Ricky Allman at David B. Smith Gallery
Probably the best sense of what this show is all about is the cover image on Ricky Allman’s website, which identifies just how big these paintings are. David B. Smith gallery never disappoints. I feel that geometries are overdone in art currently, but I do not gather the “This has been done before” feeling from Ricky Allman’s work. This transcending of trend occurs in the scale of Allman’s work, the controlled palette, and the maximal style. There is much to be learned and explored in these canvasses: Allman shows us that he can not only paint expertly, but that he can create worlds, feelings, and fine orchestrations of shine and shado...Read more
December with Denmark's Nicolai Howalt
In the spirit of winter, I bring you Nicolai Howalt who, in collaboration with David Stjernholm, brings us, Rusland, or Russia in English. This series, exhibited in 2010, is a photographic documentation of the 260 hectares (which is just over 642 acres) of protected moorland in Denmark. It struck me, at first glance, a snow or frost covered forest void of any signs of life. The forest is actually a unique growth. The frost like dusting is actually sand, which was placed there after the “drifting sands” settled in the 1700’s. The habitat found a way to grow among the harsh debris of the historic sand storm of Holocene period. The overgrown forest appears in a timid grays...Read more
Clyfford Still Museum opens in Denver
Clyfford Still was born in North Dakota, on November 30th of 1904. Like another great American abstract expressionist, Jackson Pollack, he emerged from a remote corner of America, where the sky was as big as it could get. You can see his rural American heritage at work in his art: Clyfford Still’s spaces are huge, spare, and earth-colored with sudden touches of vibrancy. The museum itself is a work of art. The concrete walls are carefully raked into variegated, light-and-shadow-gathering surfaces. On the second floor, an incredible lacework of concrete lets just enough light through to the paintings. On a semi-bright, November day, the effect is marvelous. Even on a su...Read more
Au: Exchange at Redline
Gold has always been fascinating, and it is especially fascinating in a recession that touts the rare element as recession-proof. Money is so tight right now, or so we hear. Fittingly, in this money-themed show, not much seemed too extravagant. I wouldn't characterize any single piece as a splurge, but rather as calculated, spare, and elegant work. On opening night, the show had a gold and beige color, overall. Nothing stood out color-wise, and perhaps for this reason, each piece demands its own singular, committed attention. The premise for the show is simple: Each Redline artist was granted a 2.5 bar of gold to use for this exhibition. Whether the artists sold the gold t...Read more
Bill Amundson at Plus Gallery
Despite the humor in most of his work, Amundson’s drawings develop integral questions about American commercial lifestyles, and, well, all of America itself. Often when looking at his work I think about what it means to be an American, and I don’t see much glamour or intelligence, just monolithic icons of consumerism. In Amundson’s work, members of the consumer class get burned the hardest, and in his work these folks seem even more mindless than usual. Commercial giants who suffer at the expense of Bill's jokes seem to be deserving subjects: Dollar stores, Wal-Mart, and cookie-cutter houses out of suburbia serve as the locus of a minimal absurdism, where there is n...Read more
REMEMBERING 9/11: Trough the art of children
As we near the the 10 year anniversary of 9/11, we reflect on how this tragic event as inspired art; more specifically how it has influenced the art of the youth. The images in this blog all come from a book titles The Day Our World Changed: Children’s Art of 9/11 featuring paintings by nearly 200 children (toddlers to teens) who lost a loved one in the attacks on New York City’s World Trade Center on February 26, 1993, and September 11, 2001. Thus book is was put together thanks to Robin Goodmen the author of this inspiring book. In many way the results of this attack not only effected the adult population as well as created a life changing the feature of the chi...Read more
FOUND: Other People's Stuff
New stuff rocks. What's better than getting the latest, greatest and most expensive Apple product? Who hasn't camped out for the opening of oh say... a new Swedish design store (the meatballs were sooo good)? And how can anyone deny the awesomeness of that new car scent? But as cool as new stuff is, there are some people who would contend that the old stuff rocks more. Yeah dude- I'm serious! The good people at Found Magazine have even dedicated an entire website to their love of previously owned objects. Specifically, as the name implies, the site features old objects found by chance. They eschew the fresh ‘n shiny stuff in favor of items which “give a glimpse ...Read more
Up an Coming: Erin Graboski
Erin Graboski is a Colorado photographer based out of Denver Co. Erin is new to the art scene here in Denver just recently making her work available to the public. She recently launched her website under the name Cosmic Autum. Erin has a interesting style and approach to photography. Like most great artist she does not follow the main path that many people see as traditional photography. Here subjects may be everyday things, the way she manipulates her images in post processing is brilliant. Many of her images have a nostalgic feeling with a combination of vintage film and lomographic feel. The coloring and tone of the images scream dark yet leave you with a tranquil sensibility. ...Read more
TJ Reagan: Happily Ever After
Almost everyone has a soft spot for picture books. Most people also enjoy cats. This could be why TJ Reagan is becoming a favorite new artist among Denverites. Most recently, TJ exhibited a collection of works at Anthology Fine Art. The walls were covered with a striking display of pastel colored prints, tied together with pixelated motifs and Victorian white frames. Tiny porcelain figures sprinkled themselves into the mix, portraying figures with bodies of humans, but heads of animals. The type of imagery TJ uses is often unsettling, but the story book creatures appear whimsical and innocent, doing things like jumping rope and playing games. The show, after all, is entitled &lsq...Read more
filed under: art
tags: TJ Reagan Metro Printmaking Cats Anthology Fine Art Happily Ever After
"The Stolen Scream"-Theft? or Sharring an Idea
The Stolen Scream: A Story About Noam Galai from FStoppers on Vimeo. The Stolen Scream: A Story About Noam Galai. I thought it important to post here. Wanted your thoughts to be a part of the conversation. This is: Exciting. Scary. Different. Opportunistic. Cannibalistic. Visionary. Divisive. Should we celebrate it or hate it? Lawsuits or a new suit of clothes that recognizes the times? Two obvious sides with no obvious answer. And on and on… It’s our newest classic challenge as a rapidly evolving industry with the rapid deployment and sharing of information. What say you?...Read more