Chelsea

 GalleryViews / Chelsea

which goes to straight to the heart of concept and content for these paintings. True, the forms are randomly shaped and placed.  True also that the illusion of spatial depth suggests a very generic sense of landscape.  Yet the forms are relatively of the same proportions and shape and are spread evenly across the ground.  Baris magnificently works the associations between random and order as well as those between blatant and discreet color.  It is this thin line of approach that saves the work from otherwise dissipating into pure design

 Susan Schwalb at Robert Steel Gallery, 511
 West 25th to November 15th
 (To view a film clip of the exhibition click here.

Start from the point of view that these paintings are sinfully serial - by design.  The earmarks are all there: the even proportions of the canvases, the centrally located forms comprised of uniformly placed horizontal lines and, a universally muted palette.  Schwalb relies on a solid methodology to create her paintings which raises the suspicion that the artist is a bit too comfortable with her work. What�s missing is an indication of struggle or a sense of �what if�. For example, what if these canvases were much larger?  Would the methodology still hold up?  Or would something less controlled and pleasantly unexpected emerge?  Well, from the artist�s point of view this appears to be beside the point. It is the grouping of similar paintings to make a larger statement that defines the agenda for this work.

Susan Schwalb, (Installation View)

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Steve Baris, Landscapes with Random Clusters #8, 2003, oil on mylar,  24 X 24 in.

Considered from such a perspective, the work is compelling in an unassuming way. A lot of this has to do with the comprehensive effect produced by grouping pieces together that are similar in tone.

Susan Schwalb, (Installation View)

Look at the series of Mesa paintings set up in a line on the wall.  Each piece holds up individually but the overall effect is what is important. The variation on number and length of the horizontal lines creates a sensation that references sound vibration; visual music if you will. In this context each piece functions like a musical instrument and when put together work as small ensemble. After awhile it becomes hard to take your eyes off them as a group.

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