George Hermes: Xenophilia, Love of the Unknown

Love of the unknown is a concept that I have been exploring in my sketchbook lately by making marks while trying to stay out of my own way. Using black pens on white paper becomes its own intoxication, of course, but ultimately this is a practice in meditation with visual results.

On a recent trip to L.A. (my first incredibly enough) I had the pleasure of seeing some recent work by George Herms, who has been creating art from the scrap heap since the early 60s. The exhibit was located at LAMOCA at the Design Center and was, get this, free. I would have paid to get in.

The exhibition includes sculptures that Mr. Herms is famous for, created from rusty cast off items before recycled art became all the rage. It is the collages that stole my heart. They are made up of photographs that have been cut and reshaped into vibrant and lively forms. They are familiar yet undefinable.  The results are compelling and demonstrate well Mr. Herms love of the unknown. For a review of the show in Artweek.LA click here.

Red Head in Action

Here is the artist known as Jay (age 6) busy at work. His ability to draw with absolute confidence in his vision is enviable and inspiring. 

Structure: Inside and Out

A pillar of strength you might say, depending upon your belief system, from a Stave Church. All in all an amazing piece of architecture that was built in Medieval Norway.

A Stellar Month for Painting Shows in Seattle!

We all know how fast news travels these days but it was with particular high speed velocity that word traveled about the current show, Instruments of Culture, paintings by Sarah Awad hanging in the front gallery at James Harris Gallery in Pioneer Square. Don't miss this show! These amazing paintings of acrylic and oil create their own space through shifting perspective and layers of paint.

Award's paintings are philosophical examinations of how space (physical, psychological, and imagined), can exist within a painting. This often involves the reinterpretation of historical architecture through abstraction. Psychological, social, and political space is also present, due to Awad's use of figures and social rituals. (James Harris Website).

Ms. Awad has years of painting left ahead of her, which fills me with great anticipation.

Another rising star whose future paintings I look forward to seeing are those of Leanne Grimes currently hanging at the SAM Gallery as part of the Autumn Introductions show. Ms. Grimes' abstracted landscapes with surprising pops of color really charmed me.  Also showing: Matt Crosby, Frank Huster, A.J. Power, Laura Thorne, Robin Siegl, Jennifer Stanton and Jacqueline Will.

Also recommended: Cable Barrett and Susanna Bluhm at Soil and Christopher Martin Hoff at Linda Hodges.

There are numerous shows out there that I haven't gotten to but these are the best of what ground I've been able to cover thus far. Time to get my walking shoes back on.