Review review

”The Red Show” has more alizarin per square inch than any show in town, with the possible exception of “Tesoros,” the PMA’s roundup of colonial Latin American art. While “Tesoros” runneth over with blood-red hearts and flowing red robes, the Mayer show—commissioned new works by 13 gallery artists and one outsider—is mostly abstract. By design or by serendipity, the show suggests the season’s festivities: bubbles and ribbons, ebullience, love and optimism. Tim McFarlane’s big, bold All That Could Be—a monochromatic work in shades of pink and wine—continues the artist’s motif of overlapping ladders that suggest teeming masses of people. Contemplative like Rothko but more generous and community-spirited, this piece may have antiwar underpinnings. For me, the title nods to the Army’s old “Be All You Can Be” slogan, and the flow is tinged with blood. Also notable in a solid show are Neil Anderson’s eye-popping Red Dancer and Charles Burwell’s Red Line With Three Figures. (Burwell is a new artist with the gallery.) Kate Davis Caldwell’s faux Polaroid paintings and Michael Manuel’s eco-themed stained glass with audio component by Clint Takeda are reminders of beauty’s fragility. Excellent show. (Roberta Fallon)

I've had a little time to think about what was written about my painting in the above review of The Red Show at Bridgette Mayer. For the most part, I have no problem with what was written about my painting, All That Could Be, or the show, but this line caught my attention:, ...this piece may have antiwar underpinnings. For me, the title nods to the Army’s old “Be All You Can Be” slogan, and the flow is tinged with blood.

I'd like to put another angle on what Roberta wrote, the angle that All That Could Be originally sprang from. At the outsest, I relished the challenge of working within the constraints of a certain color. The next level of meaning didn't surface until I was well into working on it. Sometime between start and finish, the idea of a title came to mind. All That Could Be came to mind because of the open-ended sense of possibility the phrase has. Some of that optimism has to do with recent events in my personal life. The reds, pinks and oranges I used, likened to blood flowing in the review, I saw as being akin to passion and life. As much as red can stand for violence and loss of life, it can also stand for the opposite.

Here is where the world of the artist and the viewer diverge greatly: what the artist is feeling or thinking during the concieving of a work of art means absolutely nothing because every person looking at or interacting with that piece of artwork will bring their own history, beliefs, and ideas to the piece. The work will mean one thing for the artist and can mean a thousand other things once it's out in the public. That's nothing new, but this is the firs time that I felt that the interpretation of my work in a widely read publication was at such a variance from the spirit of which the painting was created.

Puryear at Moma in '07

I was just perusing Tyler Green's Modern Art Notes and came upon this bit of news that almost made me have an art orgasm. Martin Puryear is one of my favorite contemporary artists and I'm very happy that he's finally getting a long-overdue retrospective at MoMa in late 2007. Images of his work can be seen on this page.

I've loved Puryear's works for years and got to see a bunch of them up close and personal at a large exhibition of his works at the Philadelphia Museum of Art almost 12 years ago, probably more. My memory isn't always the best, but I do remember Puryear being shown at the PMA a good while ago. I'll see if I can find mention of it somewhere.

His work is amazingly beautiful, powerful, and seductive all at once. I can't always put my finger on it, but Martin Puryear's sculptures have a way of drawing me in and I don't care to resist at all. He's one of those artists who pulls together craftsmanship and formal interests in a way that goes beyond the limitations of labels like 'craft' or 'fine art'. Puryear's work trandscends such labels simply because it is good, solid art.

This exhibition will definitely be on my 'must see' list for 2007

the red show-review

I've just come across a link for the first review of The Red Show, the latest exhibition I'm involved with at the Bridgette Mayer Gallery through this Saturday, December 23rd.


All That Could Be, 2006, acrylic on canvas, 60" x 84"

Review on Philadelphia Weekly's website

Same review with photos and additional commentary (scroll down to "weekly update 2-the red show")

“The Red Show”

Through Dec. 23. Bridgette Mayer Gallery, 709 Walnut St. 215.413.8893. www.mayer artconsultants.com
”The Red Show” has more alizarin per square inch than any show in town, with the possible exception of “Tesoros,” the PMA’s roundup of colonial Latin American art. While “Tesoros” runneth over with blood-red hearts and flowing red robes, the Mayer show—commissioned new works by 13 gallery artists and one outsider—is mostly abstract. By design or by serendipity, the show suggests the season’s festivities: bubbles and ribbons, ebullience, love and optimism. Tim McFarlane’s big, bold All That Could Be—a monochromatic work in shades of pink and wine—continues the artist’s motif of overlapping ladders that suggest teeming masses of people. Contemplative like Rothko but more generous and community-spirited, this piece may have antiwar underpinnings. For me, the title nods to the Army’s old “Be All You Can Be” slogan, and the flow is tinged with blood. Also notable in a solid show are Neil Anderson’s eye-popping Red Dancer and Charles Burwell’s Red Line With Three Figures. (Burwell is a new artist with the gallery.) Kate Davis Caldwell’s faux Polaroid paintings and Michael Manuel’s eco-themed stained glass with audio component by Clint Takeda are reminders of beauty’s fragility. Excellent show. (Roberta Fallon)

Looking ahead

'Pulse'

I've had that word on my mind for quite a while now. Originally, I was going to use it as the title for my latest painting (All That Could Be) but chose not to. Last night, as I was laying in bed attempting to get to some realm of sleep, 'pulse' came to mind again. I thought that I might use it to title my upcoming solo exhibition at Bridgette Mayer in June '07. That's six months down the line and there's still the little issue of actually having work done for it. Still, I don't think it's too early to have something to think about as I'm doing the paintings and whatever else I wind up with for the show.

There are a lot of ideas bouncing around in my head for paintings, works on paper and even an installation. I've had some ideas for one for a while now, and I'd love to use the vault room in the gallery for it. Now, all I need to do is whittle down these ideas into one that's workable and I'll be fine...

New painting

All That Could Be, 2006, acrylic on canvas, 60" x 84"
(click image for full view)

Currently on view at the Bridgette Mayer Gallery as part of The Red Show through December 23rd, 2006.