Made in NY 2017--Envisioning the Future

The exhibit Made in NY 2017 had a theme this year about the artistic vision of the future whether technological, sociological, political, and even physiological.  The judges selected 64 artworks out of 309, and one of my entries, Fearful Symmetries, will be in the show.

This is an annual exhibit at the Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center in Auburn, NY, and it runs this year from March 24 - May 21.  You can read more about the show and the center at http://www.schweinfurthartcenter.org/exhibits_details.cfm?id=84.

Fearful Symmetries; mixed-media on panel, 40" x 30"

Escher and Picasso: Two 20th Century Artists

Escher, Reptiles, (1943)

Picasso, Studio with Plaster Head, (1925)

Currently, there is an exhibit of work by M. C. Escher (1898-1972) at the Rochester Memorial Art Gallery (closing 29 January) and there is an exhibit of work by Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) at the Buffalo Albright-Knox Art Gallery (closing 19 February).

Having seen both exhibits, and considering that they were both artists of the early and mid-20th century, made me consider how they both are alike as well as different.

First, let's review briefly the criticisms about both; usually most art historians knock on Escher while they tout Picasso as a revolutionary and, of course, as one of the Great Artists of the Century.  They tell us that Cubism is a natural development from the artwork of Cezanne and, perhaps, parallels the great discoveries in science at the time.

All very well.   I happen to like much of the work by Picasso, Braque, Gris, and anyone else who took up the cubist exploration of forms on a 2-D plane.  After a long history of artists attempting to show the space of the figure in the plane, and long after Western artists resolved it with perspective, the new use of space by Picasso et al. was a worthy accomplishment philosophically as well as visually.

I agree with this line of thought; no debate here.

I find that the problem is how the same art historians will gladly pass on artwork by Escher.  "Clever illustration," "sophomoric," "...the kind of art you leave in your 20's," are typical remarks about his drawings and prints.

Well, it is time to re-visit Escher and Art; it even causes one to ask the question "What is Art?"  A very big question, certainly, but relevant to understanding.

Another question is whether Escher contributed anything new to Art.  A third might be how he measures up to other artists in his time period.

The broadest question is the biggest one, and "What is Art?" is among the important philosophical questions.  Of course, this means that there are many responses with no one reply known as definitive.

Is Art the re-presentation of another vision of reality or the vision of another reality?  That is my definition, and to this Escher's work fits.  Granted, that leaves room for a lot of other work that is not meant as Fine Art.

And yet, if Fine Art also means important ideas about both Art and the world, then I think Escher's use of space in the plane is as sophisticated as anything the cubists imagined.

Of course, this would answer the second question as to a contribution to the visual arts.

The last question, just how does Escher measure up to other artists of his time period, is tricky.  The one artist whom I can think influenced Escher with certainty is Oscar Reutersvard.   Reutersvard is little known today, but though younger than Escher his impossible objects likely played an important part in Escher's development.  As much so, I think, as did the Italian landscapes and Moorish tilework.

Reutersvard remains the outstanding crafter of impossible objects, http://im-possible.info/english/art/reutersvard/, but I think Escher gave them life.  I say this without diminishing the achievements of Reutersvard's imagination.

In this light, Escher's drawings of people and landscapes early on became part of the foundation for his imagination along with Moorish tessellation and Reutersvard's creation.

Nice rhyme, but fine words butter no parsnips.  Just how do I think Escher measures up to the big-name artists of the 20th century?

I know that I am in the minority, but I believe that Escher's art reflected the big questions as much as did the work of the cubists, dadaists, surrealists, abstract expressionists, and pop artists.  Philosophically, they are mathematical paradoxes about the human environment.  Visually, they intrigue me as much as other 20th century work.  They cause me to think not only about the world in which I live but also about what it means to make Art.

And isn't that at least a part of what Art is about?

M. C. Escher exhibit at the Rochester Memorial Art Gallery

It might be worth your while, if you live in this area, to visit the Rochester Memorial Art Gallery in order to see the M. C. Escher exhibit that closes next Sunday, 29 January.

http://mag.rochester.edu/

I do not usually bother noting other art exhibits but for those living in Western NY and in the Finger Lakes region this may be a once-in-a-lifetime exhibit of his work here.  Given the  condescending remarks of many in the art world about Escher's work, it is a nice surprise that they decided to have one.

25th Regional Artists Exhibition at the Artists Group Gallery in Buffalo, NY

Urbanity; mixed-media on paper, 18" x 24"

The judge this year for the 25^th Regional at the AG Gallery in Buffalo is Mr. Donald Siuta, who was the juror for the first show.   Out of the two artworks I presented for the exhibit he picked my drawing Urbanity.  One never knows if a judge will choose one’s artwork but this is my fifth year in a row showing at the regional.  Call it a matter of fortune since the chances of that happening are slim.  

The exhibit will run from 14 October to 11 November.      

Made in NY 2016

Suicide Corners, NY; mixed-media on panel, 48" x 36"

The judges have made their selections for this year's Made in NY 2016 exhibit at the Schweinfurth Art Center in Auburn, NY, from March 26 to May 22.  They chose one of my submissions for the show, Suicide Corners, NY.   There were 71 selections made out of 455 artworks.  You can read about the exhibit here, http://www.schweinfurthartcenter.org/exhibits_upcoming.cfm.  

Drawing Submission for 2016 Joint Mathematics Meeting in Seattle, Washington

The Schrodingers' Cats; mixed-media on paper, 15" x 20"

  The 2016 Joint Mathematics Meeting will have its annual conference 6 - 9 January in Seattle, Washington.  Attracting thousands of mathematicians from around the world, it is the largest of its kind.

Along with various speakers, the conference hosts an Art exhibit which subject reflects the interests of the conference.  The judges accepted my submission concerning Erwin Schrodinger's parable about Quantum Mechanics.

Schrodinger’s wave equation prompted him to write a parable about the cat in a box with a radioactive decay triggered device. He commented that the cat was in a quantum state until one opened the box; i.e., neither alive nor dead. According to the Many-Worlds theory, however, when Schrodinger opens the box the world splits in two; in one world the cat is alive but in another world the cat is dead.

No cats were harmed in the production of this drawing.

For more information see 

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/qm-manyworlds/.

Invasion at 464 Gallery!

Chicken Soup for the Soul; mixed-media on paper, 24" x 18"

464 Gallery opens its Monster 5.0: Invasion exhibit Friday, October 30, from 6 pm to 1130 pm.  The art on display will present various images about the theme of invasion.  The gallery staff accepted my drawing, shown above, concerning various "alien invasions."  This show runs until November 10 so in the next couple weeks consider visiting the gallery in the Black Rock district of Buffalo.

24th Regional Artists Exhibition at the Artists Group Gallery in Buffalo, NY

Athena; mixed-media on panel, 36" x 48"

The WNYAG is sponsoring their 24^th regional exhibit of local artists.  This year the judge was Rachel Adams, associate curator of the University of Buffalo Art galleries.  Ms. Adams picked Athena out of my two submissions.  Usually about 120 or so artworks are entered and the juror ends up choosing about a third.

Running from October 9 to November 13, this regional provides a good snapshot as to what is going on in the WNY art scene.

A Room with a View: Three Rooms of Different Depictions at Enjoy the Journey Art Gallery in West Seneca, NY

The Terrorist, or, O How the Mannequins have Fallen; mixed-media on panel, 40" x 30"

EJAG is presenting an art show of three themes; one room offering black and white depictions, another artwork of mixed-media, and still another of various paintings.  I have one, shown above, in the B & W category and another in the mixed-media spot. The gallery is less than a 20 minute drive from the city of Buffalo.  If you are in the area from October 9 – 31 consider a visit to this intimate gallery space.

The Box as Fine Art

Foundation of Metaphysics; mixed-media on paper, 20" x 15"

On October 25 from 200 pm - 400 pm, at the Artists Group Gallery in Buffalo, NY, the Western New York Artists Group will hold a silent auction for their annual fundraiser.  They are selling tickets in advance and at the door, for more details see http://www.wnyag.com/.  My contribution is shown above; we operate as if we cannot walk through walls.

65th Finger Lakes Exhibition at the Memorial Art Gallery

The Memorial Art Gallery of Rochester, NY is holding its 65^th Finger Lakes biennial regional exhibition this summer.   Michael Rooks of Atlanta’s High Museum was the judge for this year’s show and chose one of my entries, Suicide Corners, NY.

As Buffalo’s Albright-Knox Art Gallery is no longer offering a regional art presentation, the Finger Lakes biennial remains the only museum venue for a local art show in Western NY. 

An additional highlight for me was seeing my painting and drawing instructor from my University of Buffalo days, Professor Emeritus Sheldon Berlyn, who also had a painting in the exhibit.

The exhibit will be on display from July 26 – September 13.

2015 Artists Group Juried Members Modern Exhibition

The Grand Calculator; mixed-media on paper, 18" x 24"

An exhibit of modern works (abstract, experimental) will be on view at the Artists Group gallery at 1 Linwood Avenue in Buffalo, NY from March 20 to April 17.  The juror for the show was Nina Freudenheim (of the eponymous art gallery in Buffalo) and she selected both of my entries for the exhibition, The False Ones and the drawing pictured above, The Grand Calculator.  If you are in the Buffalo area then drop in and take a look, there is no admission fee.