Schmidt Contemporary Art: Friday, 10 September 2010
FORD BECKMAN: POP RHYTHM PAINTINGS
September 10 - October 9, 2010
Opening reception: Friday, September 10, 2010 6pm-8pm
Ford Beckman has shown at Schmidt Contemporary Art for over two decades. In 1990 he presented a three venue St. Louis exhibition which Included SCA, Greenberg Gallery and Washington University Gallery of Art. A strong presence in both New York and Europe, Ford flourished first with his large scale black and white reductive paintings and then moved on to more pop imagery of which his clown portraits (which were shown here as well) are the most memorable.
Suddenly, a few years ago he closed both of his New York and Connect studios and moved back to Tulsa with his family quietly abandoning the New York scene. Then equally quietly he opened a studio in Tulsa, and began the body of work which is currently being shown.
The formality and strictness of the early paintings has been abandoned to dramatically gestural strokes and pours. The power which has always emanated from Beckman’s work not only remains, but has been pushed even further and in an unexpected direction. Explosions of color now activate not only the canvas, but our spirit as well as the paintings Pop with activity.
Some art world critics who at times suggest that painting somehow has lost its punch and its ability to evolve would do well to spend some quality time with these refreshing and energizing works.
Gallery hours are Wednesday - Friday from 12:00-5:00; Saturdays from 10:00-4:00.Appointments for other times are encouraged.
September 10 - October 9, 2010
Opening reception: Friday, September 10, 2010 6pm-8pm
Ford Beckman has shown at Schmidt Contemporary Art for over two decades. In 1990 he presented a three venue St. Louis exhibition which Included SCA, Greenberg Gallery and Washington University Gallery of Art. A strong presence in both New York and Europe, Ford flourished first with his large scale black and white reductive paintings and then moved on to more pop imagery of which his clown portraits (which were shown here as well) are the most memorable.
Suddenly, a few years ago he closed both of his New York and Connect studios and moved back to Tulsa with his family quietly abandoning the New York scene. Then equally quietly he opened a studio in Tulsa, and began the body of work which is currently being shown.
The formality and strictness of the early paintings has been abandoned to dramatically gestural strokes and pours. The power which has always emanated from Beckman’s work not only remains, but has been pushed even further and in an unexpected direction. Explosions of color now activate not only the canvas, but our spirit as well as the paintings Pop with activity.
Some art world critics who at times suggest that painting somehow has lost its punch and its ability to evolve would do well to spend some quality time with these refreshing and energizing works.
Gallery hours are Wednesday - Friday from 12:00-5:00; Saturdays from 10:00-4:00.Appointments for other times are encouraged.
SCHMIDT CONTEMPORARY ART
615 North Grand
St. Louis, MO 63103
314 575 2648
615 North Grand
St. Louis, MO 63103
314 575 2648
posted by Bill Barrett at 1:17 PM
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