Hy Varon - Cosmic Thumbprints
Thursday, January 5 - Saturday January 15, 2023
Opening Reception - Saturday, January 7, 1 - 4pm
Masks Requested
2023 opens at the Blue Door Art Center with a bang as the acclaimed artist Hy Varon exhibits a series of new works entitled Cosmic Thumbprints. We are honored to have Hy Varon in our gallery and share this illuminating experience with all of you. Please read more about the work in his artist statement below.
Artist Statement:
As a sculptor working primarily in wood, I learned early that no matter the artist’s intention, the carver must ultimately follow the wood. In January of 2020, after losing my sculpting studio to fire, I found myself with space that would accommodate only a drawing table, paints, brushes and boards. I was, until my studio was rebuilt, facing a blank canvas.
This emptiness sparked a question – like a sculptor with wood, can a painter follow the paint? Using fluid and high flow acrylic paint, I introduced onto a wet board a variety of color. Then I watched. Based on where the paint flowed, I used a brush and gravity to elicit patterns, sometimes adding colors or refining shapes. Each painting, then, became a collaboration between paint and painter, calling on my imagination and a way of following, demanding a strong attention from me. Each painting emerged as a surprise of color and images, a product that seemed to come from beyond my thinking mind.
Around the 4 sides of each painting, I taped a 2” strip of masking tape to create a frame. When I removed the tape the first time, I saw that the acrylic paint had flowed beneath the tape, creating unique patterns on the borders. Another surprise! I decided to elaborate on these patterns, creating a border specific to each painting. This element of a painted border unifies all the paintings into a family – each unique yet all connected.
I began to trust this way of working, a trust that brought with it a warm feeling of discovery. My hope is that these images will bring forth similar feelings of discovery, warmth and surprise to the viewer. - Hy Varon
