Rice Polak Gallery Presents Second Exhibition of Summer 2025

Show to be held July 17 – 30, 2025; Featuring works by Stanley Bielen, Donald Saaf, and René Romero Schuler

Provincetown, MA – June 26, 2025 – The Rice Polak Gallery is proud to announce its second exhibition of the summer. The show will run from July 17 – July 30, featuring works by Stanley Bielen, Donald Saaf, and René Romero Schuler. Though each artist brings a distinct aesthetic and set of influences, they are united by a deep emotional resonance and a poetic connection to the human experience—whether through intimate still lifes, dreamlike tableaus, or evocative figurative work.

You can also read more about the work of Donald Saaf in this piece from The Provincetown Independent: “Altered State: Donald Saaf travels to Mexico to paint worlds both real and imagined“.

There will be an opening reception at the Rice Polak Gallery on Friday, July 18 from 7:00 – 9:00pm. Wine will be provided and there will be the opportunity to meet the artists in person.

Stanley Bielen’s still-life paintings pay homage to the tradition of European art while infusing his works with personal intimacy and emotional depth. Using flowers and fruit from his own garden, Bielen creates richly textured oil paintings that capture the fleeting beauty of his subjects, set against velvety, luminous backgrounds. His loose, brushy interpretations of still life evoke a sense of quiet reverence, where each brushstroke reflects both his connection to nature and his exploration of color and form. Bielen’s work is a celebration of the timeless and the fleeting, embodying a deep appreciation for the visible world and the transformative power of oil paint.

“The attraction of the visible world and the attraction of artist materials, in my case oil paints, is what has guided my whole working life,” said artist Stanley Bielen. “The pleasure of seeing, expressed through the medium of oil paint. The subject matter has not changed, however, my approach to my materials constantly evolves.”

Donald Saaf’s vibrant, folk-art-inspired paintings tell whimsical, yet poignant, stories of family, community, and memory. His imaginative works, often filled with fantastical animals, children, and mythical creatures, use vivid colors and simple, yet bold, forms to evoke a sense of nostalgia and wonder. Saaf’s mixed-media approach, combining oil, gouache, and collage, imbues his scenes with a layered complexity that invites both personal reflection and universal connection. Through his art, Saaf brings to life the rich emotional resonance of the stories he tells.

“I have been exploring the place where fine art and folk art intersect,” said artist Donald Saaf. “My subject matter draws from the local experience of community, family and immediate surroundings as well as an internal dream place. Although some of the imagery is very personal, I am always striving for the universal. The figures in the pictures are simultaneously ‘me’ and a sort of ‘Everyman’. At times I approach a composition like a quilt, or even a stained glass window; breaking down the composition into luminous forms and shapes. I try to see the pictures simultaneously both for their ‘story’ and as pure abstraction. I’m interested in memory; the memory of place and experience. It’s the moment that happens when the external world overlaps with the internal world.”

René Romero Schuler’s emotionally charged paintings delve deep into the complexities of the human experience, exploring themes of love, sorrow, and resilience. Known for her raw, expressive portraits, Schuler’s work blends self-portraiture with universal depictions of human emotion, capturing both strength and vulnerability. The figures in Schuler’s paintings are stripped down to their most essential elements, reflecting her belief that inner beauty transcends the physical, emotional, and mental. Schuler’s textured, often abstract, compositions are a powerful meditation on the struggles and triumphs that shape our lives, resonating with viewers on both a personal and societal level.

“My figurative works are a reflection of the resilience and vulnerability I see in myself and others,” said artist Rene Romero Schuler. “I use thick, textured layers of paint to create faceless female forms—figures that represent strength, fragility, and the complexities of identity. By stripping away the details, I aim to capture something deeper and more universal: the emotional truths we all carry. These figures are not meant to be portraits, but rather mirrors of the human experience, each one a quiet testament to survival, healing, and the beauty found in imperfection.”

The press release announcing the Gallery’s full summer schedule is available here, and the details for upcoming shows are listed below.

For press inquiries, to be connected to the artists, or to request photos, contact Natasha Fee at [email protected] or 978-460-4449. You can also contact the Gallery at [email protected] or 508-487-1052.

Upcoming 2025 Summer Schedule:

SHOW 3: JULY 31 – AUGUST 13, 2025
Opening Reception: Rice Polak Gallery, Friday, August 1, 7pm
This show features the work of Susan Mikula, Jessica Pisano, and Nicolas V. Sanchez. This will be the debut show at Rice Polak for new artist Jessica Pisano. 

SHOW 4: AUGUST 14-27, 2025
Opening Reception: Rice Polak Gallery, Friday, August 15, 7pm
This show features the work of Willie Little, Pamela Murphy, and Christie Scheele. 

SHOW 5: AUGUST 28 – SEPTEMBER 10, 2025
Opening Reception: Rice Polak Gallery, Friday, August 29, 7pm
This show features the work of Larry Calkins, Ellen Rolli, and Les Seifer. 

FINAL GROUP SHOW: SEPTEMBER 11 – DECEMBER 31, 2025
This show will feature new works from all gallery artists.