The best geometric abstraction goes beyond the formal arrangement of line, shape, and color to connect with larger themes and issues. In “GEOMETRIX: Line, Form, Subversion,” a big multi-venue exhibition in the DC area, curator Andrea Pollan has selected artists who use the visual language of geometric abstraction to explore a wide array of subjects from physics and the occult to politics, gay aesthetics, the environment, and more.
[Image at top: Thomas Mueller, Untitled (PH 160), 2011, graphite, acrylic and oil on paper
11.75 x 8.25 inches. Courtesy Patrick Heide Gallery, London]
Recently Pollan’s gallery, Curator’s Office, relocated from a single small space in DC’s gallery district to two larger locations: one in an industrial artist-studio building in Northeast Washington, and the other in a renovated space in Pollan’s Bethesda home. When Curator’s Office artist Andrea Way suggested an exhibition of work by Lori Ellison, a Brooklyn artist and friend who had recently died of cancer, Pollan liked the idea but could only get one piece from Ellison’s estate. She decided to build a larger group show around that one stunning piece. GEOMETRIX, which in the event required an additional site, is the impressive result.
16 x 18 inches. (Thanks, Andrea, for including a couple of my paintings in the show.)
In Pollan’s view, the DC art community has always loved abstraction,
having been home to painters Morris Louis, Kenneth Noland, Gene Davis,
Howard Mehring, Tom Downing, and Sam Gilliam–the group of artists who
became recognized as the fabled Washington Color School. With GEOMETRIX, she has organized a lively and admittedly eclectic survey, inviting many
familiar artists from the NYC art community and beyond to participate.
Pollan, who says the show is “mischievously educational,” hopes to introduce collectors in the DC art community to what she considers the most interesting geometric abstraction being made today.
“GEOMETRIX: Line, Form, Subversion,” curated by Andrea Pollan. Through April 16, 2016.
Artists include Seth Adelsberger, Lisa Beck, Joan Belmar, Sharon Butler, Travis Childers, Charles Cohan, Brian Dailey, Paul Doran, Tim Doud, Tom Downing, Lori Ellison, Alex Ebstein, Peter Fox, Ted Gahl, Tom Green, Kendell Geers, Logan Grider, Jason Gubbiotti, Robert Gutierrez,Raymond Salvatore Harmon, Eric Hibit, Jason Hughes, Warren Isensee, J.T. Kirkland, Paul Laffoley, Amy Lin, Sharon Louden, J.W. Mahoney, Linn Meyers, Maggie Michael, Thomas Mueller, Betsy Packard, Gary Petersen, Jefferson Pinder, W.C. Richardson, Eduardo Santiere, Jo Smail, Jered Sprecher, Don Voisine, Andrea Way, Andy Moon Wilson, Patrick Wilson, John Zinsser.
Three venues (check website for artists on view at each site):
Curator’s Office @ Home / 5706 Newington Rd / Bethesda, MD 20816 / USA
Curator’s Office @ Edgewood Studios / 703 Edgewood Street NE / Washington, DC 20017
Curator’s Office @ Gallery 2112 / 2112 R Street NW / Washington, DC 20009
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Peter Halley: Hyperreal
Abstraction in early 2012: Allen, de Oude, Hathaway, Peterson, Sable, Sann
Latin American abstraction, 1930s-1970s
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Interesting initiative and here size matters.a good concept.
Great idea! Would love to see this show up close & personal. WR
Props to Andrea Pollan for organizing this show. Great to see such an interesting group of abstract paintings on view in DC.
Very exciting to see the DC area boasting this kind of energy!