Up Next
Jesse Myers and Bruce Clark
March 29 – April 15, 2012
Opening Reception: Friday, March 30, 6 – 9 p.m.
First Friday Artwalk: April 6, 6 – 9 p.m.
Jesse Myers
Stacked Deck – A Unique Photographic Series
Newcomer to the Denver art scene, Jesse Myers, presents his first Denver exhibition, “Stacked Deck”, a photographic interpretation of playing cards. In this series of 52 images, Myers investigates the subtle and overt symbolism embedded in a standard deck of cards.
“I am constantly inspired by the rich art scene on Santa Fe to push myself to create interesting and intriguing portraits. “Stacked Deck” represents a cohesive relationship between my vision and the models’ and stylists’ creativity to produce beautiful images that are, in turn, representational and interpretive.”
Jesse Myers is a professional photographer and art educator. Myers has shown professionally and taught in Santa Fe, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Denver. He recently won Best in Show in the juried exhibition “Is This How I Look?” and is the 2011 Art District Best in Show and People’s Choice winner. Myers holds a BFA from Brooks Institute of Photography and an MA in Education from University of the Arts. He is a member of CORE New Art Space and a faculty member at Colorado Academy in Denver.
Click here to visit Jesse’s online gallery
Bruce Clark
Twenty Faces – Portraits of Painters
“I am hardly a portrait painter. I am more of an artist that continues to evolve, resisting developing a style that encumbers and holds me in just a single place.”
I have always been a voracious reader, especially of artist’s biographies. Reading about famous artists, their lives and influences, gives me some clue as to why I create. I have wanted to do a series of paintings based on artists at work, of which I have accomplished several canvases. The Twenty Faces idea evolved from ideas in other recent work. The paintings are more about gaining fluidity and comfort with the painted line and how that line captures the essence of the subject rather than absolute realistic description.
How elegant is a simple curved line that widens as it enters the arc and thins as it completes its destination! How marvelous it is to see a line describe so much . . . a nose or an eye or the face’s expression. An erratic line signifies chaos and a smooth line represents contentment. The lines collectively that make Jackson Pollock’s face are telling. . . of a knowing personality yet full of contradiction and self doubt. The lines in Georgia O’Keefe’s face are wrinkled with life’s experience, the eyes twinkling with knowledge and assurance. The line mysteriously captures all of it.
The artists depicted in Twenty Faces are worthy of study because their faces were of particular interest. Full of expression. Faces full of their own contradiction, self assurance and self absorption in and for their work. Above all, what interests me the most, in the faces and the personalities, is the extreme dedication to their work. I can empathize with the conviction and the absorption, the conquest of self and materials, the absolute need to express oneself and to do something with a pencil, brush or carving knife.
