Cante Jondo: New Paintings by Jim Vogel

Jim Vogel Cante Jondo, July 18 – 31, 2014

Cante Jondo Jim Vogel has built his artistic reputation on the fact that he is a modern storyteller, keeping alive the memories and traditions of the generations who have preceded us. In his newest show, “Cante Jondo” (deep song), Vogel engages a Flamenco theme, which itself is another ancient form of storytelling — singers dictate narratives, musicians add depth of meaning through beats and tempo, and the dancers enact the emotions through highly-gestural stances and facial expressions. Vogel is a clear aficionado for the art of Flamenco and his knowledge is revealed in the technical subtleties he portrays among his protagonists: men and women lift their feet “al golpe” (stamping the beat) and clasp their hands for “palmas fuertes y sordas” (strong and soft clap percussion); dancers wear “batas de cola” (dresses with trains) and position themselves with “estampas opuestas” (positions of asymmetry, where the arms move in one direction while the face looks in the opposite). The best Flamenco artists credit themselves with being possessed by spirit in the heat of the moment and Vogel similarly has manifested this same possession in his newest show of paintings — these compositions bear a distinctive visual aesthetic whose style is undoubtedly contagious and positively committed to memory.

La Resurrección, oil on canvas panel with hand-carved and gold leafed frame 47" h x 40" w (59" h x 50" w x 3.5" d with frame), $21,000

Cantador (Gypsy Singer), Oil on canvas panel with antique Mexican nicho frame, 22" h x 9" w (27.5" h x 10" w x 6" d with frame) $4,800

Nuestra Señora de la Gente, oil on canvas panel with antique Tramp Art box frame 17.5" h x 12.75" w (20.5" h x 14.5" w x 10.25" d with frame), $5,400

Sueños de la Primavera (Dreams of Spring), oil on canvas panel with hand-carved and copper leafed frame, 40" h x 31.5" w (47" h x 38" w x 3" d with frame), $18,500

Carmen, oil on canvas panel with hand carved and silver leafed frame 48" h x 42" w (54" h x 50" w x 3" d with frame), $23,000

!Ole!, oil on canvas panel with antique New Mexican trunk frame 22.75" h x 12" w (each panel) (24" h x 27" w x 7" d open in frame), $10,000

Café Cantante (Flamenco Bar), oil on canvas panel with antique Mexican nicho frame 20" h x 16" w (32" h x 20" w x 10" d with frame), $6,500

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