I found the "everyday" to be a pertinent part of the art discussion in the works presented at the 2013 Art Southampton Art Fair. Discovering fine art portrayals to the daily cooking of breakfast to the high ceremony of a formal wedding, were some of the works that caught my attention during an art tour presented by ArtWalk Hamptons. So were domestic scenes, local scenes and reminders that the simple can be beautiful. Works were made by artists across the world demonstrating a connectivity across cultures in the shared human experience of living.
There are many fascinating stories to be told through art. Continue scrolling to see my pick of themes on a variation. All photos are by Kathy Zeiger.
1. The Birthday Party Series by Vee Speers is part of a body of work that explores complex emotions during an occasion that is expected to be singularly happy.
.
"Untitled #30," The Birthday Party Series by Vee Speers, 2008. Cibachrome, 24 x 20 inches. Exhibited Jackson Fine Art (Atlanta).
.
2. Eran uses oil stick to create simple yet dynamic lines to evoke humor and homage to create Masters in a few strokes.
.
“Malevich Fried Egg” by Eran Shakine. Oil and Oil Stick, 47 x 59 inches. Exhibited Zemack Contemporary Art (Tel Aviv).
.
3. Jean-Pierre Cassigneul (b. 1935) has long been admired for the striking images of beautiful women, similar in style to French Nabis artists Pierre Bonnard and Edouard Vuillard.
.
"La Capeline Verte" by Jean-Pierre Cassigneul, 2008. Oil on canvas, 36.2 x 23.6 inches. Exhibited Leslie Smith Gallery (Amsterdam).
.
4. Pavel Acosta uses "stolen paint" - literally scraped from walls and other sources, according to Consultores de Arte S.A.. He meticulously places his scrapes of paint to form colorful and, sometimes, beautiful compositions like Shark 6.
.
"Shark 6" from the series Stolen Paint by Pavel Acosta, Cuba, 1975. Recycled Paint / canvas, 48 x 36 inches. Exhibited Consultores de Arte S.A. (Guatemala City, San Salvador and Miami).
.
5. In keeping with my art fair gallery walk theme of simplicity in nature and life, Elizabeth Glaessner's richly colored hues reminded me of the pastures on view daily during everyday life on the East End of Long Island.
.
“Donkey and Pony” by Elizabeth Glaessner (MFA 2013, Fellow 2014), 2013. Shellac-based ink on paper, 22 x 30 inches. Exhibited New York Academy of Art. Curated by Senior Critic and artist Eric Fischl.
.
6. A striking study in motion and emotion, Weishong is a rising star in contemporary Chinese sculpture, according to Art Lexing. In China, the deer is a symbol of happiness and good fortune.
.
“Guardian of Life” by Qin Weihong, 2013. Painted Bronze, 47 x 31 x 69 inches. Exhibited Art Lexing (Miami).
.
7. “Light Paintings” by Stephen Knapp uses a single light source created through the use of small pieces of dichroic glass. Dichroic Glass (Fused glass plates sandwiching a colored oxide) reflect and refract light, explained Setford Bridges gallery. Knapp bends white light through glass to evoke a natural prism of color light reflected to nearest surfaces--which becomes a new form of light sculpture.
.
“Light Painting” by Stephen Knapp, 2013. Dichroic Glass. Exhibited Setford Bridges (Glen Falls, NY).
.
8. American painter Fairfield Porter (1907 - 1975) was known for his own representational style portraying subjects that Porter knew well and the places he loved best. Featured here is Porter's barn - the bottom of his second story studio that overlooked a slice of Southampton Village (during the days when it still could be viewed).
.
“Untitled” Fairfiield Porter Barn by Fairfield Porter, 1973.Oil on canvas, mounted on board,19.75 x 23.75 inches. Exhibited Vered Art Gallery (East Hampton, NY).
.
9. Aurelia Wasser presents a carefully-crafted sculpture that's a sweeping tribute to the elegant grace of the classic beauty of a wedding dress or formal gown.
.
“Lightgestalt” Shape of Light by Aurelia Wasser, 2013. Moulded Paper Sculpture, 24 x 12 inches. Exhibited Birnam Wood Galleries (East Hampton and New York City).
.
10. Look closely and one can see the slightly thin crisp edges with a burned tip to each fold in Rakuko Naito's Untitled. The piece is a delicate display to the fragility of simplicity: the ubiquitous piece of paper.
.
“Untitled” by Rakuko Naito, 2013. Chinese paper. Bend Fold Patterns. Edges Burned. 21 x 7 x 21/2 inches. Exhibited AED Fine Art (Portland).
.
11. A Bonus Artwork.
Gallery Valentine presented a brilliant homage to Andy Warhol--the master of creating art from the everyday. The signed Brillo Boxes are showing signs of decay. As time moves forward and new artists create their artwork versions of the version of their version of the everyday - Andy Warhol will always be the first.
.
"Signed Brillo Boxes" by Andy Warhol.
Commercial silkscreen inks on industrially fabricated plywood box supports. Exhibited Gallery Valentine (East Hampton, NY).
.
BASIC FACTS: Art Southampton continues through July 29 at the Southampton Elks Club grounds, 605 County Road 39 Southampton, NY 11968. www.art-southampton.com.
Kathy Zeiger is a free-lance photographer and founder / director of ArtWalk Hamptons.
____________________________________________
Copyright 2013 Hamptons Art Hub LLC. All rights reserved.