Hawaiian Punch Drunk

Comment

Comment by Reggie Singleton on July 18, 2011 at 10:56pm

Sun Goddess consists of colored paper, transparency film, and fabric.  I use the transparency film as i would use glass in my three dimensional works. Having the color appear as if it floats on top of the opposing forms, yet you can see through it which creates another color. Initially, i used the two dimensional works as studies for my three dimensional works until I realized they had something to say as well.  So I began to show them as works all unto themselves.

Comment by Resident Curator on July 18, 2011 at 5:47pm

Thank you for your kind words.  I think it can be helpful to get feedback both from artists who know your objectives, and from those seeing it for the first time with "fresh eyes". 

Is the Sun Goddess piece made of paper?  I do find it interesting to think you work between these two and three dimentional spaces.

Comment by Reggie Singleton on July 17, 2011 at 11:35pm

Thank you for your positive comments. In all my pieces, I put as much emphasis on the negative space the form creates on the gallery wall as the core positive space.  I enjoy the fact that you noticed the tension I try to create with the differing textures, forms, colors and mediums.  Even though I have never met you, I value your opinion.

Comment by Resident Curator on July 17, 2011 at 6:57pm

Curator’s Comment:

 

Thank you very much for bringing your work to my attention.  The pieces you’ve posted all have a definitive personal style and signature aesthetic.  I particularly enjoy the combination of mediums, as the glass elements play nicely off of the wood and enamel.  Hawaiian Punch Drunk has an especially pleasing sinuous, elongated format.  The linear elements are calligraphic, and stretch into what could virtually be lettered script.  The textured surface effectively contrasts the solids, and tests the figure/ground relationship, as I see these works primarily as sculptural objects.  All of your pieces are vibrant, dynamic and energetic, and so I would suggest giving them a little more room to breathe in your digital images when possible.  Sun Goddess has a similar visual relationship, but appears to be a lower relief paper collage.  It would be interesting to see the translation of the same piece as both a two and three dimensional solution.  The yellow ground is very successful at anchoring the shapes, and providing a pristine, untouched ground to limit and contain the activated curled shapes.  There’s also an accomplished positive/negative relationship between the recurring cut outs and zig zag pattern in the center.  I don’t know the scale of these pieces, but they are reminiscent of Elizabeth Murray’s vast shaped supports.