First Thursday Opening Reception: April 3, 5-8pm
Artists Talk with Carol Benson and Michael Knutson: Saturday, ?????. 16, 2pm
????????OTHER ARTISTS TALKS
APRIL 2-27 — MAIN GALLERY
Connections
— Philip Stork —
The works exhibited in Connections by Philip Stork delve into the unseen worlds that bind us together. Using monochromatic pastels and pencils, Stork captures the essence of cellular networks and the intricate beauty of interconnection. His large black-and-white pieces offer striking contrasts, while softer palettes create a seamless visual harmony.
These pieces challenge viewers to reconsider the spaces within and around us, evoking both the microscopic and the universal. With their careful interplay of line and tone, the works invite us to explore the connections that underpin existence—both in nature and in ourselves. This exhibition reflects a bold new direction for the artist, who continues to reimagine his artistic practice through the lens of discovery and transformation.
New ??????Work
— Hannah Theiss —
Counterpane 18 — Carol Benson, 2023, oil on gessoed paper, 24" x 18"
Michael Knutson’s recent paintings involve a mixture of deliberation, physical drawing, digital manipulation, chance and impulse. They are his most dense and intense works to date. “I wanted them to have the weight of oil paintings,” he says—though the works are realized in watercolor—“to be a bit overworked, even to brush against the ugly.”
Certainly, the ugly moniker is debatable, as Knutson’s uncanny virtuosity with watercolor results in fractal images of daring complexity, saturated color and remarkable luminosity. To view them is to enter a world of stain-glassed wonder; the mind boggles at the spatially complex and kinetic images. Like the inner workings of perpetual motion machines or antique clocks, they are impossible to fully grasp. This makes one more aware of the process of looking, which is what the paintings may be about, Knutson allows.
Zigzag I — Michael Knutson, 2022, watercolor, 31.5" x 41"
Benson and Knutson, who are married, joined Blackfish in 2004 and 1997, respectively. This is their eighth two-person show.
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GALLERY 2
Essence of ???????? - a year in review
— Noah —
November — Lori Latham, 2023, acrylic on canvas, 36" x 36"
Essence of Oregon is a visual journey which describes the Pacific Northwest's distinctive natural beauty. Using color and texture, Latham captures the unique spirit of each month of the year in twelve vibrant abstract paintings. The paintings are arranged in a single line, wrapping around the walls of the gallery. Viewing each painting chronologically in succession, visitors can see the hints of the upcoming month as they witness the year unfold.
Latham conceived of this body of work over a decade ago, working on it on and off over the years. The series finally came to fruition this year as the artist committed to painting the “feeling of each month,” devoid of representational imagery. Latham has paired each image with a Haiku poem she created with an assist from ChatGPT.
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JAMES HIBBARD GALLERY
Col?????ms
— Corey Pressman —
Le Pont de Fauves — Ellen Goldschmidt, 2023, acrylic, collage on canvas, 36" x 36"
Corey Statement
Blackfishers Doing Cool Stuff
See what Blackfish Artists are involved with outside the gallery this month.