LOCAL GALLERY FEATURE:
ponder: a gallery
This week, on a sunny, warm spring day, my friend and I had the opportunity to visit a unique
gallery in Cummins Station, just a short stroll from the Frist Center. We entered the expansive building and followed the signs to ponder: a
gallery, which is located on the basement level. As we rounded the corner, we were suddenly struck by the day-glo colors of Andy Warhol and
the bright hues of Robert Indiana, beautifully framed and hung on white walls. Paul Rohling, the owner and a fellow member of Avant-Garde,
graciously invited us to peruse his extensive collection of fine art posters and prints, all of which were produced in very limited
numbers.
In ponder, you can get a glimpse of colorful pop art by Jasper Johns, including his Two
Flags (Whitney Anniversary), created in 1980, and Robert Rauschenberg, whose St. Louis Symphony 1968 poster is signed
and numbered. In addition, you can see more contemporary art such as Vija Celmins’ Ocean with Cross #1, which was my personal
favorite due to its black and white, melancholic feel. Jennifer Bartlett’s 2005 poster for Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart is a
bright contrast to Celmins, and its multitude of vivid colors made it my friend’s favorite. This particular piece was run through the
press fifty times, ensuring wonderful detail and rich color. When you look closely at the unframed version, you can see that the colorful ink is
thicker in some places than others. It looks like it was actually painted directly on the poster!
If the aforementioned works don't align with your particular tastes, you can find a
poster highlighting Josef Albers’ Homage to the Square and a rare 1968 lithograph of Marcel Duchamp by Richard Hamilton, which is
overlaid with silver metalized polyester and clear polyester, as well as other pieces by artists such as Roy Lichtenstein and Gerhard Richter.
All in all, there are sixteen framed works and more than one hundred works of art tucked away in storage in this unpretentious little
gallery.
Mr. Rohling enlightened us with an informative tour of the individual pieces. Before
launching his career in fundraising, he was an English teacher for ten years. During his travels, he has spent time visiting numerous
museums across the country; among his favorite spots are the National Gallery of Art’s East Wing in Washington, DC and Richmond,
Virginia’s Museum of Fine Arts. His desire to open ponder stemmed from a lifelong interest in the type of art his gallery represents.
He also wanted to “give young collectors an opportunity to acquire high quality works of art at affordable prices.”
Some of these artists’ original works sell for thousands upon thousands of dollars. Mr. Rohling, however, gives collectors an
opportunity to own fabulous works of art for a fraction of the price. That, I think, is something to “ponder.”
-- Carolyn A. Rabatin
ponder: a gallery at Cummins Station
209 10th Avenue South, Suite 147A
615.306.7665
ptr.ponder@comcast.net
P.S. Paul has volunteered to donate 15% of all purchases made by Avant-Garde members between now and
June 1, 2008, to the Frist Center. Just mention the Frist Center and Avant-Garde when you make your
purchase.
