|
Opening reception:
First Friday, February 5, 6 - 10 pm
Willard Whitson: Sweet House
Willard Whitson has been painting highly representational life-size
figurative work throughout most of his art career. His current
body of work, while drawing on this figurative tradition, does
not depict humans at all. He paints Teddy bears and he paints
them in the manner of Northern Renaissance portraits. Using traditional
painting techniques, including glazing, scumbling and a rich chiaroscuro,
he wishes to imbue these works with a depth and ironic seriousness
that enhances the dignity and weight of these images.
Being an avid toy collector, and having spent over 30 years developing
and designing exhibits for natural history and children's museums,
he has developed an understanding and appreciation for the importance
of toys and play in one's life. Teddy bears in particular are
not simply play objects, but rather they possess personalities
that are refractions of those who love them. He views his bear
portraits as paintings of individuals, each with its own distinct
identity. He believes that there is an immediacy to the paintings
that provides a direct link to the "inner child" in
us all. He hopes these paintings will be seen as emotive, soulful
portraits.
Justin Coffin: Art and Misdemeanors
As a youngish writer and photographer, Justin Coffin is always
on the go. Whether it's walking his dog, crafting pithy sentences,
or cropping photos, Justin is always on the lookout for art and
misdemeanors. And extreme flavor. And there's only one iced tea
that satisfies all those cravings, the one in the yellow, blue,
and brown carton: Arctic Splash. Arctic Splash is the unmistakable
iced tea carton that molders in the gutter like no other. Arctic
Splash is the iced tea carton that's too damn pretty for an ordinary
trashcan. Arctic Splash is the official litter of Fishtown. It's
the iced tea carton all the best photographers crave. So when
Justin Coffin's taking pictures of trash, it's Arctic Splash,
or nothing.
|
