Feature Articles

November Issue 2002

Hodges Taylor Gallery in Charlotte, NC, Features Works by Raymond Chorneau and Tony Griffin

In the second exhibition of its twentieth season, Hodges Taylor Gallery in Charlotte, NC, is presenting Raymond Chorneau: Cycle of Change, and Tony Griffin: Recent Work, through Dec. 30, 2002.

Raymond Chorneau

Raymond Chorneau's new body of work is entitled Cycles of Change and deals with a journey of self-examination. The resulting canvases and works on paper show figures have parts that are missing or seem to have faded into the background. As the artist phrases the search, "I have been taking myself apart and putting it back together again and anything nonessential has gone." His surfaces have always had layers of paint and wax, which only reveal the struggle to create them in areas where colors from underneath peak through. This body of images are refined, figures somewhat veiled, intensely rich and suggestive while remaining elusive.

Ever active, the artist has worked with master printmaker Phil Garrett to create two suites of monotypes, which were very well received. He continues to collaborate with Garrett and other artist. In addition to this, Chorneau's work was recognized by Linda Norden, Associate Curator, Fogg Museum of Art, Harvard University for inclusion in New American Painting, (Number 40), which Norden juried.

Tony Griffin

In his second solo exhibition with the gallery, Tony Griffin brings a renewed spirit to the work influenced by a great deal of time spent in the mountains. The artist combines his love of the mixed horizons that the mountains offer with his love of direct observation of nature. The artist loves to work from direct observation and contact with nature. The paintings in this show range in size; he executes the smaller ones on site. In the larger canvases, Griffin is able to explore more extensively his preoccupation with simplifying and abstracting the landscape, reducing light, color and form to their essential components.

The artist is a product of studies at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Appalachian State University, and the American School in Florence, Italy as well as supplemental education at the Nerina Simi Studio, also in Florence, Italy. He served as an apprentice to Ben Long and worked on Long's fresco projects at St Peter's Catholic Church, Holy Trinity Church in Glendale Springs, and St. Mary's Episcopal Church in West Jefferson. Griffin's work is well received wherever he exhibits. In the last year he has had as active exhibition schedule with several shows in both North and South Carolina. His work is in corporate collections of US Trust, Nelson Mullins, Mayer Brown Row and Maw, and First Charter Center and numerous private collections.

For more information check our NC Commercial Gallery listings, call the gallery at 704/334-3799 or on the web at (www.hodgestaylor.com).

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