Saturday, August 30, 2008

Small Epiphanies

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It's really not fair to try to cram every artist who writes in their paintings or uses words or writing gestures into the category of Abstract Calligraphy. And even worse, is to label any artist's work that incorporates dots of color, as Abstract Pointillism. Pointillism had/has a specific purpose, and there are artists, even today, such as Barbara Carter, who keep that oeuvre alive and contemporary.

Image is from her website.

I've known all this for a while now, but upon reading a wonderful review in the New York Times, things became crystal clear and the point was driven home; the point for me is to be more precise in describing different oeuvres.
In his review of the current show at MOMA, titled "Pipe, Glass, Bottle of Rum: The Art of Appropriation", Ken Johnson points out that actually there are only a couple of artists in the entire show who truly use appropriation; the rest do not. (For example, using found materials is not appropriation.) And he very thoroughly explains the different artist's use of materials and the movements they reflect. In his honest telling, you feel like a butterfly flitting across the pages of contemporary art history.

That said, it's pretty obvious that I need to Expand my "Categories" to do justice in identifying each artist's oeuvre and accordingly, go back through all older posts and make some corrections.
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Friday, August 29, 2008

Scribbling

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Was going through some of my "Favorites" and cleaning up a bit when I came across Otto Zitko. So I started an image search and began saving material for a future post.

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But when I found this image, I just had to share it.

He's got quite a fascinating oeuvre and carreer.

This image is from namoc.org

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Dot, Blobs, Globs

Vacation is a great time to think clearly, and right before I turned my mind off (of the regular stuff) so I could have fewer things rolling around in my head, I considered the following:
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As you know this Blog is very much about abstract pointillism ( and abstract calligraphy). But that term is so very narrow and it's quite an injustice to try and cram every and anything that has round patches of paint, into that category.
This painting,
titled "Connecting the Dots" 2006 ( Acrylic on frosted Mylar, 7"x7") by Frances Thomas is from his or her page at the Peter Robinson Gallery. It is not a pointillist work. And although the painting is small, those are not really what you would call dots. So how would we describe this painting and categorize it - as per the round patches of paint ?
Do we call them dots or globs or orbs ? The word circles won't work because people usually visualize hollow ones. I rather doubt I'll receive any answers and am inclined to think that in the end I'll just have to invent some term.
The point of this conversation is that it's rather amazing how many artists, though the years, have used this technique of applying dots, large and small as vehicles for their artistic adventure or incorporated them into their works.
A good and handy example is Frances Thomas.
There's also a rich trove of other artists who've used dots, in the column to your right under the heading Ab/Poin Artist Links. Enjoy.

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Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Best Vacation

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There are vacations and there are really good vacations. This year we had a really good vacation. It's amazing how the smallest things can make a difference. From beginning to end we had a great time.


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But now it's time to get back in the saddle and paint and post. . . .

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Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Vacation Time

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It's been a hectic week, getting ready to go to Cape May, NJ for 10 days. I had started to do a post about the work of Michael Dailey and how it so reminds me of the work of Richard Diebenkorn, but time constraints haven't let me do Michael justice. In looking at both their work, it seems that there was a similar process of dabbling in realistic representation at first and then through the years, finding their "voice"; their final, mature oeuvre. But I am anxious for you to see his work, so here we are. The words luscious and shimmering certainly come to mind. You really need to check out his work. When I get back I'll do a "ComPairs" between him and Richard.
I've had the top image on my desktop for several days now and it seems to just get more beautiful. And it's amazing how skilled artists who really get into their specialty can have so many ideas using their certain format. The variations and color combinations are certainly entertaining.
Both these images are from the Laura Russo Gallery where you'll find 17 images.
And you must go to the Francine Seders Gallery where you can see 35 images of his work. And please read his Bio and Statement.
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See you when I get back. . . . . .

Monday, August 11, 2008

Perfect Little Studio

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Please treat yourself and go visit Harold Hollingsworth at his blog. He's just moved to a new studio and doing great. Go back through his archives and you'll see how his oeuvre has changed over the last year. It was already fantastic; now it's off the hook !
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Wednesday, August 06, 2008

Sunday, August 03, 2008

Good Ole Josh

There's an exhibit at both the Matthew Marks Gallery and the Greene Naftali Gallery (in NYC)through August 15, titled - Painting: Now and Forever, Part II.

I came across this information while perusing Art Observed; where you'll find more links. The list of artists in this show reads, somewhat like a Who's Who of some important and influential contemporary artists; Kai Althoff, Cosima von Bonin, Merlin Carpenter, Mathew Cerletty, Wojciech Fangor, Katharina Fritsch, Gelitin, Isa Genzken, Poul Gernes, Daan van Golden, Jack Goldstein, Rodney Graham, Wade Guyton, Richard Hawkins, Mary Heilmann, Sophie von Hellermann, Charline von Heyl, Ull Hohn, Sergej Jensen, Mike Kelley, Ellsworth Kelly, Karen Kilimnik, Martin Kippenberger, Michael Krebber, William Leavitt, Michel Majerus, Bjarne Melgaard, Laura Owens, Blinky Palermo, Stephen Prina, R.H. Quaytman, Ugo Rondinone, Paul Sharits, Josh Smith, Reena Spaulings, Lily van der Stokker, Atsuko Tanaka, Paul Thek, Anne Truitt, Kelley Walker, Christopher Wool, and Katharina Wulff.


Ever since first becoming aware of him and his work (in a nutshell, he paints his name - Josh Smith), I've kept my ears perked and eyes peeled - always wondering just how far this dude and his oeuvre would go. So I was rather pleased to see that Josh was included in this show with these other illustrious painters. Read the press release here.

Go here to see images from his exhibit last year at Luhring Augustine. And then go here to view more images of his work from his Artist's Page at their site.

Images from his show in Detroit.

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