AMANDA BESL
"Meghan"
"Outlet"
ARTIST'S INFORMATION
Placed precariously between desire and detachment, Amanda Besl's paintings are provocative portraits of coquettish young girls. These alluring narratives seemingly capture a private moment of sexual awareness and self-consciousness.
This voyeuristic glimpse into the burgeoning sexual currency of female adolescence allows the viewer a participatory perspective yet somehow leaves one feeling anxious. Based on images taken from teen fashion magazines or posed snap-shots of the artist's friends, this work embraces a youthful awareness of seduction inviting the viewer into an arena of longing and drama.
Ms. Besl approaches her tiny oil paintings like a teenage crush- they are immediately wanting yet somehow awkward. Standing in front of these obsessively painted jewel-like vignettes of flirtations, one cannot help but feel an immediate connection with the sensuality of the subject, but the psychological seduction is open ended and leaves much room for discussion about the perceived power of youth. These young vixens are powerfully aware of our gaze and some models make eye contact with us while others merely allow us a fleeting view into their private world.
Amanda Besl received her MFA from the Cranbrook Academy of Art in 2001. She currently lives and paints in New York.
CHERYL KELLEY
"Speed Racer"
Artist's Information
In Kelley's particular approach to creating art from this subject,there is an element of Pop Art influence that cannot be denied. Mel Ramos, Peter Phillips and James Rosenquist are several that are alluded to, but her intent and approach to the subject sets this work apart from the traditional Pop genre. As the Pop artist was concerned with bringing mundane objects into sharp focus, making us see these familiar objects and subjects extracted from everyday life as high art; she intends to utilize this icon of 20th century speed and power, and preserve that unique moment in time through painting the feeling of motion and energy that light reflected off the curves of the cars body surfaces produces. The use of oil on canvas allows her to bring out the sensuous contour of the auto body, rather than trying to duplicate it’s actual surface texture and appearance.
Instead of a photo realistic approach, which would have a colder, more detached feeling as in the work of Ralph Goings or Richard Estes, Kelley has kept the brush strokes in a somewhat more flowing manner to elicit a feeling of motion and speed. The powerful colors of the paintings triggers an emotional response similar to that of being behind the wheel of one of these awesome vehicles. Kelley states, "The scale of the work alludes to the memory of the sound of the big 8 cylinder engine. These paintings are about first loves... a lifelong love of painting coupled with the collective memory and admiration of the American Muscle Car."
JAMES RIECK
"The Shareholders"
Artist's Information
The primary sources for James Rieck’s imagery are retail advertisements or photographs that have a consumer agenda of selling (ideas, people or things). By extreme cropping and altering the scale of the images, the artist heightens the commercial posturing of the initial subject yet negates its benign commercial aspects by re-contextualizing the composition without the lexicon of the “sale.” This process necessitates a reevaluation both aesthetically and psychologically of how commercialism invades our personal space.
The artist states, “My interest in pop culture and the ‘culture of the sale’, is both personal and social. I sometimes question (as may most of us) whether I am choosing the things I consume or if they are choosing me. I am constantly feeling overwhelmed by the mass and size of the advertisements that attract my eyes. Scale is a very important aspect to my work. It can make even the most benign image seem menacing and overpowering, at the same time feel embracing and comforting. This tension interests me for the anxiety it creates.”Throughout time, painting can be seen as a reflection of culture. Today this is perhaps better seen in magazines, TV, movies, and the Internet. By painting the images from these sources, it slows down the processing of their intended use and allows room for another look.
Mr. Rieck received his MFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art, Mount Royal School of Art in 2003 and BFA from Maryland Institute College of Art in 1987.
JARED JOSLIN
"WHISPER"
L.LOCKWOOD
"EPILOGUE"
Janet Bloch
"Conjure"
"If at First"
TULLMAN COLLECTION TULLMAN COLLECTION TULLMAN COLLECTION
