, is a casual gem right in the heart of it all. The White Room is a venue “representing a wide array of works from representational to abstract,” says McCafferty. “The gallery exhibits paintings, sculptures and photography from professional artists while also fostering emerging talents.”

The White Room’s Main Street location is perfect for the juxtaposing of art in the gallery. Behind wooden horse sculptures by artist Franco Cuttica and two strikingly colorful metal sculptures, the venue is nestled between two small businesses that share a U-shaped courtyard where the brand-new gallery can host lively receptions. During the May 9 grand opening, over 300 artists and collectors stopped by the Bridgehampton gallery and courtyard, while live music by Mama Lee Rose and Friends set the vibe.

While McCafferty says that the gallery’s opening and Memorial Day weekend were the two busiest times so far, a wide variety of artists and art at The White Room have generated a lot of interest, drawing a steady stream of visitors and collectors interested in dazzling,
locally made art.

Just beyond the gallery’s entrance are two transparent plastic display cases on top of white, rectangular pillars, containing fragile works of art: polymer clay feasts, as well as tiny assorted fruits surrounded by forest leaves, sculpted by Ruby Jackson.

Glossy photographic prints on metal canvases present obscure city-inspired landscapes, thanks to photographer and writer Kat O’Neill. Doll-faced characters painted with what appears to be blush and concealer dominate the gallery’s white walls as part of Nadine Daskaloff’s exhibit.

Walk to the back and you’ll find a painting of soothing blue ocean waves. Background music from the ’80s, ranging from punk to pop, fits the atmosphere. Deprived of surrounding colors in the walls and the light, the soft music pulsated and provided a ghostly finishing touch to the featured artwork. Far from being a distraction, it complemented the viewing. Maybe it was because that Clash-like music emphasized the idea of not quite fitting together, while also celebrating the solidarity of not giving a damn about it.

Through July 6, Mark Seidenfeld and Southampton’s own Paton Miller will be featured at the gallery. Miller’s recent work is best defined by two words: mosaic oasis. Similar to a quilt, multiple colors are woven together in the paintings in a fashion that makes them seem to have temperatures of their own. (Compare his “Illustrated Man,” “Skeleton Attic,” and “Road to Deliciousness” now on display.) And that’s only technique: Miller’s paintings are, in this exhibit, portraits of individuals highlighted in faraway places, in all stages of life. Mark Seidenfeld is best known for his “historical cameos” in photography, but Seidenfeld’s most recent paintings resemble crinkled cellophane soaked in liquid metal—some beautiful chaos! Add color to that image and you can imagine what a riotous palette The White Room will present.

McCafferty plans to tap into the South Fork’s three art fairs this summer—ArtHamptons, July 2–5 at Private Estate Grounds Lumber Lane Reserve; Art Market Hamptons, July 9–12 at Fairview Farm; Art Southampton, July 9–13 at Nova’s Ark Project, all in Bridgehampton—by offering a satellite show. She’ll be sure to keep some wine and cheese fresh and stocked back at the gallery. Stop by and take in the eclectic display.

The White Room Gallery, 2415 Montauk Highway, Bridgehampton, 917-526-2767,
thewhiteroom.gallery.