Stonefox Artspace is one of the most reliable galleries at the moment for its shows, and the current Elissa Levy show is no exception. We have a gocco print from Pocket Utopia related to the second image above. More images after the jump.

Gallery owner Ruth Vered was taken into custody by East Hampton Village police officers on Saturday night. Police apparently shut down the Vered Gallery in East Hampton, citing consumption of alcohol in a public space. (Photo by Janet Lehr / May 24, 2008)

I’ve heard of such problems with the NYPD occasionally from Chelsea galleries, but this one is pretty ridiculous. Via Newsday.

About 200 art aficionados were sipping Veuve Clicquot Champagne and chilled white wine at an East Hampton gallery this weekend when the police arrived.

It was a soiree like many others for Vered Gallery, which twice a month invites guests to drink, nibble cheese and view its latest show.

But this time, gallery owner Ruth Vered was led away in handcuffs.

East Hampton Village police declined to comment Sunday except to confirm in a written statement that the gallery owner, who is widely known as Vered, was charged with selling alcohol without a liquor license.

…

Vered said the Champagne and wine — donated by the Bridgehampton winery Channing Daughters — was free, as always. Vered said she’s offered alcoholic beverages at her gallery for more than 30 years and has never been questioned by police.

She said she spent about two hours at the police station. “It’s absolutely ridiculous,” she said. “They’re sabotaging the life of our small business. Everybody does parties and gives Champagne. It’s East Hampton!”

By the way, the winery that donated the wine and Champagne, Channing Daughters is one of my favorite long island vintners, along with Wölffer Estate.

Wednesday night is your chance to pick up some great at at Momenta Art’s annual raffle and live auction. Whenever anyone asks me about my favorite artist-run non-profit space, I don’t even hesitate to tell them it’s Momenta Art. A $225 ticket gets two people in for free food and drink, and an art work!

[image above is a sample of works available in the raffle]

Because life doesnÂ’t have any other possibility, everyone can be measured by his adaptability to change.

Neil Farber, Untitled, 2004
22.5 × 30 inches

Leave it to Chelsea Now to write the best article I’ve read on the closing of the beloved Clementine Gallery. Maybe the art press is too afraid to dwell on such stories. My favorite statistic in the article: the gallery needed to sell $80,000 worth of work each month to break even.

I chose the image above, from Farber’s 2004 show at the gallery, in honor of our buying several of his works from the gallery in the 90s. I always loved sending people who were just starting out as art collectors to Clementine, as I knew Abby and Liz would treat them well.

Now available on the web.