Artist Reception: Emily Bicht

Join us for a reception for artist Emily Bicht!

Artist’s Statement

This exhibit is the culmination of almost a decade of work. In 2015, the artist started making paintings inspired by 20th century kit houses. She was drawn to their aesthetics and thoughtful designs that reflect the Arts & Crafts Movement belief that our lives can be improved through design. The artist was also satisfying her own desire for ‘home’ while living in a small two bedroom apartment in Queens and redefining what ‘home’ means. This work anticipated our current housing crisis, and was created in response to anxiety about homeownership. These paintings are aspirational, dreamy and illustrative of the promise of the “American Dream”. 

Emily will present 'Northern Westchester’s ‘Kit’ Homes’ with the Croton Friends of History on November 14. In the early 20th century, kit homes were an affordable answer to a growing country’s housing needs. A “house” would be ordered through the mail, and would arrive by train car with all the materials and instructions. You could build it yourself or hire a contractor. Financing was available which made home ownership accessible to families hoping to achieve the American Dream. We are fortunate to have many of these homes in our area. Emily will discuss the history of kit homes and show images of existing kits homes in Croton and Ossining. 

Biography

Emily Bicht is an artist and educator living in Peekskill, NY. The domestic space is a recurring setting for her work. She employs painting, sculpture, printmaking, and installation to explore underpinning social constructs and structures. Her functional ceramic work is created for use in everyday rituals. Emily has been an active artist for over twenty years and a member of several artist groups, including The Exhibitionists and Open Ground. She has been awarded residencies at Byrdcliffe and Arts, Letters, and Numbers. In 2020, she received a Queens Council for the Arts New Work Grant. She teaches ceramics at Cedar Lane Arts Center, Garrison Art Center, Peekskill Clay Studios and the Kroll Ceramic Arts School. She is currently renovating her own almost-century home with her partner and two cyclones.

Visit her website for more information.