Rico Gatson Untitled (12 panels), 2014 Jason Middlebrook Gold

Rico Gatson
Untitled (12 panels), 2014
Jason Middlebrook
Gold Cherry Gift, 2014
Jenny Morgan
Oh My Love, What a Mirror
Reflection We Are, 2012
Ebony G. Patterson
Untitled I from the Black Roses
Series, 2013
Maja Ruznic
Stamp of Total Conquest, 2014
Chris Kienke
Life, Security and the Pursuit of Riches, 2014
Patrick Hammie
Nightwatch, 2013
Harvey Opgenorth
Museum Manifestation - Aggressive Apparitions, 2014
116 N Walnut St.
Champaign, IL 61820
figureone.org
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Tues – Thurs
Fri – Sat
Sun – Mon
11am – 7pm
1pm – 9pm
closed
Figure One is a laboratory that supports projects, exhibitions, and
events stemming from all areas of study at the undergraduate
and graduate levels in The University of Illinois School of Art +
Design. As an off-campus venue, Figure One is a public test bed
for new ideas to take shape in the space between the safety of the
classroom and the rigor of the professional world.
EXHIBITION ARTISTS:
RICO GATSON
PATRICK EARL HAMMIE
CHRIS KIENKE
JASON MIDDLEBROOK
JENNY MORGAN
HARVEY OPGENORTH
EBONY G. PATTERSON
MAJA RUZNIC
PAINTING IS DEAD?!
FEB. 6–MAR. 28, 2015
Are You Sure Painting Is Dead?!
of currently practicing artists as a lens, Painting Is Dead?!
seeks to challenge historical—and even contemporary—
understandings of painting as a medium and a practice.
This exhibition demonstrates the ongoing innovations
occurring in the field of painting, while also displaying
works that expand the conceptual ideals associated with
its processes. The works featured in Painting Is Dead?!
are figurative, abstract, sculptural and even multi-media
laden. Moreover, the com-positions on view at Figure One
also speak to the state of today’s social climate. Painting
Is Dead?! explores the place of painting in our society
as a vehicle that can illustrate the fusion of conceptual
originality, nature, technology and more. Other works in
this exhibition examine the identity politics of ethnicity,
race and black masculinity, while also reflecting on the
expansiveness of the tradition of painting by incorporating
new techniques and perspectives. Overall, the works
displayed in Painting Is Dead?! reveal that surely painting
is not dead; that it is in fact alive, well and maybe even
thriving.
by Rehema C. Barber
“Current social circumstances dictate new forms of art.”
—Nikolai Tarabukin 1
“My painting is based on the fact that only what can be
seen there is there. It really is an object.”—Frank Stella 2
For centuries, painting has been the standard by which
novices and experts alike have defined “fine art.” As a
result, the relevancy and vitality of the medium has been
of great interest to critics, curators and its practitioners.
The field of painting—like any other medium— has
experienced low and high points. With the birth of
Modernism, critics and painters alike began to question
paintings foothold as the “premier” art form.3 Moreover,
this time period saw the rapid decline of religion or
history as a dominant theme in painting.4 The emergence
of several important periods in painting: Expressionism,
Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism and Minimalism to
name some of the major movements, saw artists become
more inward in their approaches to what they depicted.
Expressionism, Dada and Surrealism began to look at
expressing the inner workings and psychological makeup of the individual. Whereas in Abstract Expressionism
and Minimalism the emphasis was on the illustration
of one’s gesture or lack thereof. During these periods,
critics and painters discussed the fate of painting; at
times claiming that painting had reached its peak—that
the end was near.5 Yet, somehow painting has never quite
fallen into the abyss.
Painting Is Dead?! is an exhibition that examines contemporary notions of painting. The premise and title of this
exhibition is both a critique and question. Using the works
1 “The Death of Painting.” Moma.org. January 1, 1998. Accessed October 27,
2014. http://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/1998/rodchenko/texts/
death_of_painting.html.
2 Coulter-Smith, Graham. “Quiddity.” Artintelligence. June 3, 2008. Accessed
January 15, 2015. http://artintelligence.net/review/?p=798.
3 Crimp, Douglas. “The End of Painting.” JSTOR. Spring 1981. Accessed June 23,
2014. http://www.jstor.org/stable/778375.
4 Coulter-Smith, Graham. “Abstraction, Genius and the Decline of Painting.”
Artintelligence. May 30, 2008. Accessed October 27, 2014. http://artintelligence.
net/review/?p=789.
5 Saltz, Jerry. “Unpainted Paintings AFTER THE DRIPS.” Artnet Magazine. April 6,
2011. Accessed October 27, 2014. http://www.artnet.com/magazineus/featues/
saltz/upainted-paintings-at-luxembourg-dayan4-6-11.asp. AND Neal, Patrick. “Does
Painting Still Matter?” Salon.com. April 28, 2013. Accessed January 15, 2015.
http://www.salon.com/2013/04/28does_painting_still_matter_partner/.
Many thanks to the dedicated students who staff Figure One, with special
thanks to Stephanie Birch, Eli Craven, Taekyeom Lee and Carolyn McCarrick.