Solo Exhibition | Jackson, Wy
Altamira Fine Art Jackson is pleased to present a solo exhibiton for David Grossmann from June 8-19, 2021.
Please join us for the Artist Reception from 5:30 to 7:30pm on June 10.
Passages
In advance of his summer show at Altamira, David Grossmann traced the primary characteristics of his current paintings and practice.
Passages/Connections
This show gathers paintings from the past two-plus years. As I look at these paintings together, I relive moments on that journey and am reminded of how the changes in the world around me have shaped me and my work along the way. The idea of passages became central, of moving from one thing to the next but also knowing there is not a clear edge between those transitions (in life or in my work).
Progression
Seeing paintings I started two or more years ago along with pieces I started more recently helps me piece together how different ideas have intertwined and gone in various directions.
Spectrum
A couple of pieces in this show are purely abstract, while others are much more grounded in reality. Most are somewhere in between, combining elements of both (and really, isn’t all art abstract?). There is also a large range of sizes from 8-by-10-inches all the way up to 70-by-60.
Process
Ultimately, this show gives a glimpse into how I think through my process as an artist. My ideas often begin with small studies completed outdoors, several of which will appear at Altamira. Back in my studio, I gather ideas from these studies, and combine/build on them to find themes for my larger paintings. Simultaneously, I delve into my memories and imagination. My ongoing interest in design and abstraction, in mood and simplicity, feel as though they are emerging more clearly this time around. I embrace the idea of “slow art,” of letting each painting develop at its own rate and form its own voice, even if it takes two years for that to happen.
Contemplation
More than ever, I am making space for contemplation in my work—an overarching theme for me right now as I strive to be more contemplative, to examine deeper motivations in my work and life. So much of my thinking about this show and about my work has been shaped by the pandemic; as I gradually emerge from my quarantine mindset, I’m trying to re-enter life at a slower pace instead of defaulting to the same views and hectic schedule of before. This time has allowed me to deaccelerate in ways that could be really meaningful or could be wasted. As I resume parts of my life that have been on hold, I’m trying to hang on to a quieter mindset and a renewed focus on recognizing and protecting what is meaningful. For instance, I’ve been thinking more about the interplay between my work and the world around me, how each change shifts perspective. One of those shifts for me has been buying a house and thinking differently now about what it means to be involved in our community, how I can bring kindness and add beauty to it even in small ways like planting flowers in our garden. On a bigger scale, I have been thinking about the impact of my daily choices on nature, and what I can do to shift those decisions toward renewal and away from depletion. As we journey toward a new normal, I am hopeful that our times of quarantine will result in a deeper kindness toward the land and toward other people. I hope that my art will be an invitation for viewers to enter their own spaces of contemplation on this journey forward.
Pre-sales available. Contact the gallery, (307) 739-4700, connect@altamiraart.com
