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| "Cupra Alta" |
On November 5th, the Tinman Gallery down on W. Sprague held an opening reception for featured artist, Gordon Wilson, and his show “The Reluctant Muse or How Do You Paint and Olive Tree.” Wilson’s show consists of a numerous spread of paintings throughout the gallery. The Tinman Gallery, which also operates as an independent bookstore, strives to enlighten the Spokane community through literature and art.
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| Woman appreciates Wilson's paintings |
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| Musicians set the mood for Friday art walk at the Tinman |
Wilson currently serves as an art professor at Whitworth University, and was previously the head of the Whitworth Art Department. Wilson is a painter who has developed a habit for “painting on site,” as he travels to Europe. His paintings are mainly focused around, and emphasize, the landscape of the scene he is painting. The process of each painting is strongly influenced by the natural world; the climate, smell, and conditions in which he is painting.
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| "Green Sky Storm from the Hotel Oassi" |
This show consists of a variety of landscape paintings throughout Italy, France, and Germany. In each painting, there is either an olive tree, a figure of a lady, and/or buildings. And, each painting is painted in the same abstract style, with the same palette of colors. Each painting seems similar to the one next to it, but Wilson depends on the conditions in which he paints in to influence each painting, ultimately making each painting unique based on the influences.
The one painting in the entire show which stuck out to me was “Green Sky Storm from the Hotel Oassi.” It stuck out because the sky in this painting was completely deviant from the skies in any of the other paintings. This piece had so much emotion that was not apparent to me in any of the other paintings, granted that this may have been the only day the weather was bad. In the bottom third of the painting are the usual buildings seen throughout all the other paintings in the show, but in the top two-thirds of the painting is a very eerie sky over a hillside. To me, the sky almost serves as an omen to the potential storm approaching. The specific moment that Wilson decided to paint in this piece leaves room for the viewer to imagine the severity of the storm approaching; whether it was bad or not is not important. This is what sets this particular painting apart from the rest.
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| Art goers enjoying the light atmosphere at the Tinman |
This show served as a great venue for viewing new works of art, as well as, getting people to come out and experience all that the Tinman has to offer. The opening reception was welcoming with the sound of a small three person band, and allowed for people to interact with one another in friendly conversation. The only thing that I struggled with at this show was that each piece was too similar, and I would have enjoyed a series of paintings that were much more unique to it.
What is your thoughts on “painting on-site?” Does it really allow for the artist to interact with the landscape at a deeper level, or is it the same as painting from a picture?
2 comments:
I also attended this gallery on the opening night and was very impressed with what I saw. The Tinman has a very welcoming and friendly atmosphere, and I personally really enjoyed the artwork. As to your question pertaining to "painting on site" I believe that the artist is able to interact at a much deeper level. Unlike painting from a picture, one has the ability to incorporate time into the painting. By this I mean the artist can capture the weather or lighting or whatever else throughout the day and put all of these elements into the painting. Although all the work was quite similar it was fun to pick out the tiny details in each that made them all so great.
I agree with Ryan, it gives the artist the opportunity to inteact with the surrounding. But also, the culture. the people, the electricity of the town. That can completely change the perception of a piece. I did enjoy the pieces, reminiscent of Van Goh and impressionist painters, I found it very enjoyable. No, I was not pushed to think of some crazy concept, or reflect on my inner most self. It was like a really good steak dinner.
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