New Talent On Display At Brad Cooper Gallery in Ybor City
By ESTHER HAMMER
Published: Feb 10, 2005

SOUTH TAMPA - Brad Cooper sees merit in both the old and new when it comes to art. In November, he offered reputation, reliability and recognition in an exhibit of works by 20 established artists. Now, Cooper offers youth and ingenuity. New Talent, opening Friday in the main gallery at Brad Cooper Gallery, 1712 E. Seventh Ave. in Ybor City, presents four artists from outside Tampa with reputations in the making. ``It's to introduce new artists to the area,'' Cooper said.”   Most of them are younger and up-and-coming. Some of them don't have gallery representation anywhere.'' They are: Igor Gorban from the Ukraine, Eric Montoya from Seattle, Helena Rubinstein from Israel and Sandra Yagi from San Francisco.  The foursome had submitted works for previous shows at the gallery, and Cooper wanted to help launch their careers. "I really like the integrity of each artist's work,'' he said. "The artists are diverse in style, ideas and subjects, Cooper said, but they all have their work rooted firmly in where they've come from; that is where their experiences have been.'' In his realistic paintings, Montoya conveys a sense of the Pacific Northwest, where he lives and works. Rubinstein's abstract images, drawn from memory and imagination, describe the hopelessness and despair she felt as a child growing up in Israel. "I look for people who are genuine in their approach to expressing their value system,'' Cooper said.   "Because what an artist does is re-create what is important to him or her." In Cooper's small gallery, William Pachner will exhibit smaller works on paper. The assortment of drawings, pastels, watercolors and inks with wash were created from 1949 to 1995. Unlike the artists in the main gallery, the Czech-born Pachner, who lives in Tampa, is well-known. Both exhibits continue through April 23 and open with a free reception from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday.

Call (813) 248-6098 for information.