The Masters

Gallery Exhibition/Event
Posted on February 8, 2011

An exhibition of imaginative artworks inspired by old and modern masters.

March 3 through April 20, 2011
Opening Reception: Thursday, March 3, 2011, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

San Francisco, February 8, 2011 The Masters is an exhibition driven by the inspiration Creativity Explored artists have amassed from viewing the works of old and new masters “and the pieces in the show are as delightfully diverse as their makers. While all of the artists included in the exhibition have been motivated from visiting local art museums and looking through books in the CE studio libraries, inspiration has struck each of them very differently; some artists are moved by ancient cave drawings and biblical illustrations, others are energized by Klimt's gold leaf portraits and Botticelli’s fanciful garden scenes. Some renditions of famous works are quite recognizable “ though in each case the artist has kept true to their own style of working “ and in other instances, works by CE artists are a playful deviation from the master's original”¦ the new Mona Lisa may take you by surprise.

There isn't an artist in the world who hasn't been influenced by a master from the art canon. Looking at and recreating the artwork of others is not only how artists gain inspiration, but also how they enhance their visual repertoire and sharpen their technical skills. Appropriation, now considered a genre unto itself, remains a significant component of art education programs and an integral part of many artists’ practice.

The Masters is an exhibition that celebrates this long tradition of learning from art greats and also one that encourages participation in the ongoing debate about authorship and copyright in the visual art world. Ann Kappes, Creativity Explored Marketing & Business Development Director and curator of this exhibition says, “Creativity Explored artists have not been immune to the complicated issues of “˜authorship’ as some of their works have recently been licensed for mass production and others have been under scrutiny for referencing the names of brands or celebrities.”

One artist who consistently derives inspiration from outside sources is Daniel Green. Typically working with ink on wood, Green draws figures from television, politics, sports, or history, and then surrounds them with lists of dates, TV shows, songs, etc. One of Green’s pieces in The Masters presents a provocative juxtaposition of modern and old-fashioned life: he has reconceptualized Grant Wood’s American Gothic (1930) on the left side of a wood panel and penned an expansive list of television shows along the top and right margins. Textual items like “œThe Peoples Court”  contrast sharply with the farmer and daughter’s staid facial expressions, opening the piece up to myriad interpretations.

Going back even further in time, veteran artist Walter Kresnik created his own Girl with the Pearl Earring (c. 1665) after Johannes Vermeer’s revered painting. Kresnik lent the bejeweled young lady an expression refreshingly more lighthearted than the original, and used a loose, expressive hand “ characteristic of his many portraits “ to draw her with colored pencil and watercolor on paper. He often absorbs insight from looking at the photographs of famous artists and artworks and has several recent pieces featured in this exhibition.

Jason Monzon is another artist widely represented in this particular show, as his excellent draftsmanship skills and love for working meticulously led him to recreate a number of Vincent van Gogh’s nineteenth century wheat field landscapes. Stunning in their detail and complexity, these vividly colorful works are every bit as engaging as the originals. Like Van Gogh, Monzon is a self-taught artist “ one who works effortlessly with a variety of media and subject matter.

Gleaning inspiration from a modern master is Camille Holvoet, an artist who has been working at the Creativity Explored studios since 2001. Holvoet’s preferred medium is oil pastel, and she is best known for her drawings of luscious cakes, pies, and pastries. An obvious parallel can be made between her work and the work of Wayne Thiebaud, and her tribute to Thiebaud’s Lemon Cake (1964) will be included in The Masters exhibition. While Holvoet’s yellow frosted cake bears a distinct likeness to the original, she has smartly replaced the single blueberry adornment with a purple heart and rendered the piece with an intensity that is all her own.

Says Kappes, “I want this exhibition to demonstrate that CE artists, just like other practicing artists, like to have fun with art history while also showing off their skills and creativity.”  Artist Andrew Bixler perfectly illustrates her point. His work in The Masters is a spirited ink and watercolor portrayal of Gabrielle d’Estres et une de ses sours (c. 1594) “ the anonymous yet recognizable painting of a woman pinching her sister’s breast in the bathtub. Bixler fully animated the original characters, adding fluidity to stiff gestures and whimsy to stoic facial expressions. It’s just what the painting needed “ a touch of modern humor.

Calendar Listing

The Masters

GROUP EXHIBITION AND OPENING: An exhibition of imaginative artworks inspired by old and modern masters.

What

This group exhibition presents an assortment of imaginative compositions inspired by old and new master artists. The artworks are as wonderfully diverse as the contemporary artists who made them.

When

* Opening Reception: Thursday, March 3, 2011, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
* Exhibition Dates and Times: March 3 through April 20, 2011; Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, Thursday from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm, and Saturday from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm&

Where

Creativity Explored Gallery, 3245 16th Street at Guerrero Street, San Francisco CA 94103

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