Sam Francis
dal 15/2/2008 al 29/4/2008
Segnalato da
15/2/2008
Sam Francis
Jack Rutberg Fine Arts, Los Angeles
The exhibition focuses upon a hugely important and yet lesser known aspect of Francis' rarely seen graphic works in black and white. His artistic vision was fueled by his study of Jung's theories on dreams and memory, his love of literature and poetry, his fascination with Eastern religion and philosophy.
An exhibition of works by Sam Francis (1923 - 1994), will be presented by Jack Rutberg Fine Arts in an exhibition entitled, "Sam Francis: Black + White." The exhibition opens with a reception on Saturday, February 16th from 7 to 9 PM, and continues through Saturday, March 29th at the Rutberg Gallery located at 357 N. La Brea Avenue in Los Angeles. Provocatively titled "Sam Francis: Black + White," the exhibition will focus upon a hugely important and yet lesser known aspect of Francis' rarely seen graphic works in black and white.
Los Angeles' most internationally known artist, Sam Francis created iconic abstract works employing splatters, stains and grids. Francis' artistic vision was fueled by his study of Jung's theories on dreams and memory, his love of literature and poetry, his fascination with Eastern religion and philosophy, and the surrealist and Dada-ist experiments with controlled accidents.
While best known for his often brightly colored works, the exhibition investigates what might be regarded as the purest aspect of Francis' vison, through his investigation of the energy created by the tension of opposites; the yin and yang of black ink spattered and painted across the negative, open spaces and fields of white paper. These investigations are evident in this exhibition of rare original graphic works in etchings and lithography.
A prolific printmaker, Francis made major contributions to the American print renaissance of the 1960s. His commitment to printmaking was formidable as he established his own printing studio in Santa Monica, allowing him immediate access to a process that had a profound influence on his artistic evolution in painting and drawing. Printmaking, with its distinctive properties became part of his over-all visual thinking.
This exhibition, "Sam Francis: Black + White" offers a rare opportunity to see a vital aspect of the artist's work; even to Francis' brightly colored works. Indeed, Francis' typical color prints were first proofed in black and white, allowing the artist to distill his compositions in a manner whereby he could easily judge the visual impact of his designs. On some occasions, plates for color prints were also used to create a very limited black and white edition. In this exhibition, however, the majority of works included represent Sam Francis's pure investigations of form through works exclusively conceived and executed in black and white, offering a rare view of one of the major post war American artists.
Opening reception: Saturday, February 16, 6:00 – 9:00pm
Jack Rutberg Fine Arts
357 N. La Brea Avenue - Los Angeles
Hours: Tuesday – Friday, 10am-6pm; Saturday, 10am-5pm
Free admission