ABSTRACT WATERCOLORS BY MAJOR CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS ON VIEW AT WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY'S BEN SHAHN GALLERIES

The unusual pairing of abstract painting and the medium of watercolor is the focus of an exhibit of works by 22 contemporary artists on view in the Ben Shahn Galleries at William Paterson University in Wayne from September 16 through October 11. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free.

The exhibit in Ben Shahn's South Gallery, titled "Watercolor: In the Abstract," explores the wide range of artistic approaches to watercolor and to abstraction, in terms of imagery (geometric versus organic forms), style (systematic versus spontaneous), and color (monochromatic versus brightly hued).

"Watercolor is traditionally thought of as a medium for landscape and still life, rather than abstraction," says Nancy Einreinhofer, director of the Ben Shahn Galleries. "Yet its fluidity and transparency can be used to express the immediate, the fresh and the instantaneous, which are ideas often connected to abstract art."

Among the artists included in the exhibit is Gerhard Richter. In "Spinne," a watercolor on paper, Richter continues his exploration of style and media which pits abstraction against representation, photography against painting, graphic against pictorial art, analyzing and at times intentionally contradicting what is traditionally considered the essence of each respective medium.

Al Held, who conceives and executes much of his watercolor work in Italy, where he lives for half the year, uses very thin coats of watercolor like the tempera glazes of the Renaissance to trap light between the layers of pigment. His use of several different types of perspective systems on the same surface creates an original, three-dimensional abstract space that the viewer feels he or she may physically enter.

Other artists also draw on their international experiences in their watercolor work. Melissa Meyer exhibits works from her Pendleton Series, which she began on a trip to Switzerland, where she was able to work late into the evening while the light lingered. In her luminous and brightly colored works, Meyer explores and expresses her fascination with light. Sean Scully began making watercolors while traveling to Mexico, Morocco and Italy.

Originally a color-field painter, Sam Gilliam uses complex, spatial fields that often combine geometry with the graphic output from computer imagery to create cosmic imagery. Louise Fishman recalls landscape metaphors using a dark and stormy palette for her images, which either fill the field or float in space.
Other artists included in the exhibit are Kim Anno, Richmond Burton, Gunther Forg, Ian Hughes, Suzanne Joelson, Betsy Kaufman, Martin Kline, Eva Lundsager, Ed Moses, Laurie Reid, Peter Schyuff, Sara Sosnowy, Richard Tuttle, Juan Usle, and Jerry Zeniuk.

"Watercolor: In the Abstract" is one of three shows on view concurrently in the Ben Shahn Galleries. On view in the East Gallery is a one-person show of paintings by New Jersey artist John Carey. In the Court Gallery, members of the William Paterson Art Department faculty exhibit work in a range of media, including painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, sculpture, graphic design, computer animation, woods, furniture and textile design. All exhibits are free and open to the public and are wheelchair accessible.

This exhibit is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

For additional information, please call the Ben Shahn Galleries at William Paterson University at 973-720-2654.

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9/9/02
For Further Information, contact:

Mary Beth Zeman, Director, Public Relations 973-720-2966