Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Artist Spotlight: Marion Wood on "Location, Location!"

In this current body of work, “Location, Location!” I explore the colors, texture and rhythm of physical locations in an abstract form. I use a careful balance of chance, fate and deliberate motions that make the paint appear as if it has taken root and grown through the canvas, creating a dialogue where the paint lies, a sense of organic narrative.
Marion Wood, Fragmented, Acrylic on canvas,  72 x 120"
This piece, Fragmented, concerns the fragmentation of our beautiful forest lands. While the cuts are are black and foreboding, I chose to accentuate the energy and life-force remaining, a sense of hope and trust that nature will prevail with a little help from mankind, which is referenced by the sense of text in parts of the imagery.
Marion Wood, Downtown, Acrylic on canvas,  60 x 24"
Downtown is a depiction of city streets and also has the feeling of the view from a loft window. Architectural form, the sweep of history, and the coexistence of chaos and orderliness are all elements that were used in the composition.
Marion Wood, Philadelphia Freedom, Acrylic on canvas,  60 x 48"
The joy and the pain of creation is another duality explored in much of my work. The physical act of painting, a visceral and explorative undertaking, serves as the core connection to each piece. I tend to inhabit and navigate the paintings, moving within them the way one would inhabit a location in the more traditional sense; by wandering, searching, reveling, taking risks, failing, feeling the natural flow, and getting messy. My goal being to encourage the viewer to wander through these pieces as well, and establish their own connections.

Marion's current show, Location, Location!, will be at TAG through July 9.
Come meet Marion at an informal Artist Meet and Greet on Saturday, July 2, 4-7pm.

Monday, June 27, 2016

Artist Spotlight: Mary McGill on Clay

Mary McGill, Kissing Joy as it Flies, Ceramic, 20 x 7 x 7"
The paradox of ceramics appeals to me....Clay can withstand temperatures that will disintegrate humans, and yet it is so easily shattered....the same with human emotions, we can take and do so much, but one small comment can destroy our calm demeanor.
I enjoy telling stories that reflect my soul, and hopefully the viewer will go on a journey of discovery about themselves.

Currently I am working on a series of cats.... Giving human emotions and voice to an inanimate object. The eyes need to reflect what the mouth is saying...
Mary McGill, Carnal Thoughts, Ceramic, 23 x 11 x 10"
Birds find their way in to my work, building visions of ultimate nests or symbolically portraying flight... an inclination toward narrative appeals to me. Incorporating proverbs, icons, and idioms into my work have a humorous and ironic quality I cannot resist. The objects on display embody the story of my life and I try to electrify the space with my energy.
Mary McGill, Krusty, Ceramic, 15 x 6 x 6""
Clay is a challenging, resilient and lively medium. It responds to the touch in an immediate and spontaneous way that appeals to my senses. The challenge is allowing for the accidents. Every fracture, crack and mark activates the surface. It is the written dialogue between the medium and myself.
Mary's current show, Insights at the Edge, will be at TAG through July 9.
Come meet Mary at an informal Artist Meet and Greet on Saturday, July 2, 4-7pm.

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Elsie Dye Sims Reception Benefitting CoachArt

Elsie Dye Sims is hosting a special reception at TAG with 10% of all sales benefitting CoachArt.org
Saturday, June 25, 5-8pm

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Current Exhibition: Mary McGill, Elsie Dye Sims, Marion Wood

June 14, 2016 – July 9th, 2016
Opening Reception: Saturday, June 18th,  5-8pm
Meet the Artists: Saturday, July 2nd,  4-7pm

Mary McGill – Insights at the Edge
Mary McGill, Heavy is the Head, Ceramic, 20 x 8 x 8"
Mary McGill’s debut exhibition at TAG, Insights at the Edge, explores and challenges the many complexities and possibilities of the art of ceramics. McGill blurs the fine line between work and play with her clay sculptures, creating pieces that force her and the viewer to be present and in the moment; to pay attention to and live in the now. With a firm belief that ceramicists impose their own personalities on their work, McGill instills a sense of joy into her craft that boils over and flows onto her surreal creations.

In this series, McGill focuses on hand building and ascertaining the spiritual essence of her sculptures, while her subject matter encompasses both human and feline figures, often times mixing both to create something unique and feral.

McGill describes her work as “an expression of the spirit that dwells within.” Her figures represent changes through life experiences – their struggles, successes, and journeys. Consequently, the final product is not what society would typically deem “beautiful.” The beauty of these pieces lies in reading in between the lines and focusing on the spiritual language of the subjects; their beauty is one of dignity, courage, and strength.

Elsie Dye Sims – North to South
Elsie Dye Sims, North to South, Woodblock print,  45 x 25"
Elsie Dye Sims’ newest body of work is a visual representation of a lifetime of adventure and wonder. Moving to Los Angeles 15 years ago, Sims has attainted an appreciation for the beaches of California, their natural ecosystems, and the flora that they hold. From the more pristine natural beauty found in the North in Matador Beach to Huntington and the more populous beaches of Southern California, Sims’ exhibition is a love letter to Los Angeles and the Western shoreline.

Finely detailed, hand colored woodcuts, oil paintings, and drawings are all an expression of her love for all things organically found in nature. For Sims, the Western shore is more than a view or seascape; it has acted as a consistent catalyst for growth. While people and connections are finite, nature is permanent and constant fixture in Sims’ life. This exhibition serves to give a face to the sensation of being wonderstruck by a new and foreign locale and the splendor that opportunity can hold.

Marion Wood – Location, Location!
Marion Wood, Penn's Landing, Acrylic on canvas,  60 x 48"
Marion Wood’s debut exhibition at TAG, Location, Location!, was designed and executed using a careful balance of chance and fate in creation, utilizing deliberate movement to express depictions of physical locations in an abstract form. Wood utilizes broad, yet delicate motions that make the paint appear as if it has taken root and grown through the canvas, creating a dialogue where the paint lies, a sense of organic narrative, characterizing the sui generis of each location.

Architectural form, the sweep of history, and the coexistence of chaos and orderliness are all elements that were used to develop Wood’s compositions, which all teem with life.

The joy and the pain of creation is another duality explored in this series of work. The physical act of painting, a visceral and explorative undertaking, serves as the core connection to each piece. Wood chooses to inhabit and navigate her paintings, moving within them the way one would inhabit a location in the more traditional sense; by wandering, searching, reveling, taking risks, failing, feeling the natural flow, and getting messy. Wood encourages the viewer to wander through these pieces as well, and establish their own connections.

Saturday, June 11, 2016

Artist Spotlight: Joe Pinkelman on Clay Pinched Pots

Joe Pinkelman, Pinching China #4, Porcelain, 12 x 10 x 10"
I worked on these pinch pots while waiting for a Chinese translator to help me out. The past several years I have worked at a ceramic residency in Jingdezhen, China. At any given time there are about 10 artists from around the world working on their individual ceramic projects. Consequently with only two translators, it might take a couple hours until they would be able to help address your individual needs.
After the first couple of days, I found myself getting overly anxious waiting so I decided to sit and start making pinch pots. It worked to my advantage in several ways. The first was to ‘warm’ myself up to ceramics and get my mind into the experience of working in clay. Secondly, it challenged a hand building skill I use many times with my students but not with my own work. Lastly, the process became like a Buddhist meditation for me and I focused on my body, my hand movements, and my environment.
The first pinch pot I made was a Greek amphora but I quickly realized that since I am working in China, I should start making forms that have a historical reference to Chinese ceramics. Thus all of the forms in the exhibition are based on traditional, Chinese ceramic vessels.
Traditional

Joe Pinkelman, Pinching China #6, Porcelain, 12 x 10 x 10"
Traditional
Joe Pinkelman, Pinching China #2, Porcelain, 12 x 10 x 10"
Today is the last day to see Pinching China, Joe's exhibition at TAG.
You can view more of his work here, on TAG's website.