Artist/Musician Joseph Arthur Opens New Show in Woodstock

Online, September 7, 2011 (Newswire.com) - The VARGA Gallery will host an art exhibition featuring the works of
artist/musician Joseph Arthur on Saturday, September 10, 2011 at 6pm. Joseph Arthur will perform an acoustic set of his music and there will be collections for "Helping Hands of NY" to benefit Phoenicia victims of Hurricane Irene. The exhibition will be on display through September 2011.

Joseph Arthur's artwork is described as "a vigorous, layered,
expressionistic abstract sprawl, with a Basquiat-like, graffiti-esque urban edge and wild lashings of outsider primitivism" by The London Telegraph. Peter Gabriel says "I was struck by the strength and visceral quality of Jo's paintings. They seem to connect to Expressionism, Art Brut, Basquiat and the Graffiti movement. I remember encouraging him to take the painting seriously and it has been great to watch its evolution. Jo is a really unusual, interesting and talented artist in music and art."

Arthur's works have been exhibited in North America, Europe and Asia since his debut showing at the Vertigo Gallery in London, England in 2006. "You really start to teach yourself through looking. It's kind of the same way you teach yourself music - through listening. Like when you first hear Bob Dylan and you go, "Oh my God..." Then you start spinning off that and listening to other people and you figure out how to write songs through
listening. Same thing with painting," explains Arthur of his creative process. David Letterman commented about Arthur and his band on the program, "I want to go with those people. I would like to be with those people. I think they're probably doing things I'm not." They are, in Woodstock at the VARGA Gallery.

Though Joseph Arthur's first passion is the visual arts, he is better known for his music as discovered by Peter Gabriel in the mid-nineties. Coming off of the heels of touring and releasing an album alongside Ben Harper and Dhani Harrison - son of George Harrison - for the side project "Fistful of Mercy", Arthur released his long-awaited solo album 'The Graduation Ceremony' in May 2011. Arthur has released seven full-length studio albums and eleven EPs. Music from his extensive and critically acclaimed catalog have been used in Dawson's Creek, The OC, Grey's Anatomy, Scrubs, HBO's Hung and True Blood, as well as in the films Shrek 2, The Bourne Identity, Hell's Kitchen and the American Pie trilogy.

"Helping Hands of NY" Board President Otia Lee notes "Artists have always been the first to answer the call for help." VARGA Gallery will participate in region-wide volunteer and fundraising efforts and events that are happening throughout the Hudson Valley.

With close to twenty national and international exhibits under his belt, Joseph is gearing up for his Woodstock Debut at VARGA Gallery which will feature an acoustic set by Arthur. Suffice to say that Joseph Arthur's prolific output of art and music has garnered much attention - and while everyone else discusses its meaning and credence, Arthur is on to the next project: "Andy Warhol's approach to art is an ideal for me: make art, and while people are deciding whether they like it or not, make more art".

For more information contact VARGA Gallery at 845.679.4005 or email
press@vargagallery.com. VARGA Gallery is located in Woodstock next to Upstate Films. Hours are Thursday through Sunday 12 - 5 or by
appointment. Studio hours daily and drop ins welcome. Visit online at http://www.VARGAgallery.com.