new exhibition at Joe Squared

Aquasphere:Evolution at Joe Squared, North Avenue, Baltimore

Today I installed this new exhibition at Joe Squared restaurant and bar (North Avenue, Baltimore, where I have been going since they opened ten years ago across the street from my old studio building, this show has been a long time in development and I am super excited about it.

Twenty-two paintings from three different series of these aquatic art works spanning the past year and a half, a lot of brand-new work exhibited here for the first time, and all for sale at prices from $100 to $300  …  see more posts below for details

More pix coming soon, please stop by and check it out, reception date to be announced …

 

Project Runway

Project Runway [2014] – 24 x 36″ – spraypaint on wood panel

Playing with scale, saturated colors and some street-art inspired techniques, I created this vision of the aquasphere where the fish camouflage themselves to blend in with the accumulation of industrial machinery discarded to meld with the coral reef, it is surrealistic yet plausible in today’s world.

Zeitgeist

Zeitgeist [2015] – 11 x 14″ – spraypaint, watercolor, ink and collage on paper

So much more to do and enjoy in the studio! These pieces have taken on a theatrical element that I have enjoyed since traveling to Italy for two months back in 2005, I got immersed in library research, sketching architectural facades and creating some small layered works I referred to as “teatrini”

These little theatrical stage sets provide an arena for dramatic juxtaposition of figures and in this case I like the sense of containment, suggesting that the fish are confined to an aquarium, perhaps bringing to light the idea of their environment encroaching upon their lives due to the many forces at work, even though it is portrayed here as naturalistic.

I’m expanding visually on the themes from the Gone Fission series a year ago, delving into some new silhouettes, new saturated colors in media including inks as well as watercolors, and generally coming full circle to the point where I look forward to once again shooting photos of the works in progress to create more stop-motion video within this humble realm.

Another common thread within this series that continues to fascinate me is the intrigue of compositional tension, the lovely negative spaces defined by pointy fins and seductive curves, with each compositional study there is a joyful sense of blurring those boundaries between representation and abstraction, and I look forward to continuing with that as a recurring component of these multi-layered works.

Teamwork

Teamwork [2015] – 11x 14″ – spraypaint, watercolor, ink and collage on paper

Remnants Of The Media Circus

Remnants Of The Media Circus – 2014 – 20″ diameter – spray paint and ink on wood panel

 

Deep in the Game

Deep in the Game – 15 x 19″ – ink and spraypaint on paper

 

AQUASPHERE exhibition at the Charles Theatre, Baltimore

A Conciliatory Gesture

A Conciliatory Gesture – 25 x 19″ – spraypaint on paper

 

AQUASPHERE exhibition at the Charles Theatre, Baltimore

Harboring A Fugitive

Harboring A Fugitive – 11 x 9″ – watercolor, spraypaint and collage on paper

 

AQUASPHERE exhibition at the Charles Theatre, Baltimore

Orderly and Immaculate

Orderly and Immaculate – 15 x 19″ – spraypaint on paper

 

AQUASPHERE exhibition at the Charles Theatre, Baltimore

Mask of Resignation

Mask of Resignation – 14 x 20″ – watercolor and spraypaint on paper

 

AQUASPHERE exhibition at the Charles Theatre, Baltimore