The opening reception of the 16th Annual ECAS exhibit took place last night at the Common Sense gallery. At the risk of incurring either the wrath or derision of Vue Weekly or the fine folks at the North Edmonton Sculpture Workshop, I will attempt to write a completely unqualified review of the show, in several parts. Here is part 1:
Licorice Tea, I thought, is great - among the best of the show. If I had $1500, I'd buy it and put it in my house, and look at it on a regular basis. Or you could buy it for me. Or if you buy it and keep it for yourself, let me know when I can come over and look at it. I'm not kidding.
The show runs until October 30. Stay tuned for the next installation.
If I'd been on the ball, I would have seen this comment a little earlier and mentioned the compliment to Winnipeg painter John King, who unexpectedly dropped by the studio a couple of times this week. If you want to send him an email, send me one.
Posted by: ahab | October 12, 2008 at 09:30 PM
Oh, and, being the good writer you are, could you explain/describe what you liked about Licorice Tea? A couple photos of the artworks, King's included, are now posted at studiosavant.
Posted by: ahab | October 12, 2008 at 09:35 PM
ahab: thanks for posting some shots over at studiosavant.
I'll put out only a few words now as a point of departure (perhaps saying more later). In 'Licorice Tea', John King uses a combination of colours which, simply put, is something beautiful. The colours work wonderfully well with the lines in the painting. The thing as a whole drew me to look at it, as a whole. That is what sticks with me: the smaller details on the edges are really part of the whole. It's not simply the broad strokes standing out in the centre.
It's a moveable feast: I could enjoy it anywhere. It doesn't need a context.
Which puts me in mind of the next thought I had. I'm guessing that many people might not have an instant grand and a half or so lying around which they have earmarked for art purchases. On the one hand, this is probably a result of the way most of us divvy up our assets and incomes. On the other hand, it's a shame that we don't. What might our world look like if such a thing were a regular category in an average household budget, instead of other things which we put there.
I'm wondering if King might be open to a purchase on an installment plan?
Posted by: joseph | October 13, 2008 at 01:03 AM
Yes, I'd bet he would be open to it. Most artists will agree to any arrangement at all in order to get their work out of the studio or storage into a place where it will be appreciated.
The supreme value of an artwork comes with the repeated pleasure of seeing it new over and over again.
I like Licorice Tea well enough. Especially the tail end of the black stroke which trails off into wisps.
Posted by: ahab | October 16, 2008 at 05:48 PM