Crit 4

CRIT 4
Students from the MFA Program at RISD
August 8-30, 2009
Daniel Arango
Kevin Arnold
Kate Bae
Ted Gahl
Rubens Ghenov
Jennifer Lee
Julie Leidner
Jennifer Sims
Lumina Wakoa
Zuriel Waters

Ted Gahl, "Lapses"

OPENING RECEPTION AND GALLERY TALK
Saturday August 8, 2009 6:00-8:00pm

Gallery Hours Thursday-Sunday 1:00-5:00pm

CRIT 2009 is the fourth in an ongoing series of exhibitions created by painter and RISD faculty member Holly Hughes. The curatorial plan is to offer the public a look at the education of contemporary artists studying at top art schools in the region, what they make, and how their works are discussed.

This August, Spencertown Academy Arts Center offers an exciting opportunity to view the work of 10 young artists at a formative moment in their careers. Selected for the Rhode Island School of Design Graduate Program in Painting from hundreds of gifted applicants from around the world – this diverse group will begin their final year of graduate school in September.

Having opened the doors to experiment, re-evaluation and honesty in their dialogue with peers and faculty– each MFA candidate experiences leaps and bounds of growth and often startling discovery and changes of direction – along with a polishing of their talent and heightening of the self awareness necessary for a life in the art field.

Zuriel Waters deploys pointed and wildly humorous icons of male identity into freestanding sculpture that greet us as we enter the gallery. Walking through them, we spot beautifully handled landscape painting reflecting the unique off the grid upbringing of artist Lumin Wakoa. Julie Leidner’s cinematic and color saturated imagination invites us to swim upstream with the horses she pictures.

Kevin Arnold inspires memories of favorite films in his intensely still interiors where powerful painting skill endows the mundane world with edgy drama and mystery. The deep influence of computer space makes itself felt as Kate Bae interprets Poe’s last completed poem “Annabel Lee” stanza by stanza in stylish escapist fantasy paintings.

A passion for music is the touchstone for the visual art of Brazilian Ruben Ghenov – who for the exhibit opening - will DJ - spinning an international mix of tunes. Our man from Miami, Daniel Arango is represented by a 120” computer drawn inkjet frieze – combining his autobiography with both the elegant line and sexuality of ancient Greek vase painting. The more American street vernacular of graffiti finds a home in arresting abstractions by Ted Gahl.

Also inspired by the home front, Jennifer Lee’s skilled painting dissects with wit the bastardization of “Tudor” in architecture – and even trailer design -in her highly entertaining send-up. Jennifer Sim prefers to immerse herself in painting’s rich history and with her great paint handling and touch is currently is mining the genre of the historical sea battle.

Spencertown Academy Arts Center is located in a restored 1847 schoolhouse at 790 Route 203 in Spencertown NY. CRIT 4 remains on view through August 30, 2009. The gallery at Spencertown Academy is open Thursday through Sunday from 1:00 to 5:00pm. For more information, visit www.spencertownacademy.org or call 518-392-3693.

Lumina Wakoa, "Hot House"

Previous gallery exhibitions at Spencertown Academy Arts Center.

2009
American Color, Woodland Chic, Truly, Madly, Deeply

2008
One of a Kind, Not Printed on Paper, Crit 3

2007
The Map Show , Considering Materials, On Your Mark, Arcadia, Yard

2006
Dustin/Reynolds, Representing the Self, Silver & Glass, Reframing Nature , Crit I, Abstractions Robin Tewes

Information for artists interested in exhibiting

Previous gallery exhibitions at Spencertown Academy Arts Center.

2009
American Color, Woodland Chic, Truly, Madly, Deeply

2008
One of a Kind, Not Printed on Paper, Crit 3

2007
The Map Show , Considering Materials, On Your Mark, Arcadia, Yard

2006
Dustin/Reynolds, Representing the Self, Silver & Glass, Reframing Nature , Crit I, Abstractions Robin Tewes

Information for artists interested in exhibiting

Ted Gahl, "Lapses"	OPENING RECEPTION AND GALLERY TALK Saturday August 8, 2009 6:00-8:00pm Gallery Hours Thursday-Sunday 1:00-5:00pm CRIT 2009 is the fourth in an ongoing series of exhibitions created by painter and RISD faculty member Holly Hughes. The curatorial plan is to offer the public a look at the education of contemporary artists studying at top art schools in the region, what they make, and how their works are discussed. This August, Spencertown Academy Arts Center offers an exciting opportunity to view the work of 10 young artists at a formative moment in their careers. Selected for the Rhode Island School of Design Graduate Program in Painting from hundreds of gifted applicants from around the world – this diverse group will begin their final year of graduate school in September. Having opened the doors to experiment, re-evaluation and honesty in their dialogue with peers and faculty– each MFA candidate experiences leaps and bounds of growth and often startling discovery and changes of direction – along with a polishing of their talent and heightening of the self awareness necessary for a life in the art field. Zuriel Waters deploys pointed and wildly humorous icons of male identity into freestanding sculpture that greet us as we enter the gallery. Walking through them, we spot beautifully handled landscape painting reflecting the unique off the grid upbringing of artist Lumin Wakoa. Julie Leidner’s cinematic and color saturated imagination invites us to swim upstream with the horses she pictures. Kevin Arnold inspires memories of favorite films in his intensely still interiors where powerful painting skill endows the mundane world with edgy drama and mystery. The deep influence of computer space makes itself felt as Kate Bae interprets Poe’s last completed poem “Annabel Lee” stanza by stanza in stylish escapist fantasy paintings. A passion for music is the touchstone for the visual art of Brazilian Ruben Ghenov – who for the exhibit opening - will DJ - spinning an international mix of tunes. Our man from Miami, Daniel Arango is represented by a 120” computer drawn inkjet frieze – combining his autobiography with both the elegant line and sexuality of ancient Greek vase painting. The more American street vernacular of graffiti finds a home in arresting abstractions by Ted Gahl. Also inspired by the home front, Jennifer Lee’s skilled painting dissects with wit the bastardization of “Tudor” in architecture – and even trailer design -in her highly entertaining send-up. Jennifer Sim prefers to immerse herself in painting’s rich history and with her great paint handling and touch is currently is mining the genre of the historical sea battle. Spencertown Academy Arts Center is located in a restored 1847 schoolhouse at 790 Route 203 in Spencertown NY. CRIT 4 remains on view through August 30, 2009. The gallery at Spencertown Academy is open Thursday through Sunday from 1:00 to 5:00pm. For more information, visit www.spencertownacademy.org or call 518-392-3693.
Lumina Wakoa, "Hot House"

Previous gallery exhibitions at Spencertown Academy Arts Center. 2009 American Color, Woodland Chic, Truly, Madly, Deeply

2008 One of a Kind, Not Printed on Paper, Crit 3

2007 The Map Show, Considering Materials, On Your Mark, Arcadia, Yard 2006 Dustin/Reynolds, Representing the Self, Silver & Glass, Reframing Nature , Crit I, Abstractions Robin Tewes

Information for artists interested in exhibiting

Previous gallery exhibitions at Spencertown Academy Arts Center.

2009
American Color, Woodland Chic, Truly, Madly, Deeply

2008
One of a Kind, Not Printed on Paper, Crit 3

2007
The Map Show , Considering Materials, On Your Mark, Arcadia, Yard

2006
Dustin/Reynolds, Representing the Self, Silver & Glass, Reframing Nature , Crit I, Abstractions Robin Tewes