Kasimir Malevich's signature work, the groundbreaking Black Square, was painted one hundred years ago, in 1915. Although it would not have been considered under the rubric of geometric abstraction at the time, it clearly established, along with works of others such as Piet Mondrian, a new direction in painting.

Two of the finest artists working today within this historical construct will present recent work in Structured, a two-person show at the Philip Slein Gallery. Ann Pibal, based in New York, and Todd Chilton, based in Chicago, are working opposite ends of the room. Pibal is a hard-edge painter, like Mondrian, whose paintings consist of color fields over which float thin lines and blocks of color, all of which are painted with precision. Chilton's work, on the other hand, is characterized by a much more loose formalism, as he builds his pieces by thickly layering paint over hand-drawn patterns.

In addition, the gallery is pleased to present new work by an old favorite of ours. Katharine Kuharic, who taught for years at Washington University, returns to St. Louis and the Philip Slein Gallery. Kuharic, based in New York and known for her realist style and social concerns, presents a small exhibition of intricate and precious work entitled A Masque of Mercy which speaks to the consolations of nature.