Art Reflected - Artists Statements

artist statements The works on display by regional artists that reinterpret objects in the Gallery’s collection are available for purchase.

Please inquire at the Gallery Store.

Art Reflected is presented by the Gallery Council.

The centennial year is presented by Lynne Lovejoy, with additional support from ESL Charitable Foundation and Nocon & Associates, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.

artist statements Carol Acquilano Words to a Song $ 450 Inspired by Georges Braque’s Still Life with Pipe During the past 3 years Cubism has captured my imagination. My quest to understand its mystery has led me to discover Braque and many other revolutionary painters. Their way of looking at and reflecting the natural world gave way to a different kind of reality, one that magnified the inexactness and multiplicity of the visual experience. For me, this influences my way of working that embraces abstraction through intuition and imagination. The fundamental lesson is strength of composition and movement, the voices from 100 years ago reminding me that… it is always about the painting.

Kathryn Bevier Yellow Field $ 450 Inspired by Fairfield Porter’s Beginning of the Fields On my first visit to MAG after moving to Rochester in 1998, I distinctly remember entering the gallery and, as I turned the corner I saw, on a partition by itself, Fairfield Porter’s painting, The Beginning of the Fields. I felt an uncanny and unexpected sense of excitement. I felt like I had been on that road, as if I knew exactly to where it led. That is what I admire so much about Fairfield Porter’s art; he creates a sense of familiarity, a sense of place, a sense of knowing in an archetypical kind of way. The economy of description, giving just enough detail, allows me to add my own story line and be part of the world.

Kristine T. Bouyoucos Great Grandfather’s Organ Album $ 500 Inspired by the Baroque Organ My great grandfather in Norway was an organist. I have his leather-bound music book. It is well worn and, for me, carries a connection to the past.

artist statements Juan Carlos Caballero Perez Looking Through $ 1,800 Inspired by the Tiffany Window from the William Kimball House, Rochester As a jeweler and metal artist, Tiffany’s is best known to me as makers of one of the most famous lines of jewelry. I wanted to translate the beauty of Tiffany glass into metal work combining the two worlds.

Tarrant Clements Night Song $ 1,500 Inspired by Joseph Cornell’s The Admiral’s Game I became familiar with Joseph Cornell’s work early on. I was bewitched by his poetic assemblage of found images and objects. His work is so personal and approachable. The ideas of Cornell along with the Dadaists and Surrealists, opened new avenues of expression for my generation and those that have followed.

Loraine Cooley Tribute $ 1,600 Inspired by Winslow Homer’s The Artist’s Studio in an Afternoon Fog The Artist’s Studio in the Afternoon Fog speaks to me with its strong horizontal shapes, limited palette and subtle textures. My homage to Homer clearly reflects his view, yet stands alone as an abstract work comprised of the same elements of art.

Yvonne Cupolo Garden of Sunshine $ 1,800 Inspired by the Tiffany Window from the William Kimball House, Rochester Luminous color and sensual form are the reasons that I chose the Tiffany Window. The vibrant shapes translate perfectly into a cloisonné necklace with the golden glow of captured sunshine.

artist statements Anne Currier Reflection: Vantage Point #2 $ 3,000 Inspired by Jean-Leon Gerome’s Interior of a Mosque I chose Gerome because of the arches and deep perspective. I considered the location beneath the painting, that the sculpture has to sit so low beneath it, when making the piece.

Val M. Cushing Transformation $ 4,000 Inspired by Francesco Ubertini’s Conversion of Saint Paul I am moved by the concept of conversion, which I take as transformation: a change in form or nature or of character. It’s an exciting concept, which I will try to express in my work.

John Dodd Window $ 7,500 Inspired by Walter Goodman’s The Printseller’s Window I was immediately drawn into the space in The Printseller’s Window and intrigued by the twelve images portrayed on the cards in the foreground of the painting. I was curious to know who these individuals were, what they represented to the artist, and what they had in common. In the course of reading The Printseller’s Window by Peter Ogden Brown, I discovered that the individuals on the cards were some of the most accomplished painters, artists, book illustrators, sculptors, and engravers of Goodman’s time, his friends, colleagues, and mentors. This feast of visual information provided the inspiration for my piece: the transformation of a window of many to a window of one.

Shawn Dunwoody School of Cork Burners, Mamma an’ Chil’ wit’ Sain’s $ 1,900 Inspired by School of Nardo di Cione’s Altarpiece, Madonna and Child with Saints Religious iconography and media depictions of blacks in the United States tend to mirror one another.

artist statements Elizabeth King Durand At the Beach $ 400 Inspired by Maurice Prendergast’s The Ships Prendergast captures the feeling and spirit of a day at the beach: seaside activity, color, and atmosphere Carol Fugmann Italian Nobleman’s 21st Century Cuff $ 775 Inspired by Anthony van Dyck’s Portrait of an Italian Nobleman Lace was worn by the wealthy for special occasions. Lace is rarely worn now and is not held in as high importance although precious metal is still seen as valuable. I have transformed the value of lace to metal and plastic but have still used the look, feel, and intricacy of the lace.

Andrea Geer Red $ 700 Inspired by Ad Reinhardt’s Red The Ad Reinhardt painting was my choice because of the structure of the painting and the very intense yet subtle coloration. This is a painting that intrigues and interests me because of its uncompromising presence. This body of work represents an approach to knitwear that is direct and organic. Pieces are hand loomed on vintage punch card knitting machines and stitches are manipulated by hand to create fabrics that address and articulate my artistic goals.

As I learn more about my craft, my ideals evolve. At this time, I am most interested in how the fabrics move around the body and how architectural form can be created using yarn. In addition to the knitwear, I form the one-of-a-kind buttons and pin closures from polymer clay to enhance and support the overall design.

artist statements Nancy Gong War Bride $ 13,625 Inspired by Jaune Quick-to-See Smith’s Famous Names Jaune Quick-to-See Smith’s painting captured my attention with its simplicity from a distance, only to reveal layers and layers of culture and events in the Native American woman’s life. It immediately reminded me of my mother. As I reached into my family history, I discovered my mother (and father) had a significant role in the history of Chinese immigration to the US. Anne Havens Zephyr $ 100 Inspired by Thomas Ridgeway Gould’s The West Wind When invited by MAG to respond to one of the works in their collection for Art Reflected, I immediately thought of the sculpture West Wind by Thomas R. Gould. I have always loved the gorgeous flowing movement created out of stone and the powerful presence of the artist it implies, wrestling life out of dead matter. Later one of my favorite poems, Shelley’s Ode to the West Wind, came to mind, swirling this metaphor majestically around death-in-life and life-in-death, creativity, invisible power. Curtains billowing in my bedroom window became the catalyst for my simple video. We cannot see the wind, except in its effects. I like the intense light that appears and disappears behind the curtain...and the tantalizing questions called up about the ‘other side.’

Jennifer Hecker An Apron for Peeling Onions $ 1,000 Inspired by Lilly Martin Spencer’s Peeling Onions Always loved this painting. Wonderful combination of strength (raised arm holding knife) and vulnerability (tears in the eye). Since the woman depicted is working in a kitchen and not wearing an apron, I thought I’d make one for her.

artist statements Joe Hendrick Untitled $ 600 Inspired by George Inness’ Early Moonrise in Florida

Wayne Higby StoneCloud $ 8,000 Inspired by Ralston Crawford’s Whitestone Bridge StoneCloud was made in response to Ralston Crawford’s Whitestone Bridge. Crawford’s work was chosen for my personal interpretation of its essential theme and its dynamic, angular structure, which seems to correspond to my recent work with architectural geometries. The ruled articulation of the bridge is contrasted by the open infinity of the sky and lyricism of drifting cloud. I have used related color as well as structured my work along a strict grid and angular frame. This approach echoes fundamental aspects of the painting. The ceramic elements in my work correspond to the transforming release of the cloud. From material and structure to atmosphere and trans-formation, both works of art tap the threshold relationship between physical place and the unlimited beyond.

Richard Hirsch Homage to H.F. $ 3,000 Inspired by Helen Frankenthaler’s Seer My work has been influenced by Abstract Expressionism and color field painters.

G. Peter Jemison No Frack $ 1,000 Inspired by Thomas Hart Benton’s Boomtown When oil was king and places like Oklahoma and Texas boomed, no one considered environmental consequences. Today we must.

artist statements William Keyser Pretzel $ 4,500 Inspired by Tony Smith’s Playground My choice of Tony Smith’s Playground was prompted by my long term love of minimalism and the early work of this artist, and by the speculation/suspicion that the inspiration of the sculpture would likely push my form vocabulary in a new direction. I responded to what I call the ‘trajectory’ of Playground: where it started, where it ended, and how it got there. In the journey, I liked how it wrapped itself around the space underneath. I’m always interested in the space under a sculpture, how it meets the ground or pedestal; the stance of the work.

Anne Kress Tricorne Echoes $ 100 Inspired by Henri Matisse’s Girl with a Tricorne I have always loved Matisse’s work — its bold colors, increasingly abstract collage aesthetic, its joy!

I sought to capture that depth and richness of layers, each echoing and expanding the other.

Sue Higgins Leopard Girls Just Wanna Have Fun $ 4,000 Inspired by Chinese Female Court Musicians Court musicians? Tomb Figures? Modern day girl band? The role of women — providing comfort, entertainment, joy and song/ then and now — I fell for them.

Thomas Markusen Revisit Hoffman $ 1,200 Inspired by Hans Hofmann’s Ruby Gold While at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, I used a Hoffman painting as a reference in my first painting class.

artist statements Constance Mauro White Out $ 350 Inspired by Arthur Dove’s Cars in a Sleet Storm I have always been drawn to this piece. I appreciate the interpretation of the event—emotional rather than representational Larry Merrill Nature as Allegory $ 1,000 Inspired by Asher Brown Durand’s Genesee Oaks Hudson River Valley landscapes were intended as allegories of virtue and civilization.

Stephen Merritt Landscape Study $ 2,800 Inspired by Thomas Cole’s Genesee Scenery For me, Thomas Cole’s Genesee Scenery is a masterwork. Its elegant rendering of the natural world through line and texture are similarly qualities suited to clay. My ‘landscape’ is a modest attempt to abstractly capture the heart of Cole’s piece.

Mitch Messina Illumination $ 1,800 Inspired by Christian Boltanski’s Monument I was immediately inspired by the work, Monument, created by Christian Boltanski for its raw power and dialectic conversation between human memory and mankind’s place in a post-industrial existence.

artist statements Ron Netsky Catskill Scenery $ 250 Inspired by Thomas Cole’s Genesee Scenery It may be the smallest painting in the MAG collection, but Genesee Scenery beautifully captures the majesty of nature in what is now Letchworth State Park. I find the same sort of inspiration in water-falls like Fawn’s Leap near Thomas Cole’s home in Catskill, NY. Josh Owen Archetypical Tissue Box Cover with Stand $ 5,000 Inspired by Isamu Noguchi’s Calligraphics Calligraphics is inspired by typographic design. My tissue box cover presents an iconic, utilitarian visual language for an object where form communicates functionality. This occurs in much the same way that a modern typeface seeks transparency in the delivery of messaging.

Lanna Pejovic Night Music $ 850 Inspired by Edouard Vuillard’s Portrait of Aurelien-Marie Lugne-Poe The color drew me to this painting first. Then its quiet, introspective mood. After this, I appreciated the technique, especially the way the orange brown color of the support was left to show through between the surface colors.

Michael Rogers The Printseller’s Diary $ 6,000 Inspired by Walter Goodman’s The Printseller’s Window Walter Goodman’s painting is rich with objects and images, the ephemera of a full life and hints to the character of the elderly gentleman in the window. Painted in the trompe l´oeil style, the objects in the painting look three dimensional. I took it a step further with due respect to Walter Goodman.

artist statements Nicholas H. Ruth Can You Hear Me Now? $ 600 Inspired by Stuart Davis’s Landscape with Garage Lights I’ve always loved Stuart Davis’ ability to combine a vocabulary of forms taken from the world around him with an abstract painting language. I am inspired by his use of vibrant color, his compressed but precise ordering of space, and his elegantly balanced version of a world in motion. He seems to perfectly capture the spirit of his time in both what and how he painted.

My piece for this show pictures a colorful contemporary cityscape, crammed with buildings, satellite dishes and power lines. But tension underlies this arrangement. I am ambivalent about how the promise of the industrial revolution has evolved into an endorsement of technological innovation per se. Here we are, armed with ever more sophisticated ways to communicate, but are we any closer to each other?

Edythe Shedden Fragments of a Roman Torso $ 900 Inspired by Roman Torso of a Young Man Since figure drawing is something I enjoy doing, I have many drawings of nude young men which reminded me of the Roman Sculpture at the Memorial Art Gallery.

Sara Silvio A Glimpse of Openness $ 1,050 Inspired by Chinese Bodhisattva Guanyin on Mount Potala It’s my fascination with the relationship between adornment and how we present ourselves to the world.

I’m almost certain that’s why I do what I do. Stillness and beautiful materials inspire me.

artist statements Alan Singer Harbor Traffic $ 800 Inspired by Stuart Davis’s Landscape with Garage Lights I gave a lecture at MAG several years ago about this painting - and I am still learning from it. I especially like Davis’ use of a reverse perspective. I think about how our environment interweaves things we see and feel (like the wind). I am very conscious of how we adapt to the elements in our natural world and the forces that are exerted upon us.

Scott D. Sober Maxfield’s Blue $ 1,800 Inspired by Maxfield Parrish’s Interlude I have always loved Parrish’s imagery but the blue colors of this piece and the scale always move me.

Rich Tannen Container (Work Independently, Solve Your Own Problems) $ 2,500 Inspired by Winslow Homer’s The Artist’s Studio in an Afternoon Fog This is a powerful, beautiful and haunting composition. The ‘man and nature’ dynamic often seems clichéd, but not in this painting. I am engulfed by the elemental forces at work, and the artist’s studio as a rugged sanctuary of passion and independence. There is a purity and elegance reflected in the soft glow of the afternoon sun; a contemplative peace and a restless power that cannot be contained.

Nancy Valle Push/Pull $ 2,400 Inspired by Hans Hofmann’s Ruby Gold I am inspired by the rich colors, expressionist brush strokes and the dynamic energy of the composition of Hans Hofmann’s Ruby Gold. On close inspection, I imagine Hofmann energetically using brush and palette knife to texture and layer the canvas with rich mixtures of paint. Hofmann’s theory of push pull

artist statements in painting, creating the illusion of depth and movement, has prompted me to use a parallel process in working with clay. My terra cotta vessel, like the canvas, provides an opportunity to build and work the surface of clay with hands, tools, and brushes of colored ceramic glazes. I’ve named my work Push/Pull in honor of Hofmann’s teachings.

Jack Wolsky Soundings $ 1,800 Inspired by Pierre Bonnard’s The Linen Bonnard is one of my favorite artists. I have a natural affinity for his works — his color palette and his impressionistic style of painting — the total mood he creates. I felt I could capture the essence of his work without in any way compromising my own statement.