Local Palette
Paintings
Fri., Feb. 21, 1997
José and Salvador Reanda Quieju
Galeria Sin Fronteras
through March
Principal de Confradia, by Salvador Reanda Quieju |
Neither of the men have had formal artistic training, but they have painted since childhood and have succeeded in capturing the essence of their surroundings. The paintings are head-and-shoulder portraits of people in their town, and although all the characters possess similar skin color and clothing, each person radiates a distinctive presence and personality. The brothers say they "strive to capture their neighbors' strength, wisdom, and humanity." El Magosdomo depicts a man holding a smoldering pipe, looking pensive and thoughtful. His thick, caramel-colored skin is beginning to show signs of age with a few lines around his eyes and mouth, but his small eyes convey contentment, emitting a lively sparkle.
La Consegerra shows a woman with eyes as piercing as a hawk's, but with deep lines etched into her weathered skin. The brilliant colors of the clothing draping her body beautifully frame her small, gaunt face. The piece is more than a portrait of a woman; it presents an image of the woman sitting for hours beneath a blazing sun, watching the bustle of her Guatemalan town go by. The gallery's print show is also worth a look-see. Printing seems quite a popular medium with Austin artists these days, and this show offers a wide variety of styles and techniques. Just don't forget to check out the Guatemalan villagers behind the partition in back.
Paintings
David Edward Ackerman
Star Seeds Cafe
through February
Knowing that Star Seeds Cafe is essentially a burger joint -- albeit a trendy, hip one -- what kind of wall hangings would you expect to find there? Thirty-year-old posters of Elvis? Velvet paintings of Johnny Cash? Antique Coca-Cola signs? Well, we're talking Austin here, where good art is so plentiful you can find it in the neighborhood cafe, so these aren't your standard greasy burger joint wall hangings. (Which is appropriate, since Stars isn't your standard greasy burger joint.) In his paintings, Ackerman uses a frenzy of colors and curvy, swirly strokes to create a surreal, fluid movement that changes in emotional intensity from one piece to the next.
Each painting contains a mesh of many colors, though a certain color resonates more strongly within each work: vivid red in Devil, luminescent blue in Mermaid Causing Splashes. Although most of the works don't depict a certain shape or form, through the layers of colors you can make out hidden images: an Egyptian eye in Total Reckless Abandonment Hands Bound, two human figures in Eros During/Under a Green Moon. (How about these names? They infuse a little more drama into the works.)
What these paintings lack in realistic structure, they make up for in engaging
compositions. They're similar to Georgia O'Keefe's close-up images of flowers,
except even closer -- closer to the point where petals, pollen, and all mesh
together into one colorful mass.
-- Cari Marshall
