Part of Alexander’s mural on display in Englewood
The Sandy Bennett Art Gallery at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood presents “Alexander’s Mural,” an exhibit on Stefan Knapp’s post-war expressionism, through September 30. There will be a special reception on Thursday, September 13, from 7 to 9 p.m.
“Alexander’s Mural,” a part of Bergen County history, is in the Bergen Museum’s collection. The mural, by artist Stefan Knapp, was installed on the Alexander’s building in Paramus in 1964. Each panel is an example of postwar expressionism. The exhibit provides a close-up view of Knapp’s unique firing technique; the panels were assembled and painted with combinations of transparent, opal, and opaque patented enamels of vibrant colors.
Stefan Knapp, a Polish Holocaust survivor, said that the mural was inspired by his experiences when he escaped to England, where he became a World War II RAF pilot. He is the only Polish national ever to receive the Churchill Fellowship for military service, which allowed him to pursue his art.
Knapp worked with Rothko, Dali, Pollock, and architects including Denys Lasdun. His works are in many museums including MOMA, Dallas museum, and Poland’s Katowice museum. For more information on the exhibit, go to bergenmuseum.com.
The Sandy Bennett Gallery is on the mezzanine level of bergenPAC and is open to the public.
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