AFTERLIFE - recent paintings by Jack Chipman May 6, 2006

The ORLANDO GALLERY presents recent paintings from the AFTERLIFE series of Venice artist JACK CHIPMAN during the month of May.

JACK CHIPMAN is not a newcomer. He has been working since the 70s but has exhibited infrequently in recent years. Although he?s a Los Angeles native and graduate of CAL-ARTS (originally Chouinard Art Institute), his art career actually began in San Francisco in the 70s. At that time, he was dubbed ?Jack the Ripper? in response to a critically acclaimed series of ripped and reassembled paintings.

The 80s was essentially an art hiatus as Chipman returned to LA to pursue his avocation of collecting and researching California pottery full-time. He has had six books published on the subject, the most recent being CALIFORNIA POTTERY SCRAPBOOK.

The 90s proved to be a difficult return to form as Chipman began working on his art again full-time in a studio overlooking the Pacific at ANGEL?S GATE CULTURAL CENTER in San Pedro. He moved to Venice in 1995 and has been working steadily since then on new paintings and mixed media pieces in a large sky-lit studio added to the rear of his residence.

The AFTERLIFE series of paintings, begun in 2005, can be described as a fusion of color field and hard edge abstraction with a little abstract expressionism added to the mix. The inspiration for the title is two-fold. First, it?s a response to the absurd ?death of painting? assertion and second, it reflects the artist?s awareness of an ?afterlife.? Not the standard afterlife of the born-again Christians, but one born of the realization that life is a regenerative progression toward an idyllic state and that it only partially occurs on planet Earth.

The Artist is also involved in two other exhibitions in Los Angeles. One being Chipman as one of 30 artists exhibiting at ECO-LA in Los Angeles from April 22 to May 18 as a part of OFF THE WALL 2. All work in this show is created on recycled billboard vinyl. Eco-La is located at 4823 West Pico in Los Angeles. Chipman's other show is at Blue Gallery located at 3129 Pico Blvd in Santa Monica. This show is called "Meditations on the Letter" and runs from April 22 through May 31.

ORLANDO GALLERY is located at 18376 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana CA 91356. "Afterlife" opens Sat, May 6 with a reception from 6:00pm to 9:00pm and continues through May 27, 2006. Regular gallery hours are Tues-Sat, 9:30am-3:00pm. For more information in regard to the gallery, contact the gallery at: 818-705-5368 or orlando2@earthlink/net.