Art Opening for Richard Diebenkorn: The Ocean Park Series

Ocean Park #79, 93" x 81"

Last night I attended the preview for the Richard Diebenkorn: The Ocean Park Series at the Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art + Design.  This stunning exhibition named after the Southern California beachfront community where he created these works is a retrospective of the artists' work created between 1967 and 1988. 

MS at exhibition

 

Richard Diebenkorn (1922-1993) created large-scale luminous paintings of saturated jewel tones with layers and layers of translucent paint.  

Seeing more than 80 of these imposing paintings close up gives the viewer a key to his process.  Shown through these layers is a grid-like geometric pattern made of charcoal that provides the framework for his color panes.  

Ocean Park #122, 75" x 75"

 

There are also smaller paintings all under 8" created on cigar boxes..inside, outside, lids.  A cigar box ~ a surprising element until I read that he was an avid cigar smoker and liked a good cigar while he painted.  It is also rumored that he created these pieces as gifts for friends.

 

The power of these paintings for me comes from the imposing size, use of space and the color panes.  What is missing is equally as important as what is there.  Even the small paintings are breathtaking to me.  It is something about the chalky sheerness of the paint ~it is edible.  

This exhibition is a must see.  

The Corcoran Gallery of Art is located at 500 Seventeenth St., NW, Washington DC.  Hrs. W-F-Sa-Su 10-5p, Th 10-9p.  Visit www.Corcoran.org for full details.  

 

Aside:  While at the Corcoran, take a look at the exhibtion "The Deep Element"--a mysterious and haunting photography exhibition of powerful contrast of the unknown.  http://www.corcoran.org/exhibitions/deep-element/