And Another Thing: Paintings by Chris Gwaltney

And Another Thing. . .

New Paintings by Chris Gwaltney

And Another Thing. . . new paintings by Chris Gwaltney

What am I now that I was then?

May memory restore again and again The smallest color of the smallest day: Time is the school in which we learn, Time is the fire in which we burn.

- Delmore Schwartz - from Calmly We Walk through This April’s Day

And Another Thing... New Paintings by Chris Gwaltney Exhibition: June 1 - July 1, 2018 Reception for the Artist, Saturday, June 9, 5:30 - 7:30 Front Cover: Chris Gwaltney, First Step, 2018, oil on linen, Back Cover: Chris Gwaltney, Tranquilo, 2018, oil on linen Photo Credit: Matt Gush All rights reserved.

Direct all inquiries to: Seager Gray Gallery 108 Throckmorton Ave. Mill Valley, CA 94941

And Another Thing. . . new paintings by Chris Gwaltney

C h r i s G w a l t n e y ’s w o r k c o m b i n e s f i g u r a t i o n a n d a b s t r a c t i o n , hallmarks of the Bay Area Figurative school. The paintings echo artists like Richard Diebenkor n, Elmer Bischoff and Nathan Oliveira. This new series of paintings distills what has always been so compelling in his work - namely that internal s o l i t u d e a n d r e f l e c t i o n u p o n o n e ’s l i f e w h i l e l i v i n g i t – t h a t feeling we have when we are walking on a beach alone.

That feeling is exemplified in “First Step,” a solitary figure surrounded by a luminous field of blue, his feet plodding forward on an area of pure unpainted linen, the color of s a n d . H i s u p p e r b o d y a n d h e a d a r e d a r k a s i n s h a d o w. T h e atmosphere is both charged and understated, reminiscent of a quote by Diebenkor n: “I came to mistrust my desire to e x p l o d e t h e p i c t u r e a n d s u p e r c h a r g e i t i n s o m e w a y. . . w h a t i s more important is a feeling of strength in reserve – tension beneath calm.”

The figures in the series are both male and female, some like dancers alone in their diaphanous tutus. In each the feet are always visible, even when the heads might go beyond the limits of the canvas or graze the top. In some works they might be pigeon-toed or in motion, but always somewhat more like a drawing than a solid thing – in transit through time.

In the painting, “Chapter 3, Page 65,” the artist is making a direct reference to his own life – chapter 3 being the one that follows chapter 1 (early life) and chapter 2 (the family when the kids are still at home). At 65, Gwaltney says, “There is so m u c h m o r e i n t h e r e a r- v i e w m i r r o r. ” T h e p a i n t i n g , i n t e r e s t i n g l y, is not one of a man, the artist himself, but of a woman against a glorious background of rose and coral - sunset colors. Asked if it was a specific woman, Gwaltney explained that while it could be Jill (his wife), it could be anyone. The paintings a r e n o t a b o u t m e n o r w o m e n o r d a n c e r s o r g e n d e r. T h e y a r e more universal about the passage through time and the need to check in from time to time in quiet reflection about life as it unfolds.

Often Gwaltney will put a word or line from a poem in the work a n d e i t h e r l e a v e o r p a i n t i t o u t . “ P o e t r y, t o m e , i s d i s t i l l e d , unadulterated word structure. Everything that is required is in the poem and everything else is left out. Any word that d o e s n ’ t d i r e c t l y c o n t r i b u t e i s e x c i s e d . I r e a d Wa l t W h i t m a n , W. S . M e r w i n a n d B i l l y C o l l i n s f o r t h e i r c o n t e m p o r a r y c l a r i t y o n subjects in which I get all muddied up. In the end, the painting i s n ’ t c o m p l e t e d u n t i l i t ’s b e e n s e e n , u n t i l i t ’s b e e n l o o k e d a t w i t h s o m e o n e ’s e y e b a l l s . ” Painting and reflection for Gwaltney are the same thing, his w o r k a k i n d o f w o r d l e s s v i s u a l p o e t r y, u s i n g c o l o r, g e s t u r e a n d unerring instinct to strike a universal chord – our silent and very personal observations about what it is to be human.

- D o n n a S e a g e r, M a y 2 0 1 8

Chris Gwaltney Anchor, 2018 oil on linen 36 x 36 in

Chris Gwaltney Chapter 3, Page 65, 2018 oil on linen 55 x 44 in

Chris Gwaltney Reves de Vivre, 2018 oil on linen 65 x 57

Chris Gwaltney Extravagant, 2018 oil on linen 55 x 44 in

Chris Gwaltney First Step, 2018 oil on linen 50 x 44 in

Chris Gwaltney Intention, 2018 oil on linen 40 x 30 in

Chris Gwaltney Mirror, 2018 oil on linen 25 x 23 in

Chris Gwaltney Opaque, 2018 oil on linen 25 x 23 in

Chris Gwaltney Poet (motionless), 2018 oil on linen 25 x 23 in

Chris Gwaltney Resolve, 2018 oil on linen 55 x 44 in

Chris Gwaltney Opaque, 2018 oil on linen 25 x 23 in

Chris Gwaltney Tranquilo, 2018 oil on linen 65 x 57

CHRIS GWALTNEY Education California Community Colleges, Instructor Credential, 1987 California State University, Fullerton, M.F.A., 1986 California State University, Fullerton, B.A., 1984 Selected Solo Exhibitions 2018 And Another Thing, Seager Gray Gallery, Mill Valley 2017 Julie Nester Gallery, Park City, UT 2016 Gwaltney, Seager Gray Gallery, Mill Valley, CA 2015 Cadogan Contemporary, London, England 2015 Julie Nester Gallery, Park City, UT 2014 Seager Gray Gallery, Mill Valley, CA 2014 Tria Gallery, Chelsea, NY 2014 Brett Rubbico Gallery, Newport Beach, CA 2013 Sue Greenwood Fine Art, Laguna Beach, CA 2013 Tria Gallery, Chelsea, NY 2013 Seager Gray Gallery, Mill Valley, CA 2012 Sue Greenwood Fine Art, Laguna Beach, CA 2012 Seager Gray Gallery, Mill Valley, CA 2011 Tria Gallery, Chelsea, NY 2011 Julie Nester Gallery, Park City, UT 2010 Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA 2010 Shadow and Absence 2009 Julie Nester Gallery, Park City, UT 2009 Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA 2008 Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA 2007 Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA 2007 Robert Green Gallery, Mill Valley, CA 2006 Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA 2006 Robert Green Gallery, Mill Valley, CA 2005 Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA 2005 Robert Green Gallery, Mill Valley, CA 2004 Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA 2004 Robert Green Gallery, Mill Valley, CA 2003 Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA 2003 Robert Green Gallery, Mill Valley, CA 2002 Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA 2002 Robert Green Gallery, Mill Valley, CA 2001 Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA

2001 2000 2000 1999 1999 1998 1998 1997 1997 1996 1996 1996 1995 1995 1995 1994 1993 1993 1992 1991 1991 1990 1989 1989 1988 1988 1988 1988 1987 1986 1986

Robert Green Gallery, Mill Valley, CA Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA Robert Green Gallery, Mill Valley, CA Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA Robert Green Gallery, Mill Valley, CA Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA Robert Green Gallery, Mill Valley, CA Robert Green Gallery, Mill Valley, CA Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA Robert Green Gallery, Mill Valley, CA Renaissance Cafe, Laguna Beach, California More New Work, Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach Contemporary Figure, Robert Green Gallery Collaboration, Artist-in-Residence, UC, Irvine New Work, Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach Recent Paintings, Five Feet Restaurant, Laguna Beach New Paintings, Renaissance Cafe, Laguna Beach, Essential Visions, Bistango Gallery, Irvine, California Source Material, New Work, Diane Nelson Gallery,

Laguna Beach, California Recent Paintings, Renaissance Cafe, Laguna Beach Twelve Recent Paintings, Diane Nelson Gallery, Laguna Beach, California Recent Paintings, Diane Nelson Gallery, Laguna Beach Figure Eight, Diane Nelson Gallery, Laguna Beach S.I.T.E. Gallery, Los Angeles, California Diane Nelson Gallery, Laguna Beach, California More Questions, Fewer Answers, Orange County Center for Contemporary Art Gallery of Art, Rancho Santa Fe, California Irvine Valley College, Irvine, California Diane Sassone Gallery, Laguna Beach, California California State University, Fullerton West Gallery

Selected Group Exhibitions 2014

Tria Gallery, Chelsea, NY

2013 2013 2012 2012 2009 2007 2005 2003 1998 1997 1996 1995 1995

1994 1994 1994 1994 1993

1993 1992 1991 1991 1990 1988 1989 1989 1989 1989 1989

Sue Greenwood Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA Five, Julie Nester Gallery, Park City, UT Museum of Art and History, Lancaster, CA Figures in Abstract, Seager/Gray Gallery, Mill Valley, CA Figurative, Peter Blake/ LA Louvre, Laguna Beach, CA Figurative, Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA Peter Blake Group Show, Peter Blake Gallery, CA Summer Show, Robert Green Gallery, Mill Valley, CA Painters, Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA Gallery Artists, Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA Expressive Figure, Three Painters, Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA Recent Figure Paintings, Peter Blake Gallery, Laguna Beach, California California Figurative, Robert Green Gallery, Mill Valley, CA International Art, Los Angeles, CA California Painters, Concordia Univ., Irvine, California Best of Laguna, Art Institute of Southern California, Laguna Beach, CA Irvine Valley College Faculty, Irvine, California Currents, Time /Space Gallery Laguna Beach, California Faculty Exhibit, Irvine Valley College, Irvine, California Essential Visions, Bistango, Irvine, CA Faculty Exhibit, Irvine Valley College, Irvine, CA Diane Nelson Gallery, Gallery’ Artists Group Show Contemporary 4 ,Bistango , Irvine, CA Furniture as the Artist’s Subject, Century Gallery, Sylmar, CA Figure 8, Diane Nelson Gallery Artists that Teach Art Institute of Southern California-Long Beach City College Exchange, Long Beach, CA S.I.T.E. Gallery, Culver City. CA Faculty Exhibit, Art Institute of Southern California, Laguna Beach, CA

1988 1988 1987 1987 1987 1987 1986 1986 1984

Faculty Exhibit, Irvine Valley College, Irvine, CA Faculty Exhibit, California State University Long Beach, CA Amos Eno Gallery, Soho District, New York, NY Spectrum Gallery, San Diego, CA Diane Sassone Gallery, Gallery Artists, CA Faculty Show, Ettinger Gallery, Art Institute of Southern California, Orlando Gallery, Los Angeles, California MFA Exchange Show, Claremont College, CA All California ‘84, Laguna Beach Art Museum, CA

Selected Publications Colburn, Bolton (Former Director Laguna Art Museum, Independent Curator). Chris Gwaltney World. Exhibition review, 2015, Seager Gray Gallery, Marszalek, Norbert. Interview with Chris Gwaltney, (July 6, 2009) neotericART.com.

Carasso, Roberta, In Review, 2008 A Great Year for Art Lovers, Orange County Register.com (Oct 10, 2008).

Carasso, Roberta, Art Waves, Chris Gwaltney at New Peter Blake Gallery, (Oct 10, 2008) Orange County Register.com.

Walsh, Daniella, The Art Attack, Riviera Magazine (Oct 2008) pp 50-51.

Walsh, Daniella, The Radar Art, Riviera Magazine (Mar 2008) pp 84-85.

Step into Color, Riviera Magazine (Mar 2007) pp 180-181.

Thompson, Sandy, Chris Gwaltney at Robert Green Fine Arts, Artweek (Jul/Aug 2001 Volume 32 Issue 7/8) Cover + pg 20.

Thomas, Linda, A Circle of Orange, pp 150-151.

Carrasso,Roberta, Dazzling Colors Mark Gwaltney Exhibit at Blake Gallery, OC Register, Laguna News-Post, (Nov 4, 1999) p 24.

Walsh, Daniella, Chris Gwaltney-Recent Paintings, OC Register