BRIAN GROSS - PAULE ANGLIM - CHANDLER

CATHARINE CLARK - MICHAEL ROSENTHAL - ICTUS

01.07.12, Part I

(with assistance from Kathryn Arnold and Neal Strickberger)



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Brian Gross Fine Art: Dana Hart-Stone - Exposition.

Review by Kathryn Arnold: Subtle patterns and repeats convey a quality similar to Ikat weavings. Bands, whether vertical or horizontal, some with related figurative imagery, others with pure pattern.

Comment by AB: On the price list and the gallery website, the medium of these artworks is noted as acrylic on canvas. Makes no sense to me 'cuz nobody can paint like this (the term "acrylic on canvas" typically and traditionally refers to entirely hand painted works of art). In fact, these are digital prints-- I ask the artist, Dana Hart-Stone. He adds that each composition is a unique one-of-a-kind original, and Brian Gross later tells me that each piece has handwork by the artist as well. Now if the printing inks are acrylic, then fine; they're acrylic digital prints. And since they also have handwork, call 'em unique original hand-embellished acrylic digital prints on canvas... or something similar. You can't simply leave the digital component out; it's part of the process. They're quite good, by the way, no matter what they are.

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Gallery Paule Anglim: Clare Rojas - Piecemeal; Annabeth Rosen.

Comment by AB: An adept update on California hard-edge by Clare Rojas, particularly reminiscent of John McLaughlin. I'm a huge fan of professionalism, precision, and just plain good-ass art. That's what we have here. In the anteroom, Annabeth Rosen's bulbous ceramics burst at the seams. Stop on by. Worth a viewing.

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Chandler Fine Art: Kuan Chang - The Tianmu Series.

Review by Kathryn Arnold: Gentle flowing linear elements fall in natural rhythms and forms on these canvases-- many of which are arranged in triptych fashion. One sees the play of nature in creating beauty within these almost bare compositions. Sometimes additional elements of threads and other non-paint materials are used. Tianmu refers to a mountain in China, and to Chang, Tianmu tea bowls from the Song Dynasty which he collects (this info according to the Chandler Fine Arts website). Natural colors / organic feeling.

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Catharine Clark Gallery: Josephine Taylor - Monsterface; Adam Chapman - Diagram of Chance and Will Intersecting.

Comment by AB: When I first see Josephine Taylor's art, not knowing anything about it, several of the pretzel-like compositions briefly remind me of the far edge of my adventurous distant past. When I read that the work is actually about abuse and it's consequences, memories of my piddling dalliances vanish fast. The twisted torturous toll of defenselessness against force overwhelms in Taylor's manifestations of pain. Vague yet intense merciless memories. Nary a social issue too sensitive or controversial for Catharine Clark. I can safely say that I have yet to encounter a gallerist (her word) who so consistently confronts us with art about issues in ways that require us to think-- and at times even more so, to act. Go see.

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Michael Rosenthal Gallery: Mathew Zefeldt - Trying to See the Thing in My Head.

Comment by AB: According to Mathew Zefeldt, his art is all about paint. There's no disputing that; it's stuff you can do with paint. Not sure whether this positioning of his bold colorific undertakings is enough to get viewers across the finish line, but it's certainly adequate for a start. Check 'em out. They're pretty sumptuous close up.

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Ictus Gallery: Disrupture - C. Ree, Heather Sparks and Jenifer K. Wofford.

Comment by AB: Digressions include a faux ceiling with a real leak, black & white volcano works on paper, and a video of a dude in a store.

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