> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://hyperallergic.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Garden-Hose Sculptures, Seductive Landscapes, and More Brighten a Rainy Night on the Lower East Side - URL: https://hyperallergic.com/garden-hose-sculptures-seductive-landscapes-and-more-brighten-a-rainy-night-on-the-lower-east-side/ - Published: 2019-10-18T16:10:26.000Z - Updated: 2025-11-24T16:23:08.000Z - Description: Despite torrential downpour and poor turnout, there were some excellent exhibitions on view for the second annual LES Art Night — most of which will continue throughout the remainder of the month. - Author: Alissa Guzman - Tags: Art, New York, Photo Essays, #wp, #wp-post, #image-position-hidden, #Import 2025-11-24 07:41 (2019, 2020, part 2) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2019/10/img_4164.jpg) Johnston Foster, “Cul-de-Sac” (2015) detail view at Freight + Volume (all photos by the author for Hyperallergic unless otherwise noted) Falling on a muggy evening of torrential downpour that forced only the most resolute to stay indoors, the vibe during Wednesday night’s [Lower East Side Art Night](https://www.facebook.com/events/lower-east-side/lower-east-side-art-night-2019/447422419223115/) hosted by [LES Partnership](https://les.nyc/?ref=hyperallergic.com) fluctuated between disappointed gallery owners and jovial cliques of committed viewers. Despite the weather inducing poor turnout, there were some excellent exhibitions on view — most of which will continue throughout the remainder of the month — running the gamut from [garden-hose sculptures](http://www.freightandvolume.com/?ref=hyperallergic.com) to [Hockney-esque paintings](https://www.marcstraus.com/exhibitions/sinead-breslin-sept-2019/?ref=hyperallergic.com), swimming pools and all. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2019/10/img_4151.jpg) Elliott Green, “Seismic Trill” (2019) at Pierogi Beginning the evening at [Pierogi](https://www.pierogi2000.com/?ref=hyperallergic.com), [Elliott Green’s](https://www.elliottgreen.com/?ref=hyperallergic.com) seductive landscapes offered alternative escapist worlds, while the title of the exhibition “Under the Map Room” suggests something more sinister at play given its nod to FDR’s nickname for his “situation room” during WWII. With a rich palette dominated by shades of blue, sliding swirls of color seem to undulate and shift into unstable horizons the longer you look. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2019/10/img_4157-e1571373154311.jpg) Rebecca Ness, “April 19th, 2019” (2019) at 1969 Gallery A few blocks away on Allen Street, the paintings of Rebecca Ness at [1969 Gallery](http://www.1969gallery.com/?ref=hyperallergic.com) take viewers down a different aesthetic road, where blunt realism is embedded into images of contemporary life — from Trumpian newspaper headlines to subway riders, a dressing room, or an embrace. Awkwardly figurative, like portraits of the self-absorbed, her paintings aptly describe our daily encounters with personal or cultural narcissism. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2019/10/img_4176.jpg) Tommy Kha, “September in Reno” (2017) at LMAK Gallery [Tommy Kha](https://hyperallergic.com/tommy-kha-lmak-gallery/)’s photographs at[ LMAK Gallery](https://lmakgallery.com/?ref=hyperallergic.com) were another standout, where a series of “kiss” self-portraits document the various gestures of intimacy, as the artist invited lovers (past and present), friends and strangers to participate in the 10-year project. Careful to never kiss back, each image feels forced as the participants impose his or herself physically on the artist. Another series documents the sterile hotel bedrooms Kha shares with a similar range of companions, capturing everything from barely creased sheets to still-sleeping companions. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2019/10/img_4171.jpg) Johnston Foster, “Compass Rose” (2019) at Freight + Volume Rounding out the evening was the unexpected materiality of the sculptures of [Johnston Foster](http://www.artsandleisure.net/projects/johnston-foster?ref=hyperallergic.com) at [Freight + Volume](http://www.freightandvolume.com/?ref=hyperallergic.com), where his material list — vinyl flooring, electrical wire, plunger, yoga mat, hot glue, dish soap pads, misc. plastics — reads like a scavenger hunt of 21 century waste. For anyone who didn’t make it out, tour some of our other favorite spots and works in the photo essay below. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2019/10/img_4158.jpg) Rebecca Ness, “Time for a Break” (2019) at 1969 Gallery ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2019/10/img_4191.jpg) Daniel Wiener, “Re-electrified” (2019) at Lesley Heller ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2019/10/img_4186.jpg) Sinead Breslin, “The Diving Board” (2019) at Marc Straus ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2019/10/img_4197.jpg) Helen O’Leary, “Home is a Foreign Country #18” (2018) at Lesley Heller ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2019/10/img_4178.jpg) Tommy Kha, “Return to Sender” at LMAK Gallery ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2019/10/img_4194.jpg) Lothar Osterburg, “Waterline” installation view at Lesley Heller ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2019/10/loughney_insideout_300dpi.jpg) Paul Loughney, “Insideoutside” (2017) (image courtesy of Peter Gynd) at Lesley Heller [LES Art Night](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lower-east-side-art-night-tickets-73020108109?ref=hyperallergic.com) *took place at various locations on Manhattan’s Lower East Side on October 16\. Numerous exhibitions from the 2nd annual event will continue throughout the end of the month (see individual gallery websites for more information).*