Design Notes + Photos

November 5, 2009

Maura Judkis: “Flight Patterns” at Irvine Contemporary

“Flight Patterns” are not just for the birds. Though the title of Phil Nesmith’s show at Irvine Contemporary is quite literal for his glass-plate images of birds and insects, flight unites his show with the concurrent exhibition by Oliver Vernon. Both are characterized by movement through air, but with completely divergent approaches. Nesmith, whose medium is photograms (a method in which exposures are made directly on photosensitive black glass plates), captures delicate, subtle movements. Vernon, on the other hand, creates futuristic abstract landscapes that look as tenuous as Jupiter’s—stormy gases and debris, rotating and swirling together in orbit. Nesmith’s birds and insects are restricted in their flight by the glass jars in which he’s ensnared his subjects. Vernon’s paintings and a 3-D installation explode into space, bound by nothing.

via washingtoncitypaper.com

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August 26, 2009

Maura Judkis: Echo Eggebrecht at the Hamiltonian Gallery

Birds of A Feather by Echo Eggebrecht

In Echo Eggebrecht’s empty New York apartments, the wallpaper is patterned, the National Geographic magazines are spread out on the coffee table just so, and a warm glass of milk awaits you by the nightstand. Arranged diorama-style, the painter’s six works in Hamiltonian’s “Almost Surely, Almost Everywhere” put forth the comforting trappings of a grandparent’s home—they practically exude the scent of mothballs and potpourri. Though her paintings are folksy, she has an eye for humorous detail, like a room bearing the poster “You Don’t Have to be Jewish to Love Levy’s,” featuring an old man about to enjoy a deli sandwich. Yet in each scene, something seems slightly out of place—the strewn papers, the bare mattress—so you never feel quite at home. With works by Ken Fandell, Mike Iacovone, and Billy Friebele.

via washingtoncitypaper.com

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July 25, 2009

Maura Judkis: Ryan Hill at Civilian Art Projects

At least the origin of Ryan Hill’s meandering drawings isn’t readily apparent—for an Internet-inspired show, you’ll find no familiar viral video stars or Web memes. Instead, Hill presents a pastiche of mysterious and cartoonishly macabre images culled from Google Images searches, Flickr and YouTube—face-painted goths, pirate treasure chests, a sketch of Elizabeth Taylor’s severed head—and often, his written observations of his drawings (Taylor’s head is “Half obscured by a cloud of White Diamonds”). It’s all tongue-in-cheek, from the skeleton Marilyn Monroe’s sexy pose to the skulls slurping down Tasti-Delite. But like our 140-character online attention spans, Hill’s work seems to befall the fate of every cool thing that’s been linked to on a twentysomething’s Google Talk status: interesting until the next shiny thing comes along to distract us. - Maura Judkis

via washingtoncitypaper.com

For more Ryan Hill press mentions, check here. Hill is on display until August 8th. My photo recap of the opening show. Don't miss it! Click here for gallery hours.

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July 22, 2009

Artist Spotlight | Joshua Gomez, now at the "Seven Takes" Art Show Opening at Touchstone Gallery

My opening show photos from Touchstone Gallery's group exhibition highlight the artwork of Joshua Gomez, a Virginia-based photographer/artist.

We start from afar. Walking in, we see a pattern of colors and shapes so carefully composed that we accept them as an exercise of good composition and design.

It is the closing in, however, that delights us! The canvases never appear flat, but we learn upon close inspection that the mat boards are hand-cut. They are examples of beautiful artistic diligence and awe-inspiring craftsmanship.The single-mindedness of minimalism resedes into the background, and we learn to appreciate the human element. The patterns of color and hand-cut shapes do not monopolize the eye. Instead, they invite us to invent landscapes in our minds as we stroll across the works, installed side by side.

The balance between the abstract and concrete; the precise and the gestural; and the ever-changing moments of perspective, make Joshua Gomez a powerful creator of high-level concepts and ideas--and a wonderful artist.

See Joshua Gomez along with Charlie Dale, Anthony Dortch, Leslie Johnston, Peter Karp, Newton More, and Michelle Rogers at the Touchstone Gallery until August 7, 2009. Gallery hours and directions.