THE FIGURE GROUND RELATIONSHIP
Synergy Fine Art Gallery will open its next installment entitled “The figure - ground relationship” on June 2, 2006. The show will feature the work of Detroit figurative artist Taurus burns and Hamtramck landscape artist Frank English.
Frank English reveals a powerful relationship to Michigan’s natural landscape through his hand made and found objects. English reverently salvages the neglected natural world through painted and recycled materials. English attempts to focus attention back to the natural world in the face of industrial and urban expansion. The traditional landscape within the decidedly modern compositions reveal the relentless natural world that envelops the inner-city landscapes long after it’s perceive usefulness has been expensed. The quiet paintings celebrate a haunting, almost melancholic perception of Michigan’s wilderness enveloped by industrial Detroit.
The show also exhibits the work of Taurus Burns. The figurative work is a psychological investigation of internal perceptions, relationships, and the influence of culture on individual identity. The work quietly attempts to eliminate perceived social dogmas. It is through his art that he attempts to confront, sort out and even reconstruct past events and influences. The images reflect a romanticized vision with an emphasis on atmosphere, individuality and emotion. The work engages the viewer through the diverse and dynamic compositions that he creates.
Exhibition 4 entitled The Figure - Ground Relationship”, will open June 2, 2006 for an artist reception beginning at 6:00pm and will run through July 15th. Gallery hours are 11am-5pm Tuesday-Saturday. For any Questions contact Andrew Drisko at:
FRANK ENGLISH
Artist Statement
For the last seven years I have been dedicated to the first hand experience of working out in the landscape. The time working indoors at the studio I will often improvise and also draw from the memory of that original experience. The necessity I feel is to balance out the cognitive ideations of contemporary art making with intuitive heart thread content. What forms and evolves is unique, insightful and inspirational.
This process involves creating paper from ground pulps. Pouring plaster into saved and found forms. Covering lots of ground in the car and on foot. Painting on abrupt and extreme surfaces. All the while getting lost and then found.
Talking with people and hearing stories and experiencing cultures. Witness to occurrences 3000 fold in the human and natural worlds. All of this provides fertile ground for personal / spiritual expansion or deepening or opening. The process I have discovered has much freedom and yet holds me accountable too some extant. The ritual of gathering when sincere yields good fruit while helping to tune up my sensibilities.
Many of the places I am drawn to end up radically changing soon after.
The extremes can sometimes be very dramatic or subtle. As a poetic document the works offer perspectives of their own and hopefully contain some of the energy and inspiration and story of the place.
Each work has stories and its own accumulation of experience and energy.The work is born and from that day continues to evolve and collect.Returning to that place of origin at various times of the year, many of the works have evolved with the place / experience. They eventually find resting points or a safe place to thrive for awhile until we go back, it finds another home or is burnt. Often people tell me they feel they have been at the location of the paintings.
If the works do tap the shared experience of people, the way music or other mediums can, I am excited and know the right things are happening.
