Michael Berryhill, a painter who still values a good struggle in his work, has several fine small-scale paintings in ‘Monkey Wrench,” a group show at Horton, through July 22. Heavily worked and overpainted (in a good way), the paintings depict tabletop objects in the studio, some of which are identifiable, and others which aren’t. Although painters are going through a period in which contingency and ennui are hot, I predict that struggle and tenacity may be right around the corner.
“Monkey Wrench: Michael Berryhill, Stacy Fisher, Hilary Harnischfeger, Sally Ross, Kate Steciw, and Wallace Whitney,” Horton Gallery, New York, NY. Through July 22, 2011.
Related posts:
NYTimes Art in Review: Greebaum, Thuring, Berryhill (September 19, 2009)
“Unapologetically carnal and verging on the grotesque” (June 15, 2011)
Mary Addison Hackett on Stuggle (Process, July 4, 2011)
As a painter, I find that if something comes too easily, I'll scrape it off because it's like it didn't happen. If there's no struggle, it feels too much like an application of a "style" rather than a search for something.
Thanks for introducing me to this painter.
f.
Yes, thank you for the introduction of this painter. And, I completely agree with your statement, "Although painters are going through a period in which contingency and ennui are hot, I predict that struggle and tenacity may be right around the corner. "
This painter really do his assignment. Good work! It is very nice to see paintings that are termed "uneven".