Tullman Collection Artist Marc Dennis - New Show at Carl Hammer Gallery - Review by Alan Artner

chicagotribune.com

REVIEWS ART

In the hands of Marc Dennis, dead wasps sting
Alan Artner, Tribune art critic

October 26, 2007

Marc Dennis is a representational artist who has painted portraits, animals, birds and foodstuffs with crisp and glossy precision. However, for his exhibition at the Carl Hammer Gallery, his subject is bugs, which satisfies his part-time role as a naturalist and full-time love for "freakish beauty."

Most compelling of his generally small pictures are those of dead wasps, greatly magnified and lying on a pristine, white surface. These pieces look to have been done with the aid of a camera, as usually one wasp will be in sharp focus and others receding will gently blur. But that, I have been told, is his own device. Dennis is not a photorealist, though he may arouse attention by sometimes borrowing from one.

His painting is highly controlled, but not cold in the photorealist manner. In fact, he is probably closer to the bejeweled manner of a medieval painter of miniatures than anyone contemporary. He makes no great show on his surfaces; his method of setting down paint is not exciting in itself. But unpredictability of composition and luxuriousness of color plus fantastic detail seduce the eye with richness.

More ordered pieces, which duplicate row upon row of bug as in a formal collection, occasionally have greater variety of form (when the bugs are different) but not as much mystery. There the letters and numerals used in coding the collection relieve strict placement, adding to the sense that we have merely glimpsed into an unknown world.

At 740 N. Wells St. 312-266-8512.