Lois Lambert Gallery presents “Current Work.” Allen Harrison continues his practice of juxtaposing Tibetan Thangka.
Harrison starts his process cutting and adhering different parts of Thangka paintings on to a wooden panel. Tibetan Thangka paintings are made on cotton or silk usually depicting a mandala, a Buddhist scene or deity. Following his visual instincts, Harrison collages the Thangka imagery keeping the rhythm of the composition by using a fine pencil to draw in contoured lines into blank spaces. The result is a complex drawing of patterns and designs. Harrison then takes a photograph from his collection of sunsets or other natural imagery and refers to it to paint the landscape over the original drawing. The drawing does not get lost under the paint but rather dictates the stroke of the brush. The result is a painting that at first glance looks like an abstract version of a landscape from the Romantic era. The colors vibrate together and the shapes capture movement over the surface of the painting, yet when looked at very closely and carefully you see the patterns from the Thangka paintings emerge through the brushstrokes.
Also opening on March 18….“Stories from Reality,” from sculptor David Furman. Inspired by common objects, David invites the viewer to bring their own history to items prized for their utility.David’s work is realistically executed with meticulous craftsmanship. David views these “ersatz” objects as a record of human history. With artistic and anthropological elements, the objects can be viewed in historical, cultural and artful contexts. Furman explains, “I use clay, this amorphous mass of primordial material that [can] become anything. I cut, squash, and articulate forms until I arrive at my destination. I want it to have beauty and clarity.”
On view: March 18 – May 21, 2017
What: Opening reception
Where: Lois Lambert Gallery, Bergamot Station, E-3, 2525 Michigan Ave. Santa Monica, CA 90404
When: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Phone: 310 829-6990
Website: http://www.loislambertgallery.com