Join us for Jingletown Saturday!
I Put a Spell on You, painting by Simone Simon
Abstractions : new work by five artists
Simone Simon, Peter Dreyfuss, Jennifer LaPierre,
Irene Imfeld and Andrea Wedell
Exhibit on view April 6 – May 18, 2019
Artists’ Opening Reception: Saturday, April 13, 4:00 – 6:30 pm
2nd Friday Jingletown Reception, May 10, 6 – 9 pm
Closing reception: Saturday, May 18, 4:00 – 6:30 pm
We are very pleased to present Abstractions, an exhibit of new work by five Bay Area artists which includes painting, photography and sculpture. This celebration of abstract art will also be part of Art Route Oakland highlighting the arts in Oakland in May.
Simone Simon, Peter Dreyfuss, Jennifer LaPierre,
Irene Imfeld and Andrea Wedell
Exhibit on view April 6 – May 18, 2019
Artists’ Opening Reception: Saturday, April 13, 4:00 – 6:30 pm
2nd Friday Jingletown Reception, May 10, 6 – 9 pm
Closing reception: Saturday, May 18, 4:00 – 6:30 pm
We are very pleased to present Abstractions, an exhibit of new work by five Bay Area artists which includes painting, photography and sculpture. This celebration of abstract art will also be part of Art Route Oakland highlighting the arts in Oakland in May.
Simone Simon
The paintings become arenas where light and gesture are gathered and stored. As the poured paint drives across the canvas, the currents imprint some places, and wash others away. Accidental opticals occur, revealing surprises. The ephemeral becomes an informant. Light delivers information, and the luminosity brings attention to other dimensional aspects, making the unseen, seen. Simon studied painting at the San Francisco Art Institute, where she worked under her mentor, Hassel Smith. She completed her BFA and MFA at SFAI.
The paintings become arenas where light and gesture are gathered and stored. As the poured paint drives across the canvas, the currents imprint some places, and wash others away. Accidental opticals occur, revealing surprises. The ephemeral becomes an informant. Light delivers information, and the luminosity brings attention to other dimensional aspects, making the unseen, seen. Simon studied painting at the San Francisco Art Institute, where she worked under her mentor, Hassel Smith. She completed her BFA and MFA at SFAI.
Peter Dreyfuss
Working primarily with steel, Dreyfuss creates sculpture inspired by echoes of Bauhaus, cubism, and abstract expressionism. He has been a steel sculptor for 18 years, primarily self-taught. His art, both in steel and paint, is abstract and non-representational. Beginning with a concept, he allows the materials and processes to lead him, with gestural and hand-drawn shapes emerging to produce a balance between intention and imagination.
Working primarily with steel, Dreyfuss creates sculpture inspired by echoes of Bauhaus, cubism, and abstract expressionism. He has been a steel sculptor for 18 years, primarily self-taught. His art, both in steel and paint, is abstract and non-representational. Beginning with a concept, he allows the materials and processes to lead him, with gestural and hand-drawn shapes emerging to produce a balance between intention and imagination.
Jennifer LaPierre
Her art is continually evolving and created without narrative but a response to the process, finding a grace in the fluid nature of these recent works. Deconstructing the traditional figure, transitional and contemporary form, she is enamored with the boundaries of cohesion and tension. Rooted in a graphic design background with a love of typography and calligraphy, expression of line influences her. Receiving an atmospheric and intrinsic reaction, these pieces are reflective of our land healing from our recent fires with regrowth and a new compassion and memory. This body of work celebrates resilience.
Her art is continually evolving and created without narrative but a response to the process, finding a grace in the fluid nature of these recent works. Deconstructing the traditional figure, transitional and contemporary form, she is enamored with the boundaries of cohesion and tension. Rooted in a graphic design background with a love of typography and calligraphy, expression of line influences her. Receiving an atmospheric and intrinsic reaction, these pieces are reflective of our land healing from our recent fires with regrowth and a new compassion and memory. This body of work celebrates resilience.
Irene Imfeld
By abstracting depictions of nature, Imfeld allows her images freedom of reference and interpretation without dwelling on what is shown and where it is. Composed in camera and later adjusted in Photoshop, her images retain much of their original natural form. Her process causes a reduction of recognition but not of complexity. By altering the tonal values and sometimes combining multiple exposures, the subject is shown in a way that is true but different from what we usually observe.
By abstracting depictions of nature, Imfeld allows her images freedom of reference and interpretation without dwelling on what is shown and where it is. Composed in camera and later adjusted in Photoshop, her images retain much of their original natural form. Her process causes a reduction of recognition but not of complexity. By altering the tonal values and sometimes combining multiple exposures, the subject is shown in a way that is true but different from what we usually observe.
Andrea Wedell
Wedell seeks out rich experience above all other life pursuits; the impulse to uncover internalized moments, and to revisit them, stimulates her impulse to paint. By juxtaposing layer after layer of a rich color and allowing it to shift as the light and mood changes enhances the theatricality of her work. She thin layers, opaque ones, scribbled pencil lines, bold strokes, soft ones, and value changes, often destroying the work, then starting over. she draws on a variety of painting techniques including brushed gestures, cold wax applied with brayers, and paint spread with her hands, building on a changing sense of harmony, evolving her visual vocabulary, all in search of a deeper meaning that will connect her to something larger.
Wedell seeks out rich experience above all other life pursuits; the impulse to uncover internalized moments, and to revisit them, stimulates her impulse to paint. By juxtaposing layer after layer of a rich color and allowing it to shift as the light and mood changes enhances the theatricality of her work. She thin layers, opaque ones, scribbled pencil lines, bold strokes, soft ones, and value changes, often destroying the work, then starting over. she draws on a variety of painting techniques including brushed gestures, cold wax applied with brayers, and paint spread with her hands, building on a changing sense of harmony, evolving her visual vocabulary, all in search of a deeper meaning that will connect her to something larger.
Thanks to the artists and art lovers who joined us on Slow Art Day!
Slow
Art Day happens once a year – this year April 6 – when people all over
the world visit local museums and galleries to look at art slowly.We had a great group of participants who joined us this year, looking at works of art for 10 minutes each and then had a casual discussion of their experience.
If you are interested, join us next year!
Click here to see photos of our event on Facebook.
Click here for more information about Slow Art Day.
Below are a few photos from last weekend.
ABOUT GRAY LOFT GALLERY
“I have always enjoyed this gallery, superb atmosphere and lighting. The polished and worn hardwood floors creek slightly in places as you climb to the third floor, providing a granular and unique, organic aesthetic. This is a do-not-miss venue in the East Bay.” – Facebook Review
GRAY LOFT GALLERY
is a proud member of the Oakland Art Murmur, Jingletown Arts and Business Association, Oakland Grown and the San Francisco Art Dealers Association
is a proud member of the Oakland Art Murmur, Jingletown Arts and Business Association, Oakland Grown and the San Francisco Art Dealers Association
Gray Loft Gallery
2889 Ford Street, third floor
Oakand, CA 94601DIRECTIONS Thank you to our supporters!
