VACNJ Visual Arts Center Of New Jersey's Exhibitions Explore Color
By: A.A. Cristi Jan. 26, 2018
Opening on Friday, February 2, the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey has three exhibitions that focus on how contemporary artists use color. These shows include Radiant Energy, Richard Garrison: All-consuming, and Stair-gazing: Paul Corio. The opening reception will be held on Friday, February 2, 2018, from 6:30-8:30 PM and is open to the public.
The three artists showcased in Radiant Energy-Gabriele Evertz, Robert Swain, and Sanford Wurmfeld-have devoted their careers to investigating color sensations in abstract painting. While they utilize different geometric elements (squares, rectangles, stripes or bands, grids, and lines) they all explore how the perception of color creates physical and emotional responses in the viewer. All three artists are longtime members of the renowned "Hunter Color School," a group of painters who taught (or continue to teach) at New York's Hunter College. The paintings in Radiant Energy invite viewers to experience color on its own, without the interference of an image. By carefully varying the hue, value, and saturation of their color choices, Evertz, Swain, and Wurmfeld create compelling color relationships for the viewer to discover in real time. A series of smaller works on paper by each artist will be on view in the Robinson Strolling Gallery, providing a more intimate look at their individual practices.
Running concurrently in the Eisenberg Gallery, Richard Garrison: All-consuming, looks at the ways color is used in advertising. The artist, who lives and works in the Albany suburb of Delmar, NY, collects information from typically overlooked aspects of daily life and transforms this data into chart-like abstractions. All-consuming features a series of the artist's "Circular Color Schemes"-drawings derived from the ubiquitous "big box" store flyers circulated through the mail and in newspapers. For each drawing, Garrison calculates the size, color, and placement of the advertised items and represents them as individual wedges of color within a circular grid. An uneven sprawl of color emanates from the center of each drawing.
For his Stair-gazing project, New York artist Paul Corio created a "hue circle" painting specifically for the space. In this ongoing series, Corio arranges 12-hue color circles formatted as pinwheels within grids of squares or other geometric shapes. He incorporates the element of chance by allowing horse racing results to determine the sequencing of the color circles. Appropriately, he titles these works with the names of racehorses that catch his eye on racing forms.
Related Programs:
Colorful Concert, Saturday, March 10, from 6-8 PM in the Art Center's Main Gallery. Composers and performers, Mary Bichner and Molly Zenobia, have synesthesia, a neurological condition that causes them to "see" splashes of specific colors when they hear certain pitches and this is how they compose their music! Join us for wine, cheese, color, and music. $10 per person at the door.
Artist Talk, Sunday, March 25, from 3-5 PM in the Art Center's Main Gallery. Join exhibiting artists Gabriele Evertz, Robert Swain, and Sanford Wurmfeld as they discuss their work in the exhibition Radiant Energy. The talk will be led by gallerist Matthew Deleget and will give further insight into their process and careers.
Color and Consciousness Lecture, Saturday, April 21, from 3-5 PM. Neuroscientist Bevil Conway specializes in visual perception in his scientific work, and he often explores the limitations of the visual system in his artwork. Much of Conway's research is guided by the underlying thought that visual art can be used to reveal insights about how visual information is processed[MB1] . This afternoon discussion will focus on the science of visual perception.
About the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey
For 85 years, the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey has been exclusively dedicated to viewing, making, and learning about contemporary art. Recognized as a leading non-profit arts organization, the Art Center's renowned studio school, acclaimed exhibitions, and educational outreach initiatives serve thousands of youth, families, seniors, and people with special needs every year.
Major support for the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey is provided in part by the Walter V. & Judith L. Shipley Family Foundation, the Wilf Family Foundations, and Art Center members and donors.
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