Art Display Opening Monday, February 16, at Mindy Ross Gallery in Newburgh

Organic Reckonings

In the midst of the 2026 winter, Kaplan Hall’s Mindy Ross Gallery is hosting its

second show of high quality artworks, this show being a solo display by artist Karen E. Gersch. A woman of vastly different talents who is quite adept at organizing and curating exhibits, her interests and media as an artist vary from tar and oils and including ink, pencil, pastel, acrylics, painted driftwood pieces and diorama. Her new show featuring visual artworks developed from her nature studies series is entitled Organic Reckonings. She describes these drawings and paintings as “portraits of wilderness florals in all stages of their maturity.” Most of them were rendered from life, small specimens she discovered in her garden or yard; many she tracked from seedlings to their end-of-life. In this debut exhibit of these works as a themed group, intricate drawings and paintings chronicle their passages through the season. Gersch interprets the evolution of flowers, buds, stems, and leaves as visual biographies from blooms to decay.

A scholarship awardee of Pratt Institute, Karen E. Gersch graduated with honors

while attaining a degree in fine arts. She grew up in rural Rockland County where she ws inspired by nature and made her eventual relocation four+ decades later to Orange County, an easy move from her artist loft in Lower Manhattan. In addition, her signature interest is circus. Her expertise and vision stems from a personal one: she is a longtime balancing acrobat and founding member of the Big Apple Circus and Vermont's Circus Smirkus. In addition, Gersch is a poet and wordsmith who uses these literary arts independently and in accompaniment of some of her visual artworks. 

The exhibit will be on view February 16 through March 23 in the Mindy Ross Gallery where a Reception is scheduled for Saturday, February 28 from 1:30 to 4pm. During that timeframe, music will be provided by classical guitarist Joy Zelada. Come and view this exquisite show and meet the artist at the Reception which is free and open to the public.

Please park in the Kaplan Hall garage located at 73 First Street, Newburgh where free, secure parking is available. Regular gallery hours: Monday – Thursday 8am to 9pm; Friday 8am to 6pm. During the week of March 16 - 20, hours are 8am to 5pm.

Karen E. Gersch

Questions may be directed to cultural@sunyorange.edu

website: www.sunyorange.edu/culturalaffairs