Art
view Paulette
Thenhaus
Spirit of place
This is an exhibit
especially for those artists and art viewers who question the place of
traditional landscape painting today. ÒSpirit of PlaceÓ is a refreshing show of
somewhat traditional nature paintings on view at Knox CollegeÕs Ford Center for
the Fine Arts till October 12th.
The artist, Lindy Carroll,
doesnÕt travel to exotic places to get her imagery, but rather, examines her
own terrain in paint. For example, the massive old oak tee, repeated in several
of her works, is right outside her studio door. WhatÕs intriguing is to watch
Carroll, who paints the same trees over a period of three years, mature in
representing them. That maturity is seen in composition, paint handling and
subjective color choices. Early images from 2004, such as ÒRed MapleÓ and ÒTwo
Hickories,Ó have a physical tangibility, primarily due to impasto oils (applied
perhaps too heavily and consistently). By 2005 the branches in paintings are
more lilting and rhythmic. ÒWillow SentinelÓ has the sweeping drama of a
feathery fan dance in orange, yellow and pink.
It is around this time
CarrollÕs weight of paint and layering of color become more varied and
descriptive of the subject. ItÕs interesting to note where sheÕs made
corrections in the positioning of a dog in ÒTomÕs Maple.Ó The original dog is
over–glazed but appears as a ghost image in the finished painting. I
think the searching and the leaving traces behind makes the canvas more alive.
It gives the viewer a clue to the artistÕs thoughts and second thoughts while
painting.
Unfortunately, there is
only one window view, but it is a beauty with fat, white flakes outside and a
brilliant magenta clylamen plant in the warm interior. This viewer wants to
say, ÓMore!Ó Another minor disappointment is the number of very small works
(about 4Ó x 6Ó). Most are done in plein air or from memory. They seem like
picturesque ÒfillersÓ between the serious work.
Having said that, in her
most recent work from 2007, Carroll takes up the challenge of the big canvas
with great
success. In ÒBach and the Trees,Ó a 72Ó x 60Ó canvas, nothing is static,
especially the composition. The vantage point is from above, perhaps in a tree,
looking down at evening rush–hour traffic. Cars and trucks are elongated
to suggest speed, and headlights flash yellow or white. Tall trees alongside
the highway sway as if to blaring car radios. Color contrasts are everywhere:
orange/deep blue for the trees against sky, while red/green for cars and earth
set up a high-pitched color drama.
Although quiet houses were
part of her previous compositions, the introduction of a highway and speeding
cars sets up a more contemporary dialogue about man and landscape (nature).
ThereÕs much more to be explored in this area.
As to my original comment
on the validity of landscape painting today, if a serious, young artist such as
Lindy Carroll finds it relevant, challenging, and full of new directions, then
maybe itÕs worth a second look.
More art
Opening at the Galesburg
Civic Art Center on October 5 – November 3 are dramatic, large abstracts influenced
by music by Joel Smith, Colchester, Illinois, and assemblage wood sculpture by
Constance Demuth Berg, Good Hope, Illinois.
KaldiÕs Coffeehouse and
Tearoom, 124 E. Simmons Street, is exhibiting paintings by Jane Hames, October
1st thru November 30th. An artistÕs reception will be Friday, October 12th,
2–6pm.
10/4/07