Written by Kirsten Incorvaia for White Walls Gallery.
New Territory:
New Works by Henry Gunderson, Akira, Cheryl Molnar,
Robert Burden, and Mark Warren Jacques
White Walls is proud to present New Territory: new works by Henry Gunderson, Akira, Cheryl Molnar, Robert Burden, and Mark Warren Jacques. New Territory brings together five artists that are breaking ground through their visual interpretations of contemporary West Coast living. Please join us for the opening reception on Saturday, April 3rd, 2010, from 7-11pm.
These five young artists are forging a new aesthetic and conceptual approach to fine art. Whether a cut and dry rebuttal to American mass media or a whimsical look into outer space, this group is covering new territory through their visual interpretations of all they experience in a day. Through various mediums, subject matter, and even scale you will find five individual voices speaking in their own language. Unifying them is an imperative to communicate that which they see- or don’t see- in this West Coast existence.
Henry Gunderson is a San Francisco artist that begins each painting with a single image and then meditates upon it. He allows animals, figures, landscapes and patterns to filter in as an acrylic “collage” of his mental journey. Although Henry does not speculate the origins of his subject matter, he acknowledges, “Concepts are inevitable and often based on very casual ordinary visions.”
Akira re contextualizes American culture through satirical portraits of its key public figures. He paints skilled renditions of pop culture idols, philanthropists, politicians, or even historical icons in a witty parody. By adding strategic clothing, poses, and text to these portraits, this San Francisco artist exposes the irony of each character within American mass culture.
Cheryl Molnar carves directly into wood panel, stains it with oil, and then collages strips of oil-stained paper onto the surface. She often renders her childhood Long Island ranch house to address the disparity between her parent’s idyllic American dream and her generation’s housing crisis. Her landscapes explore the gap between societal expectations and the freedom to be individual.
Robert Burden depicts h is childhood action figures in order to recall the naïve freedom of his youth. This San Francisco artist draws without looking at the paper, creating fluid and pure lines while never taking his eyes off the subject. The resulting blind contour drawing is simplistic in form yet its intimate process evokes Robert’s forgotten love affair with his beloved childhood toys.
Mark Warren Jacques channels his existence into p aintings of tight geometry and abstract architectures. Living in Portland, Mark describes himself as an “amateur philosopher” conce rned with relationships, music, skateboarding, entrepreneurship, and living life to the fullest every day. His controlled, tight lines and loose, fluid ones are a cosmic representation of his thoughts and feelings.
The opening reception of New Territory at White Walls Gallery begins on Saturday, April 3rd, 2010 from 7-11pm. The exhibit will be on display through
April 25th, 2010 and is open to the public.
Copyright © 2011 Kirsten Incorvaia. All Rights Reserved.