Surprise and Question About Painting

I went to an exhibit last weekend to support a classmate and his work. The exhibit surprised me in many ways. ATA: An Exhibit of Contemporary Samoan Art is on view from April 28 - May 24, 2012 at University of La Vern, 1950 Third Street, La Verna CA 91750 in the Harris Gallery.

The focus is on Pacific Islander Contemporary Film and Performance.

Daniel Satele

The artists featured are: Jewel Castro (US), Chantal Fraser (AU), Chuck Feesago (US), Graham Fletcher (NZ), Tanu Gago (NZ), Shigeyuki Kihara (NZ), Mau Mauiava (NZ), Rosanna Raymond (UK), Daniel Satele (NZ), Siliga David Setoga (NZ), Angela Tiatia (AU), and Dan Taulapapa McMullin (US).

Below is Dan's work, acrylic and transfers on panel 96 x 96 - he's my classmate. Glad he invited me to this show!

Dan Taulapapa McMullin Tiki Kitch

Dan Taulapapa McMullin - Close up

Chantal Fraser

Mau Muaiava

Mau Muaiava. These pieces were extraordinary in person, delicate, snakelike and strong.

Mau Muaiava. A grouping of the two above.

What surprised me the most about this exhibit is that I found that I enjoy art that has a cultural bent to it, not your typical contemporary art exhibit – I felt like I could feel the concept of the work even if I could not fully grasp the culture of the Pacific Islander. 

Chuck Feesago - the piece that got me writing this blog.

The work of Chuck Feesago captured my attention with string, paper, reused clean garbage and best of all he paints with bubble wrap - a painting tool I have been using in my work that he too has found ways to use. We talked a bit about reductive vs. additive ways of applying paint with bubble wrap.

Then, there was a performance piece that I was unprepared for and delighted to experience.

Katie unexpectedly involved in the performance by Rosanna Raymond.

Rosanna Raymond

Rosanna Raymond in performance behind her work.

Rosanna Raymond gave to us every once of her energy with the beautiful sounds of her voice in a native tongue and a small hand played instrument that had a dull wack-wack-wack sound.

Recently I saw the work of Lorenzo Hurtado Segovia at CB1 gallery and the work of Chuck Feesago had some similarities to Segovia's work that I couldn't help but notice during this show. 

Lorenzo Hurtado Segovia, 2012

The art pieces of both Segovia and Feesago hung off the floor but not on the walls of the gallery space almost obstructing the art that could be found behind the tapestry-like works - but the similarities did not end there for me. 

Both Segovia and Feesago's work has a distinct feeling of having been embedded with culture of the artists making. In Segovia's the feeling of what culture was less obvious but present and with Feesago's work I was fortunate enough to have all the symbolic meanings that were embedded in the work explained to me by the artist himself. It was all so complex I admit I cannot recall all that we talked about.

Lorenzo Hurtado Segovia, 2012

Another similarity is that both artists deal with the concept of weaving, but in the case of their work it was not fabric to be woven, but paper. Segovia had a tight weave to his work and reversed sides. Feesago had a loose open weave with multiple interpretations of intent based on items hanging from the art piece and the use of unrelated found materials to make the work.

Chuck Feesago - close up

Both of these artists also incorporate painting on the paper before it gets woven into the tapestry-like object. Being a painter myself I am very intrigued by the way these artists rupture the idea of what a painting can be. Painting is no longer a work on canvas or a work on panel. Painting is much more.

The party - Dan, Leslie and Chuck