"Capturing the Ordinary"

 

Ordinary and mundane objects and activities have been the subject matter of frescos, mosaics and paintings dating back to the beginning of civilization. A handprint, a flower, a piece of fruit or a rusted bolt can become a spectacular work of art when treated with curiosity and close attention to detail. Any common item can become a masterpiece when viewed close up and turned into an artistic composition... envision the bison from the Lascaux Caves, the luminous still life oil paintings of the Renaissance and even the norm-challenging works of Andy Warhol.

 

Still life continues to be a popular subject matter for painters. Kathleen Gordon-Burke is a local artist who has made a lifetime practice of learning the method used by the old masters. "I just love flowers and gardening," she says... "so I end up paining them. Still life is what I do." Kathleen goes on to explain the technique that she spent years learning from the late art teacher Adele Pruitt. "The method is called grisailles... pronounced like 'Versailles,'" Kathleen smiles. "It means you paint the entire piece in shades of brown so it almost looks like a sepia photograph. Then you put very thin layers of color over and over it until you get the depth of color you want. Sometimes it's necessary to use thirty layers. I only work in oil paint because you can't get the luminosity or transparency with acrylic, and it wouldn't be authentic with anything but oil." 

 

Kathleen's painting entitled 'More Poppies' is a glowing example of her skill and meticulous attention to detail. The luminous study looks as if it could have hung on a wall in 15th century Holland or Flanders. The only thing that gives it away as a modern piece is the lack of cracks in the surface and the understated black frame.

 

Jeanne Koelle dove into a completely different approach to capture the ordinary. Her watercolor called 'Time for Lunch' is certainly a mundane image... it's a hat hanging on the wall. "The hat itself isn't anything special." Jeanne admits, "but the light on it makes it more than special. It's a departure for me to just experiment with light and not fill in all the detail, since I'm usually so focused on every small brushstroke. I moved way out of my comfort zone because of the color of the light. I'm very happy with it."

 

Another artist hoping to do some experimental work for this show is Katie Gibbs, who is known for the trees that she cuts from metal. Katie has an idea to make a sculpture using metal teapots and possibly other ordinary kitchen implements. "My first challenge," she laughs, "is to find some metal teapots. If I can do that in less than a week I have some great ideas, so we'll see. It's energizing for me to get an idea that takes me away from what I usually do."

 

One more extraordinary contribution to the show will be a group of paintings submitted by students in the art club the Instilling Goodness Developing Virtue Boy's School. Student and artist William Shi established the club in 2023, and it currently has six members. "Unlike traditional clubs with scheduled meetings," William explains, "we gather for meetings and workshops whenever there are activities, such as this gallery show. Our club offers a variety of experiences, including participation in competitions and showcasing our work in art shows across the community. We do not have a mentor, but we occasionally invite experienced artists to assist with projects."

 

The First Friday opening celebration for "Out of the Ordinary" is on March 7 from 5-8pm. Live guitar and vocal music will be provided throughout the evening by Steve Winkle. Art Center Ukiah is located in the rear of the Corner Gallery at 201 S State Street in Ukiah.