Niagara – Baby the Rain Must Fall – Art Gallery Exhibit

Written by Staff on September 10, 2023

Niagara, “Baby the Rain Must Fall.” Article by Dean Giagni.

Art, rock and roll, and the bleak industrial landscapes of Detroit and Hudson that inspired them, collided Friday in The New Gallery’s inaugural opening exhibit “Baby the Rain Must Fall”, new paintings by Niagara.

A Detroit music icon, Niagara was lead singer and provocateur in the proto-punk band Destroy All Monsters with influential visual artist Mike Kelly and later Dark Carnival with Ron Asheton of The Stooges. Her art school background and love of pop art and collage led her to create album graphics for the bands and then to produce her own singular artworks.When Luis Accorsi and Haleh Atabeigi, the nomadic curators of The New Gallery, created and promoted a rock and roll themed exhibit, Niagara gave them a “like” through social media. They bonded over a love of art and music, hatching a plan to bring Niagara’s Detroit flavor to Hudson.

Spread through the two exhibit spaces of The New Gallery are 13 new paintings executed in acrylic on canvas and wood panel accompanied by vibrant silkscreens of her greatest hits. Also a selection of one off objects; purses, shoes, lunchboxes hand painted in her signature sardonic style and some rock history, a Ron Asheton autographed guitar from the Destroy All Monsters era suitably embellished with a Niagara girl in gold, pink and black. From the walls Niagara‘s women stare balefully with their messages of unapologetic female power and aggression, cigarettes clenched in their teeth. Through their pursed lips we hear the tough talking attitude expressed in the titles lettered directly on the paintings. “RUN”, “YOU DISINTEREST ME” “THIS BAND SUCKS” and finally “I’M A MODERN WOMAN, I DON’T GIVE A F**K ABOUT ANYTHING”. Her acrylic application has become smoother and more polished, her colors more vibrant. The hard, smooth wood surface accentuating the satirical commercial art cliches she’s skewering .Recalling the era of Go-Go Girls, burlesque, juke joints and zip guns her work suggests an object from the past with an attitude of the now.

Now an art diva rock ‘n’ roll queen is entitled to be fashionably late and of course with Niagara’s sense of drama, she was no exception. It was only fitting that in the sweltering heat of this Friday evening in Hudson and the title of her exhibit being “Baby the Rain Must Fall” that Niagara timed her arrival as the heat broke; giving way to a brief but intense downpour, lightning and thunder cracking, making it cool enough temperature and vibe wise for her to make her entrance. Niagara has a cult like following, her admirers are passionate and come from all over to see her and experience her. In addition to a coterie from Detroit there were fans who’d made the trek from Brooklyn and Philadelphia. For all the rough and harsh messages of her paintings, Niagara herself is nothing but gracious with all of her fans and followers. The tough exterior falls away as she shares the enthusiasm of her supporters. She had a big smile, plenty of quality time and a story for every person who wanted a moment in her spotlight.

For the press she had less patience. When asked for a quote, she stated “The drugs haven’t kicked in yet.” Maybe that’s a painting title for another time.

The exhibit Niagara Detroit, Baby the Rain Must Fall, runs through September 25 at The New Gallery at Basilica Hudson, 110 South Front Street, Hudson, NY. Gallery hours, Thursday – Sunday 11-5.