OSilas Gallery Pays Homage to Bronxville’s Own

In its current exhibition, the OSilas Gallery at Concordia College is featuring the work of the Nichols Brothers, two former Bronxville residents who had an impact on both the local and national art scene.

Titled "Nichols Brothers: Dialogue in Art and Life" the exhibition runs through October 24.

According to Gallery Director Patricia Miranda, the dual exhibit is important to the gallery for two main reasons: First, the brothers were prominent American impressionists, often using Bronxville as the backdrop of their work. Second, this is the first time both artists have been exhibited conjunctly, allowing the gallery to offer a rare opportunity for side-by-side analyses and reflections.

"[The exhibition] offers a wonderful opportunity to compare and contrast their styles, techniques and careers," said Miranda.

The brothers were born eight years apart in Washington, DC. The eldest, Henry Hobart (1869-1962), who studied at the Art Students' League, spent nearly 50 years living in Bronxville and was a prominent figure in the artists' colony at Lawrence Park.

His brother, Spencer Baird Nichols (1875-1950), spent about 10 years living in the village before relocating to Kent around 1922. He studied at the Corcoran School of Art and began teaching his craft at just 17.

The Nichols brothers exhibit has also introduced a technological first for the gallery. The voices of Helen Jacobs, Margaret Bunnell and Barbara Sussman—two daughters and a granddaughter of Spencer Nichols—are featured on the gallery's new Cell Phone Tour. Patrons can listen to the three women share personal reflections on paintings and their lives as part of the Nichols family via their own cell phones.

Since Miranda came on as director in the fall of 2008, the OSilas gallery has already presented two exhibitions of Bronxville artists.

"September is the opening of our season, and we use this time to celebrate historical and traditional styles of work," says Miranda. "We have focused on Bronxville artists […] because of Bronxville's rich tradition as an artist colony and [because of] our important connection to the community."

The OSilas gallery promises to offer additional perks to the community it serves. Following the Nichols brothers exhibit, OSilas will debut an exhibit titled "Sew New: Contemporary Artist Quilts," curated by Kenise Barnes, owner and director of Kenise Barnes Fine Art in Larchmont. Her mother, a well-known quilter, will lecture and offer quilt appraisals later in the show.

In the spring, Miranda, an artist herself who taught at an art college in Old Lyme, CT and owns a studio in Port Chester, will co-curate an exhibit with Ecoartspace co-founder Amy Lipton. The exhibit will focus on "various spiritual or ethical traditions in relationship to our care of the planet: what Christianity terms 'stewardship', [what is referred to as] Tikkun Olam, or 'repair the world' in Judaism, and what Buddhism [describes as] 'compassion for all sentient beings'," she explained.

Visitors can sign up for the e-newsletter to stay current on upcoming events and exhibitions via the gallery's website. The gallery charges no entrance fee, and Miranda says she is "always happy to meet people at the gallery and give them a private tour."

"The Osilas Gallery is a community space as well as an academic space," she said. "We reach both within and beyond the campus walls."