Gönül Sen-Menzel Opens the Exhibition Cycle of the Schwarzbach Galerie

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The Bürgerforum (citizens’ forum) wants to change people’s minds about the image of Oberbarmen and is planning an image campaign under the motto “Oberbarmen – the Fun City”.

One piece of the mosaic is Barbara Binner’s “Schwarzbach Galerie”, which has developed into a good address for art since autumn 1998 – even if, for lack of heating, it can only be used in the warmer months of the year.

In part of the light-flooded halls of her father’s former machine-tool business, the gallerist has not only realized a dream but also created an interesting exhibition venue for visual artists. The high rooms dating from before 1900, the historic sawtooth roof and old crane systems form a richly contrasting setting for works of art. Natural light comes from above, and the sun conjures up unusual reflections on the exhibits.

The 2000 exhibition cycle in the rear building at Schwarzbach 174 is opened by Gönül Sen, who until June 1 presents people in flowing movement, portraits as critical observations and landscapes of colorful fascination.

The Turkish painter, who lives in Cologne, was born in 1949, studied in Istanbul, taught art in her home country and began exhibiting after immigrating to Germany in 1981, stands out for her colorful, often large-format oil paintings and watercolors. The “Schwarzbach Galerie”, not far from Weiherstraße, is open on Tuesdays and Fridays from 2 to 7 p.m. and on Sundays from 12 noon to 5 p.m., and also by appointment. In June, oil and tempera paintings by the Austrian artists Sadaré and Ilse Pessl will be shown. In July there will be a joint show by Walter Knögel, Jochen Schubert and Egon Schold with watercolor, acrylic and oil works. In August Klaus Ziegert stops in Oberbarmen, and in September artists from the Remscheid Werkhaus will be represented. To draw attention not only to the art but also to the industrial heritage, the Bürgerforum Oberbarmen is offering a walk on Heritage Open Day on September 10, with the “Schwarzbach Galerie” as one of the stops. (kgc)

Original caption: Gönül Sen is a guest at Barbara’s “Schwarzbach Galerie” with her oil paintings, watercolors and drawings until June 1.