An Unlikely Pair

"Study for Homage to a Square"

Josef Albers

"Still Life with White Bottle and Small Bleu Bottle"

Giorgio Morandi, 1955

I have an affinity for art exhibits that pair two artists, and allow for a "compare and contrast" analysis between them.  Quite often these shows feature artists who knew each other, or influenced each other.  Now along comes a very unlikely pairing: the Zwirner Gallery in New York has mounted a show featuring two dramatically different painters:  Josef Albers and Giorgio Morandi.  At first, it seems like a true odd couple.  I feel sure these two never met, and their paintings are worlds apart.  But the subtitle of the show reveals the common thread:  "Never Finished".  

"Study for Homage to the Square"
Josef Albers, 1954

Each of these painters spent decades--perhaps his entire career--exploring one single motif. For Albers, it was the "Homage to the Square", in which a series of square shapes are fitted into each other.  The colors of the squares are carefully calibrated and practically vibrate off one another.  For Morandi,  the motif was a collection of still life objects that he observed and scrutinized obsessively in his studio.  Those everyday objects took on a universal, even majestic, stature in his paintings. They served as a springboard for deep exploration of perception, color and space.

"Natura Morta (Still Life)"

Giorgio Morandi, 1954

Further contrasts are evident. Albers worked in intense, deeply saturated colors.  Morandi worked in subtle, muted colors.  Albers' paintings are nonobjective, pure color fields.  Morandi's paintings are quite the opposite, focusing on arrangements of objects, and the way they occupy space. 

"Study for Homage to the Square"

Josef Albers

Exactly because of these contrasts, rather than in spite of them, the show has been an acclaimed success. One reviewer has said, "To my amazement, viewing them together electrifies, as their works' extremes play off each other.  Think of it as a pas de deux of a drill sergeant (Albers) and an enchanter (Morandi).  There's a crackle in perception when you turn from works by one artist to those of the other." (Peter Schjeldahl, in The New Yorker).  

"Still Life with a Bottle"

Giorgio Morandi

You can see a video of the show, and some enlightening conversation about it, by clicking here.  And other good news--a catalog of the exhibit will be released in November.  Check it out here.  Much to savor!

Insurmountable Opportunities

You may be familiar with the quotation from the cartoon character Pogo:  "Gentlemen, we are confronted with insurmountable opportunities."  The quote was elaborated on beautifully by the acclaimed photographer Sally Mann, in her memoir entitled Hold Still.  Mann writes, "It is easier for me to take ten good pictures in an airplane bathroom than in the gardens of Versailles."  So true.

There is something about limitations that forces us to delve deeply into our creativity.  And conversely, there is something about endless possibilities that can be paralyzing.  In fact, I  confronted "insurmountable opportunities" recently on a painting trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Staying at Old Orchard Creek Farm for a few days, there were beautiful sights in every direction. Paralysis almost set in--what should I paint--the distant ridges? nearby apple orchard? charming Victorian house? striking red barn?  I was ready to hyperventilate, just considering the overwhelming array of options.

Thankfully I was able to settle down and focus.  I got a few paintings that were very satisfying.  I just kept repeating my mantra:  "Shapes of Color, Shapes of Color".  And trying to focus on simple shapes, rather than on "things".  But still--sometimes it's easier to make something from nothing, than to face a gorgeous scene that is surely more beautiful than any painting of it could ever be.

I'm illustrating this post with some shots from the trip.  Hope you will enjoy these.  Finished paintings to go up on the website soon...

"Old Orchard Creek Farm"

12 x 12, Oil on Linen

(c) Lesley Powell 2021