Government Surplus

Comment

Comment by Mick Grochowski on May 13, 2019 at 12:26pm

Thank you Kristen for the kind remarks.

It's always great to have received positive comments regarding our artwork.

Comment by Resident Curator on May 11, 2019 at 9:33am

Curator’s Comments:

Thank you for posting this new piece.  I find Government Surplus has a slight Hopper-esque feel to it, perhaps because of the relative isolation of the figures within an urban space. The environment also has a feeling of emotional emptiness, despite being full of objects for sale.  The opening of the surplus store is unnaturally dark, comparatively, to the bright light and color outside. I wonder if this is suggesting the place is a less than hospitable environment, or if it was simply an aesthetic decision.  Formally, I also appreciate the compartmentalization of the picture plane, and the solid blue walls left unadorned at the top of the piece for visual rest.  The expanses of solid color offer a respite from the active text in the painting, and helps set up fluid movement. Looking back through your other works on the site, I see that I’ve commented on your other urban works with people.  While I also enjoy your greener landscapes, there’s something psychologically unexpected and quite pleasing about your organic handling of architecture and inhabited locales.