November 6 - 29, 2020
Opening Reception: Friday, November 6, 6-8:30 pm
Robin Levandov: “Unreal Estates”
Barb Cone: “The Fusion of Work and Dream”
Boriana Kantcheva: “Housebound”
Robin Levandov
Robin Levandov: “Unreal Estates”
The title of this show, “Unreal Estates”, refers to imaginary landscapes that represent more than just a physical place, but a state of mind. Inspired by daily meditative walks, these works do not reflect an actual scene but rather seek to create a sense of place.
This departure from reality reflects that the earth’s terrain and its borders, as well as our sense of belonging or community, has been in flux due to politics and limited mobility during the pandemic. My liberal use of color and unfettered creation of mountains, rivers and clouds speak to a new world, wild, idealized and free from conflict. These fictive landscapes are mostly inspired by photographs taken during my daily forays into the hills of Marin County, CA, or along the coast. Back in my studio, my imagination takes over, the paint leads the way, and the resulting painting looks nothing like the original image.
In a separate body of work included here are some of the abstract landscapes painted while sheltering in place. As part of a daily painting challenge, I made 101 pieces guided only by a few rules: no reference photographs, 9”x12” paper, oil and wax, and one-a-day. Just showing up at my studio provided order and purpose to amorphous days. For me these paintings were an affirmation of life, and a way to leave my thoughts, fears and desires behind.
Click here to view images of “Unreal Estates.”
Barbara Cone
Barb Cone: “The Fusion of Work and Dream”
I believe that broken things can be beautiful. The Fusion of Work and Dream series of hanging constructions began life as cardboard boxes I crushed with my car. The damaged pieces were collected, marked, painted and sanded, even dipped into liquids to chemically alter their appearance. Leftover debris, no matter how small and insignificant, was saved and incorporated into the pieces.
The hardware holding all these irregular and loose pieces together is intentionally visible, and has an important role to play in the aesthetics of the pieces. The series of encaustic/mixed media paintings, Where Are We Going?' are meant to take part in a conversation with the hanging constructions. The large shapes in the center of each piece are made from tracings of several of the crushed pieces used in the making of the hanging constructions.
Boriana Kantcheva
Boriana Kantcheva: “Housebound”
In March of 2020, like so many other people, I lost my job. I managed a small gallery in a non-profit organization for almost 10 years. Along with my work so many other things disappeared and just like that the life before the pandemic was gone. The new way of living made the house a center of my world. It also inspired a series of painting titled “Housebound”. My dining room table became my studio. The bedroom and my closet offered multitude of ideas. My newly retired “work” clothes became the subject of a number of paintings. They became symbols of a life put on pause. The shirts and skirts reminded me of empty butterfly cocoons. I started painting them because of the colors and patterns. The process of mixing colors, working on the patterns and constructing the painting was healing. The act of painting had a soothing effect and breaking down the work to its most basic elements of line, composition shapes and colors made the process important.
The “Housebound” series opened a number of questions that I wish to explore further. Clothes are often intertwining with one’s identity. How we dress is how we want to project ourselves into the world. My choice of colors, cuts and patterns reflected my love of those things and then in turn they manifested in my work. In addition, the idea of clothes and the monetary value attached to them is another avenue for exploration. Fashion magazines present the public with clothes that are exuberantly priced; most of them are beyond reach for most us. Those high priced items often speak of the wealth divisions in society. On the flip side, “fast fashion” with cheaply made garments offers an alternative to the overpriced items. This alternative is not necessarily desirable but an only option for many. In the coming months the ideas of clothing as a vehicle of identity, projection of wealth or the lack of it as well as the impact of the fashion industry on our planet are going to be the driving force behind my work.
Note: Boriana’s exhibition’s last day is Saturday, Nov 28.