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/

Leading Artists Gallery Absract Exhibition Opens with Color!

1st Place "Two Structures", by Artist Alexander Ovchinnikov,

Leading Artists Gallery is pleased to announce the winning artists of the Abstract Competition.  We are proud to exhibit these exceptional works of art in our online gallery and showcase these talented artists. 

 

Our guest juror for the Abstract Competition was Jordan Bruns.  Bruns exemplifies the special expertise for this theme as a renown abstract artist, instructor and juror.  To see Jordan's works, please visit www.jjbruns.com.

 

2nd Place, "Hysterics" by Alexander Ovchinnikov

The first and second place artist is Alexander Ovchinnikov from Moscow.  Juror Bruns declared, "This piece has a fantastic usage of hard line mixed with vibrant, fluid color.   It has the luminosity of stained glass and hints at the geometry of crystals under a microscope. "   

The third place artist is Susan Levin from Maryland.  Juror Bruns commented, "Sometimes less is more.  Amazing atmosphere and mark making. 

 

3rd Place, "Clay Hill", Susan Levin

 

 

4th Place, "Atlantis" by Ione Citrin

The 4th place artists is Ione Citrin from California.  Juror Bruns said, "What’s striking about this piece is the storytelling.  The viewer can imagine a whole world in the piece and the story begins with the hard understandable forms at the top of the piece and ends with the dissolved matter at the bottom".

 

Leading Artists Gallery, an online gallery offering themed art competitions, exhibitions and artist profiles.  The current competition Cityscapes is open until December 29, 2011.  Please visit Leading Artists Gallery to submit your work!