First Thursday Opening Reception: March 6, 5-8pm
Artists Talks: Saturday, March 22 at 12:00
Carol Benson, Michael Knutson, Kanetaka Ikeda, and Stephan Soihl
MARCH 5-29 — MAIN GALLERY
Adventures in Abstraction
— Carol Benson and Michael Knutson —
An exhibit of paintings by two artists who have known each other for over fifty years. Benson and Knutson, who are married, joined Blackfish in 2004 and 1997, respectively. This is their eighth two-person show.
Aurora Borealis — Carol Benson, 2024, oil on gessoed paper, 18" x 24"
Benson statement: My paintings come from a combination of influences. Some of my prior work was inspired by landscape. These works relate to that sensibility with their reference to the segmented space of maps and aerial views. Various shapes and colors reflect my admiration for traditional women’s ‘handwork’ such as sewing and quilt-making. The paintings attempt to create the playfulness and action of puzzles and games.
​
Concentric Hexagonal Field 2— Michael Knutson, 2024, watercolor on paper, 31.5" x 41"
Knutson statement: “With their underlying compositions of two-colored, concentric hexagons and octagons, many of my recent watercolors of spiraling ovals resemble Persian carpets. Three of the paintings are large diptychs measuring 40” x 60.” My aim was to push the layers of transparent watercolor to unusual density and darkness.
............................................................................
GALLERY 2
Forms Open or Dense - Spaces Variable
— Stephan Soihl —
Transparent Columns - Spaces Variable — Stephen Soihl, 2024,
brass, aluminum, glass, resin, wood, motor, microcontroller, 20" x 18" x 18"
I am exploring two concepts now for this current exhibition. I am exhibiting older works, some over fifty years old, and at the same time, works that I am finishing right now.
For these works one concept to be questioned is how "open or dense" the work is. In a painting is all the surface covered with color, sometimes dense, or is it more open and airy, with considerable white surfaces left? The same concerns can pertain to a sculpture: is it made of solid materials such as stone or bronze?
Or is it made up of transparent materials such cast polyester resin or plexiglas?
Even these transparent materials can be fabricated in such a way as to appear dense. I myself prefer works that are "open and airy".
The other concept is what works in what materials might be considered "kinetic" in some sense. I have been recently making motorized, computer driven, pieces in brass and aluminum that are truly kinetic: they revolve, stop and start again, driven by a computer program. But what about a piece that is stationary, but whose forms can be rearranged by a person observing it? It is different at different times; the spaces between its forms are variable. And the observer can experience pleasure in being able to have some control over the appearance and even mood of the piece.
There are such unlimited possibilities in working with these materials and exploring these concepts. I truly enjoy this aspect of making artwork.
............................................................................
JAMES HIBBARD GALLERY
Cosmic Leaves - Miniatures and Giants
— Kanetaka Ikeda —
Giant Cosmic Leaf #12 — Kanetaka Ikeda 2021, mix media assemblage 52”x 51”.
This exhibition is a visual manifestation of further exploration into the world of Cosmic Tree. Cosmic
Tree is a visual world of my own creation that is inspired by a dream I had years ago where the cosmos
appeared as a continuously changing tree like form. It is a world where suns and stars are the fruits and
flowers and where invisible lines of gravity are the vines and branches of this heavenly tree. In my art,
I have not tried to recreate this memorable dream, but create artworks inspired from it as compositions
in paintings, drawings and wall assemblages, and as organic forms in sculptures and installations. In
this “Cosmic Leaves- Miniatures and Giants” exhibition, the subtheme of Cosmic Tree, the cosmic
leaves, are further explored and developed.