“ From SoHo to San Francisco “
Juxtaposition color
diversity and individual expression, Canvas Gallery in San Francisco found it
all when they invited: AJ Nadel, Winand Staring, Saundra Schwartzkopf and Lance
Dehne. Four New York artists to join in their already colorful group for an East
meets West event “ From SoHo to San Francisco “ Canvas Gallery Show,
May 26, 2003 through June 26, 2003.
Color is here and
within each of these artists the love of expressive color is foremost evident.
However, I do not believe that anyone could be convinced that this is an obituary
nor deliberate perceived artistic choice intended to attract an audience but
rather an expressive evolution resulting from the ability to explore, experiment
and play the sub conscious nerve. By initially challenging themselves we have
no other response but to also be challenged. Not unlike the abstract expressionists
desire to express, perhaps these artists are responding to a different time with
similar inclinations to look within.
Pop culture as we all are destined to know has its own icons, images and expressive
nature. AJ Nadel uses pop culture as an inspiration and yet the departure point
for a more inward process of expression and experimentation. His process includes
bold colors through a paint rolling application. Collage apparent or not is included
within the composition. He applies various degrees and subtleties of expression
using toner powder charcoal and graphite. The results display expressive and
physiological in nature not only confronting the viewer but also expressing the
artist’s personal complexity.
Winnand Starings waves of paint seemingly float the viewer into some form of
dream liquid. This colorful liquid once absorbed becomes the reality. The reality
of an image, an image framed within and by its multiple borders. Edges not unlike
most of us face every day, the balance of dream and reality.
Here yet another reality speaks through Saundra Schwartzkopf and her New York
Drawings. Symbols fade into color and form simplifies to create these playful
physiological expressions. Her bold colors, marks, shapes, pieces of maps and
primitive forms create a reality of itself. The worlds of these images express
a playful but complex process, as if childhood expression and adult exposure
were swept with in one stroke.
Physiological playful and full of color is boldly evident in the manifesto of
Lance Dehne.
“It is this kind of imagery I would like to relate to everyday creativity:
the action, the colors, the journey.” “That’s what I look to do in
my paintings, put the "red ball" there and hope the viewer wants to
touch it…” Lances paintings and sculptural works catch the moment just
before movement, that excitement and anticipation just before the toss. Ballerina
a frozen mechanical like image silently embodies all the felling and expression
of movement. This anticipation definitely controls not only the Ballerina but
out minds ideas and perception of movement demanding the viewer to ask the question,
how does it work? Bounce the red ball.
