Exhibition Invitation
34 hours and counting until the opening of Sticks and Stones: Nature Abstracted, our new exhibition at Lauryn Taylor Fine Art.
Yesterday was an exciting day of design and installation. This is always my favorite part. Unpacking the new art, grouping it by content and color, deciding what color to paint the walls, making "The Statement". This is also the hardest part because until all the art arrives, you never really know what "The Statement" will be.
Unpacking Lissa Rankin's 16 white encaustic paintings that will hang together as a grid installation in our Annex
"Golden Rice" the perfect color to complement Lissa's white paintings
Sure, I have a vision of what I think I'm going to see on opening night. With this show I anticipated a fresh, crisp, palette of colors. Art that focused on the subtle Abstraction of Nature. Lots of leafy patterns and of course plenty of sticks and stones. I chose the artists and art based on the theme and the vision. But, in reality, the exhibitions always take on a surprising, and often delightful life of their own.
I knew this one was going to be spectacular as of 8:34 pm Wednesday night. I had just arrived at the gallery feeling like a gigantic crab after a six hour drive home from delivering art to a client in Healdsburg. I skiddled sideways into the gallery, snapping at my husband with a big crab claw when he tried to greet me. I looked for a rock to crawl under, I was too tired and annoyed with the world to engage in idle chit chat. My husband, sensing the whole crab thing, simply said, " I think you should go look at the new art in the Annex". Whatever. Nothing could thrill my beady crab eyes tonight. Oh well. Might as well take a cynical look.
Moments later, the giant crab was face to face with a giant ceramic and green neon Australian Seed Pod sculpture by artist Kathleen Crocetti. (Who, by the way, just won the award Northern California Art Teacher of the Year. Kathleen, you are a goddess, shaping the lives of our next generation of artists).
The entire Annex gallery space was glowing with the green neon light. I snapped out of my crab mode, jaw open, speechless. Followed by awe. THIS was spectacular! The photos didn't even begin to describe the unusual, edgy, stop you dead in your tracks qualities of this piece.
Kathleen Crocetti " Australian Seedpod"
Kathleen Crocetti "Red Tendrils"
And there was more! Two more smaller ceramic and neon sculptures and several other fascinating organic undulating sculptures from Kathleen.
But wait, more! A whole stack of stunning graphic paintings celebrating the simple but powerful details of various plant forms from Heidi Hybl.
Heidi Hybl " Bottlebrush" Oil on Paper
Followed by a softer take on nature from Matt Klein with his translucent abstracted floral pieces that literally draw you into the layered depths of the 4 x 4 encaustic painting. AND an entire 16 piece installation of 12 x 12 white on white encaustic paintings from Artist Lissa Rankin.
More? You bet! A compelling encaustic piece filled with irregular circular shapes titled "Globulin", and a stellar highly textured encaustic triptych titled "Regeneration" from Salt Lake City artist Jeff Juhlin.
Jeff Juhlin "Regeneration" Encaustic on Panel
And.....be still my beating heart..... 8 intimate 5" x 5" miniature encaustic and porcelain sculptural paintings created in a sophisticated neutral palette from Santa Fe artist Christy Hengst. WOW!
Gallery curator / designer extraordinaire Cynthia Johnson Bianchetta was all over these goodies first thing Thursday morning. Let the fun begin! We put our heads together and by 1:00 the exhibit was taking shape. Herb Davies, our signage expert, worked on the lettering. Michael Weber, our installation guru, was transforming the annex with a fresh coat of "Golden Rice" our hue of choice for this show.
Herb Davies - The Best Signage Guy
Nice job Herb!
Installation Guru Michael "Don't take my picture" Weber in front of the "Golden Rice" Annex wall
Everything was coming together quite nicely. But surprise! Not quite the soft cool crisp green lush and leafy vision I had anticipated. No, this show was going to make a much stronger statement. This show was going to demand to be noticed. By 2:00, despite the ladders, paint cans, drills, half eaten sandwiches, and INSTALLATION IN PROGRESS signs, heads were turning and people were boldly walking into the chaos to check out this dynamic show. What did they see?
Top Left: Lauryn Taylor "Black Forest" Bottom Right: Kathleen Crocetti "Bristle Cone"
Coming Together. Left, Background: Jeff Juhlin "Regeneration" Front, Center: Christy Hengst Porcelain and Encaustic Miniatures Right: The amazing Kathleen Crocetti Neon and Ceramic "Australian Seed Pod"
"The Statement". A graphic body of work that speaks boldly of minimalism. An earthy yet high contrast palette of rich chocolate browns, yellow ocher and gold, whites, creams, deep reds, unusual variations of greens and a smattering of turquoise. A visual journey deep into the subtleties of nature presented in a sophisticated, contemporary manner.
An outstanding exhibition design that draws your eyes around the gallery with a border of black Mexican river rocks artfully arranged on the floor by Cynthia. (Cynthia, you are the BEST!)
The giant ceramic and neon Australian Seed Pod, front and center, captivating in all its glory. An exhibit that will connect with the primitive natural organic side of you, the viewer. Sticks and Stones that will DELIGHT your bones. Don't miss it.
STICKS & STONES: Nature Abstracted
Opening Reception Saturday, June 30 6:00 - 8:00pm at Lauryn Taylor Fine Art, San Carlos B/t Ocean and Seventh, Carmel. 831-624-1161 www.lauryntaylor.com
Awesome, loved reading the story, wish I could visit the exhibit in person!
Posted by: Debra Hille | June 30, 2007 at 06:51 AM