Julie Shapiro Wendt Gallery Laguna Beach, CA

Wendt Gallery Laguna Beach is pleased to announce the opening of their new exhibition by contemporary abstract painter Julie Shapiro. This west coast exhibition is on view in Laguna Beach from September 10th thru October 10th, 2010.

Curated by Serina Manqueros, this collection of works will feature 8 new pieces completed by the artist over a 5 year period of time. Mrs. Manqueros brings 12 years of experience as a specialist in contemporary painting to this exhibition. She has co-collaborated this exhibition with the artist to present a collection which represents the continuation of a group of developing artistic ideas and the expansion and de-expansion of certain ideas paralleling the works as a group; and over a controlled span of time.

Shapiro sums up the collection with the following statement; “As primarily a painter driven by process as my primary motivation to make my work, I felt it necessary to present my works for the viewer to experience that process and visualize what must be done over a proper evaluation and comparison of works over a controlled time period. My work cannot be evaluated properly thru one individual work or a collection of pieces in a short time space, as that does not chronicle or depict the full value of scope of my painting. That can only be achived over the duration.”

Some of the works featured draw more of an immediate parallel while other works in the collection seem idiosyncratic; often becoming the brainchild for the artist’s incoming collection of ideas. The selected works represent a congruence of individual ideas.

One of the highlights of the exhibition, Quiver, an 80 X 60 oil on canvas, is a conveyance of the naturalistic experience through color and geometry, much in the spirit of the great minimalist Agnes Martin, along with her use of repetition and variation.

Another key work featured is Obstruct, a 24 X 36 oil on canvas, which continues to convey the naturalistic experience while focusing in structuring the work through paint and surface, lending itself to the idea of opening up possibilities of work within what may first give impression of hosting strict limitations.

Smaller works, including Untitled #317, and Untitled #318, will be featured additionally and are sizes 18 X 24 and 16 X 20. Unlike the larger works which are composed on canvas, Shapiro’s smaller pieces are worked on canvas board in order to give the artist a heightened sense of control over the surface as well as create a visual quality of the paint application over the canvas. In addition to using board to achive a controlled surface quality, the artist uses rags to draw, wipe and paint off as well as sandpaper and scrape to remove and control paint on the surface; in order to achieve the desired look of the finished piece.

The exhibition continues its survey of works by the artist with Orange Crossing; a variated piece characterized by geometrically inspired lines and profound consideration of color. Identifying itself perhaps as the most idiosyncratic of the collection, it is less dependent on the strict geometry of works like Quiver. Orange Crossing demonstrates more of a wild abandon in its form and grander freedom in its demonstration, with its pervading dependence on color as the most prominent characteristic which draws the viewers attention. In the spirit of William de Kooning, the piece relies on paint application to canvas; rather than building upon the geometric design content of Quiver and other works.

The exhibition is on view Thursdays thru Mondays from 10 am to 5 pm, or by appointment.

The gallery is located near the corner of Bluebird Canyon Drive and Pacific Coast Highway, across the street from the Surf and Sand Hotel.

For more information, please email info@wendtgallery.com or phone 949-497-4292, or visit www.wendtgallery.com

Written by Serina Manqueros, curator, Contemporary Paintings.