David Tobey "Abstract Imaginaries 2012" in New York May 19, 2012

All visitors to Upcoming are invited to attend the opening reception for David Tobey's exhibition: Abstract Imaginaries 2012" -- all new enamel paintings on canvas & welded steel sculptures -- on Saturday afternoon May 19th from 3-6 at Pleiades Gallery 530 West 25th Street in Chelsea. Live music, refreshments and interesting conversation guaranteed!



In his artist’s statement for his "Abstract Imaginaries 2012 show, opening at Pleiades Gallery on May 19th, Tobey describes these new paintings as “Rorschach tests for the viewer”. Some of the forms on his canvases do resemble the famous inkblot tests, but they’re far more complex and communicative than just that. Taking advantage of the attributes of enamel paints — their high pigment content, viscosity and almost glass-like surface reflectance — David first creates thick and heavy pools of pigment that appear still wet. These shiny black organic forms sometimes peacefully rest within the borders of their pristine white canvases, but others sometimes slowly, sometimes frantically move about seeking escape at the edges.
When he introduces colors, some are subordinated by less reflectance, some not. Some quietly exist in harmony with their neighbors, but others ebb or rush into, around and between other forms of less, equal or more reflectance. Abstract forms move over and between each other sometimes slowly, sometimes violently. Dimensional relations also change as the eye moves around the canvas surface. The new characteristics of wetness, density, opacity, weight and reflectance add to the conventionally accepted attributes of color as hue, brightness and tint; and impact viewers’ imaginations with new and greater strength. These paintings show absolutely no hesitancy in execution — a particularly demanding feat considering the viscosity and stubborn nature of enamel, the flow being particularly difficult to control.
You can see images of Tobey’s paintings on his web site at
http://www.davidtobey.com, but photos can’t possibly replicate Tobey’s Imaginaries adequately.Visit the gallery to see this show first hand. Best of all, join us at our opening reception on Saturday afternoon May 19th from 3 to 6 where you can meet David personally, speak with him about his work and he can answer any questions you might have, enjoy complimentary refreshments and live music by keyboard artist Kirk Ehrenreich (and David may himself perform on violin, since he's also a professional violinist).