Whimsical Work: Four Artists Create Fanciful and Fun Images that Inspire Humor
WHIMSY a show of painting, sculpture and collage featured in Montclair Gallery. Artist's Include William Hogan, Lucille Nurkse, Susan Baker and David Johnston
Exhibition Dates: November 1 – January 13, 2006
gallery hours | M-F 10-5 or by appointment
FREE to the public
Montclair NJ (PRWEB) November 10, 2005 -- artspace 129 will open its second show this season with whimsical work by four regional artists. These works are meant to engage, inspire and remind of us the humourous side of life. These four artists create lighthearted depictions that are bright and colorful and full of subtle amusements.
This show was inspired by the work of William Hogan, a Jersey artist, who recently moved to Bucks County, PA. After years of working in editorial illustration and cartooning for the Bergen Record, his primary focus is now fine art. His work boasts a philosophical edge while being extremely playful. He makes art historical references to the likes of Dali, Chagall and DeChirico while creating work which is distinctly Hogan. His large acrylics betray a fascination with the play of ideas and images, while taking on importance of altar pieces employing gold leaf and architectural shapes. There is no doubt that there is a commentary here. One that is full of contradictions that feel they are reflections of life’s serendipitous misadventures. His watercolors, equally charming show us the likes of cats playing piano’s full of water, blindfolded maidens being serenaded by jazz musicians in a cacophonous dream-like landscape.
The first floor of the gallery features the art of David Johnston, Lucille Nukrse, and Susan Baker. Here the work is also playful, but really about color and construction. David Johnston uses watercolors on Japanese paper masterfully to invent carefully balanced compositions with a wry sense of humor. Johnston is an avid lover of music and for certain, there is something about his color and composition that sings. Johnston is a mature artist living and working in Montclair, whose paintings have been featured throughout Europe.
Lucille Nurkse from Brooklyn creates charming collages which capture the essence what she has experienced and seen in the world, the activities in her surroundings. The figure is the guiding motif in all her work. Someone doing something in the moment can catch her attention. With memory and a sketch, she reframes that moment and make it ever present, simplifying the figures and constructing space by using blocks of color. Her work marries abstract with representational to mirror the beauty and adventure of humanity.
NY artist, Susan Baker works in collage both in 2D and 3D. Her pieces whether created with machine parts. plastic throw away pieces, sticks and found objects with modeling clay or pencil, paper and paint create playful images that become part of an eloquent, funny and surprising whole which she finds reflective of what life is all about. Collaged elements in her 3D objects are especially engaging and fun.
artspace 129, an alternative exhibition space in Montclair, NJ which shows contemporary art in comfortable contexts where people live and work. The aim is to achieve environments where people can get familiar with contemporary art, enjoy it and learn about. Good art makes us think, it can beautify our surroundings and be a forum for sharing ideas or creating dialogue. artspace 129 is dedicated to featuring the work of established and emerging visual artists in real environments. With the aim of introducing their work to collectors and art lovers in Montclair, NJ.
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