Interesting work springs from the interesting mind of one Portland artist.Byline: Bob Keefer The Register-GuardLet's start with the Web. Jamie Newton's Web site is called www.concretewheels?.com, and if that name doesn't tip you off that he's not as stuffy as some other artists out there, then nothing will. Click on that address and you'll get a pretty good overview of Newton's broad range of painting, drawing, sculpture and video work. A second starting place is Newton's resume, displayed in a notebook on a side table at Eugene's White Lotus White Lotus Chinese Buddhist millenarian movement that was often persecuted because of its association with rebellion. The movement had roots in 4th-century worship of the Buddha Amitabha, whose devotional cult inspired Mao Ziyuan to form the White Lotus Society, a pious Gallery, which is showing recent work by the Portland artist through April 15. His resume might be the best I've ever seen from an artist. It starts off with a quote from musician John Cage Noun 1. John Cage - United States composer of avant-garde music (1912-1992) John Milton Cage Jr., Cage - "I have nothing to say, and I'm saying it" - and proceeds, conversationally, to give an excellent overview of this midcareer artist's life without ever once being boring, on one hand, or pretentious pre·ten·tious adj. 1. Claiming or demanding a position of distinction or merit, especially when unjustified. 2. Making or marked by an extravagant outward show; ostentatious. See Synonyms at showy. , on the other. Enough preamble A clause at the beginning of a constitution or statute explaining the reasons for its enactment and the objectives it seeks to attain. Generally a preamble is a declaration by the legislature of the reasons for the passage of the statute, and it aids in the interpretation of . Newton is a bit all over the map in terms of artistic mediums. But the centerpiece of this excellent show is a series of simple monochrome paintings Monochrome painting is sometimes seen as meditative art. Throughout the 20th century and into the 21st century painters have created monochromatic painting. The exploration of one color, the examination of values changing across a surface, the expressivity of texture and in acrylic on board that he's done in the past year, inspired by his love of traditional sumi ink painting. The lush paintings are soft, sumptuous landscapes that range from the realistic but imaginative to nearly pure abstraction. His hills and valleys are reminiscent of the high desert landscapes of James Lavadour, if Lavadour ran out of colored not of the white race; - commonly meaning, esp. in the United States, of negro blood, pure or mixed. See also: Color pigments. Newton coaxes a subtle texture out of acrylic that's like nothing I've ever seen. The surface of his paintings looks as organic as hair. Some of the paintings are divided into small grids, squares a couple of inches across, that might represent the view through an insect's multiplex See multiplexing. eye, or, more simply, a large tick-tack-toe board. All of the paintings are quietly reflective. The gallery is displaying them along with some of his earlier sumi ink work, which is much more abstract. Newton, who showed at the gallery in 2005, started out his artistic life as a photographer, influenced by Ansel Adams, Minor White and Edward Weston. Many of these newer paintings remind me of black-and white-landscape photographs. White Lotus Gallery also is showing an assortment of Newton's sculptures, generally made from found objects and look as though they were inspired by a childhood spent with Erector Sets Erector Set is the trade name of a toy construction set that was wildly popular in the United States during much of the 20th century. Like Meccano, it consists of collections of small metal beams with regular holes for nuts, bolts, screws, and mechanical parts such as pulleys, . They include "frost catchers," odd mechanical lattices that are designed to attract and grow frost when left outside, and Rube Goldberg-like drawing machines, powered by wind or solar cells, that make fairly inconsequential in·con·se·quen·tial adj. 1. Lacking importance. 2. Not following from premises or evidence; illogical. n. A triviality. marks on paper when left outside. This is a fascinating show that clearly springs from a fascinating mind. Exhibit review New Work by Jamie Newton What: Paintings and sculpture by the Portland artist Where: White Lotus Gallery, 767 Willamette St. When: Through April 15 Hours: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday |
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