John Styner, Kerovac, digital painting, Absolutely Abstract 2012 at The Philadelphia Sketch Club
As a little DoNster, DoN dreamed of becoming an abstract artist. Stop reading if you’ve heard this story before but when Donnie was in the second grade he announced one evening at dinner he wanted to be an abstract artist when he grew up. Life magazine wrote about Jackson Pollack with color pictures of the wild action paintings seemingly anyone could do, Maynard G. Krebs was a beatnik icon on TV and American in Paris was a dream life-style for an artsy little boy. DoN‘s parents were appalled.
Kenneth Weiner, Quarks, acrylic, Absolutely Abstract 2012 at The Philadelphia Sketch Club
Abstract art is popular and accessible because it takes elements of reality and transforms them into something new allowing the viewer to see and feel whatever the image is transmitting. A mid twentieth century invention, abstraction is now everywhere in modern culture, how then do artists invigorate the style. Kenneth Weiner‘s Quarks layers colors in deep tones and lifts up through complementary films of washed on tones interjected with slashes of fire red in animistic actions and impressionistic light. This style of painting is recognizable as abstract yet has a narrative explained in color.
Su Knoll Horty, Deception in Pink, oil on canvas, Absolutely Abstract 2012 at The Philadelphia Sketch Club
Alan Fetterman, Area, oil, Absolutely Abstract 2012 at The Philadelphia Sketch Club
The Absolutely Abstract 2012 show represents a particular vision of the state of the art of abstraction in The Philadelphia region, a school of thought that permeates the show with many styles, techniques and media. Alan Fetterman‘s dense layers of color and multiple dimensions reads like a compendium of thought on the once controversial now ubiquitous style, easily drawing the viewer into an imaginary world where paint can do anything. The mastery of paint and brushwork, the illusory landscape, surreal dreamscapes still inspires the artistic memories of a little boy who wanted to grow up to be an abstract artist.
Absolutely Abstract 2012 at The Philadelphia Sketch Club – click the thumbnail
Look Mom & Dad! Little Donnie grew up to be an abstract artist after all. light being (Frank) appears to be the only photograph in the show, it is an honor to once again be included with the fantastical abstract paintings filling the historic gallery at The Philadelphia Sketch Club.
The artist reception and awards ceremony is Sunday, September 9th, 2012, 2:00-4:00pm, 235 South Camac Street, Philadelphia, The Avenue of the Artists.
Written and Photographed by DoN Brewer
