Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Exhibit: Nathan Silver



I don't think this talented young artist has quite figured out where he wants to go yet --- but it's exciting to see him plunge in and then try to paint himself out of a variety of paintings, both figurative and otherwise.








There doesn't seem to be much pre-planning to his figurative work. He starts with
a view of a  model and then sees where he might take it -- as in quick sketch drawing.


This one's my favorite.






There certainly is a lot of manic energy here.  It seems hopelessly, but merrily,  entangled.
There's not anger -- there's not joy -- there's not beauty.  But there is excitement.  A sense of "I will try anything"












Another one of my favorites with some nice, sharp drawing in the face - and
an overall majesty and power that echoes Titian.





The show overflowed into the dining room (which I hope gets turned into another gallery space some day. Why do we need a dining room?)






Contrasting the old and new at the Palette and Chisel.

Thursday, July 21, 2016

Exhibit: Vladimir Tartakover









My favorite  paintings from the Vladimir Tartakover retrospective were his portraits of  African Americans.

Perhaps he paints figures better with a darker skin tone.

Perhaps he responds more to their character.

Whatever the reason -- these are strong and dramatic paintings of that subject most  famously handled by Kerry James Marshall
















Here's one of the earliest paintings in the show - from 1983


His landscapes have a  gritty, tactile feeling.







Same thing with his cityscapes.  You can feel his struggle to grab and hold everything he can see.




The details are rough - but not clumsy.

Which could also be said of Van Gogh.

Who  also was less interested in pleasing the viewer or a market, than in coming to  grips with the world around him.



























 















 









 















 










 





 





 









 





 





 





Friday, July 08, 2016

Exhibit: Audrey Cramblit's Class

 Audrey Cramblit
 
I really like this sculpture -- with, or without, the swiss cheese effect.
 
It has a gentle elegance.


 Cambodian Man
 
(unfortunately, the label for this piece listed its title, but not the name of the artist)



Andrew Conklin, portrait of John Monaghan
 
Obviously, this is not a sculpture and Andrew is not Audrey's student. But it was hung on the wall behind the sculpture -- and I liked it.
 
Apparently Mr. Monaghan had heart surgery.









 












Debra Balchen






 
Emily Steffen


Jordan Russell
 
I hope he continues to show in the Academy's  gallery.









Very inventive.  Not especially naturalistic - but not fantasy sci-fi stuff either.