Gallery 1261 presents Contemporary Realism March 1, 2013

Gallery 1261 presents

CONTEMPORARY REALISM

March 1 through April 13, 2013

Opening Reception: Friday, March 1, 5:00-8:00 PM

Denver, CO. GALLERY 1261, one of the country’s premier galleries for the finest in contemporary realism, features an outstanding lineup of painters from across the United States. New works by Gregory Block, Scott Fraser, Mikel Glass, Robert C. Jackson, Andrea T. Kemp, Lucong, Alyssa Monks, Heather Neill, Kate Sammons, Daniel Sprick, Jeff Uffelman, Sadie Valeri, Henrik Uldalen, and Anthony Waichulis will be on display from March 1 through April 13, 2013, with an opening reception on Friday, March 1, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. Many artists will be in attendance.

CONTEMPORARY REALISM explores connections in painting and subject matter as presented by this stellar group of gallery and invited artists. Though there are many commonalities, the differences run deep. When each artist was asked whether he or she structured paintings with a narrative concept in mind, the responses were with thoughtful and illuminating.

Scott Fraser, whose paintings feature children’s Christmas toys, stated that he freely works in the narrative, using humor to express human emotion. He said, “It seems like for much of the 20th century, narrative art was a lone voice crying in the wilderness. Some of my art heroes, such as Louise Bourgeois and Wayne Thiebaud, bucked the system, maintaining a strong narrative voice in their work. Serpent Crowned with a Halo refers to a piece by the same name by Odilon Redon displayed in the 1913 Armory show. This was a revolutionary exhibition that changed the face of the art world, moving it towards modernism. My painting features a wooden sheep ornament, sporting a halo and looking embarrassed by the trail of chocolate kisses scattered behind it.”

In regards to her painting “The Vanity”, and 8x10 inch oil on panel, Kate Sammons explained, “I don't always put a story in my paintings but in this particular one, there is a story to tell. A young woman looks into her vanity mirror. She is dressed for an evening out and has stopped, literally, for a moment of reflection. In the mirror a clock is visible behind her, drawing the viewer's attention to the passage of time and the brevity of her pause. On the dresser there are three vessels that hint at the topics that might concern her in this personal moment: water, milk, and wine, respectively symbolic of life, bounty, and spirituality. A framed photograph faces out, referencing family, background, and past experience. As she sits she considers the nature of maturity and the aspects of herself with which she identifies most.”

“Effective storytelling has been a major component of my craft since my earliest works,” stated Anthony J. Waichulis. “As a Trompe L'oeil painter I find myself constantly working to successfully balance the impact of the rendered illusion against the deeper narrative qualities of the work. It is my hope that the enticement of the superficial illusion will not distract a viewer from the symbolism, allegory, narrative or mystery I am trying to present--but rather entice further investigation.”

Other artists echoed the sentiment expressed by Jeff Uffelman, who said, “I understand that many realists, historically and now, are telling a story and I appreciate that we all have different motives as we respond to the desire to paint. I strive to avoid the popular notion of narrative. My interest is in the intuitive choice of objects, their shapes, colors, arrangement, and play of light. I'm especially interested in the effect that one object has on another. I've heard it called reciprocity. My intent is to celebrate the visual world around us.”

And, Henrik Uldalen added, “Although my approach to painting is realistic, I never hold a narrative or try to tell a story, I paint allegories. For me it's all about atmosphere and feelings. To display something metaphysical with characters.

Heather Neill admits that she used to balk when someone described her paintings as narrative, in part because it felt limiting. “But I am a lover of stories,” she said. “I listen to audio books all day long as I paint. And I have come to realize by also listening to viewers and patrons that, while the props and the teacups may have their own ideas about where to be placed in a still life, every single person who takes the time to look at the finished painting is seeing a version of their own narrative. I am just the editor.”

Ultimately, the idea of realism is abstract and, according to Quang Ho, misleading. “Whose perception of reality are we talking about?” he asked. “I would contend that the whole concept of reality is being challenged every day, by science and by philosophers.”



“I never plan it,” said Sadie Valeri. “It's only deep into the weeks-long process of painting a piece, or even after it is complete, that I start to feel the story emerging.”

But for most, Mikel Glass summed it up when he stated: “I am a storyteller.” Glass, whose playful paintings offer a contemporary take on Dutch floral vanitas paintings of the 18th century. But, he acknowledges, the comparison between centuries poses several questions. “For example,” he ponders, “has our modern society, endowed with advanced ideas and materials, really offered us any more permanence? Is the "hand" of the artist still important?”

“I think at the very least all paintings tell a story and have a narrative,” said Alyssa Monks, whose latest work was painted during her stay with her mother, taking care of her in her last months before she died. “If the work is engaging for more than a few minutes, there is a narrative. What I think is more interesting than the simple telling of a story, is the transcendence of that story to relay the experience of that story on another level, a cellular or emotional level, even without total explanation of what that story is. My work reflects a struggle to evolve, to let go, and to open. Comply is one that is very much about facing the difficult challenges of life with eyes and arms open.”

Gallery 1261 presents

CONTEMPORARY REALISM

Featuring new works by national artists. March 1 – April 13, 2013 - Opening Reception: Friday, March 1, 2013, 5:00-8:00 p.m. 1261 Delaware St, Denver, CO 80204. 303-571-1261 | 888-626-1261 - Hours: Tue - Sat, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. www.gallery1261.com