May Issue 2002
Hampton III Gallery in Taylors, SC, Features New Works by Carl R. Blair
Greenville, SC, artist Carl R. Blair has opened a show of sculptures and monotypes at Hampton III Gallery in Taylors, SC. The show entitled Boyhood Friends features 15 three dimensional works and 20 monotypes. The exhibition extends through May 18, 2002.
Carl R. Blair is known for his paintings, canvas works on oils or paper. In the last ten years his paintings have been featured in several major solo exhibitions around South Carolina, including the Greenville County Museum of Art, the Columbia Museum of Art and the SC State Museum. But in this show, the focus is switched. The paintings are still alive, yet this time the process of printing has been used to bring forth the landscapes. Monotype has become the medium of choice.
Blair is printing his paintings at King Snake Studio with the help of master printer Phil Garrett. The paintings are reflections of the Blair landscapes we have come to know, but this grouping picks up remnants from the past three decades. The Taos series, the Grids, and the Appalachian scenes are all remembered in this exhibition. With his discovery of the monotype, Blair pulls from the past bringing his subjects into a new awareness. The compositions move more rapidly. The colors glisten. There's a vibrancy that pushes Blair into a new statement.
"I like the freedom I have with this medium, the directness. It's a simple, bold statement. I first had to learn how to handle the paint. But once I got the hang of it, I knew how much paint I needed to control the compositions. Yet, in spite of the knowledge I had, I was still surprised and delighted when the print came off the press."
In his studio, Blair looks down upon his recent monotypes that lie on a large work surface. As he introduces the paintings, he breaks into song. Musical influences vibrate into the textures of the works. "I grew up on Country Western music. The songs were filled with tragedy and heartache. I still carry that with me today. Recently, I've been listening to songs of the Civil War -songs of both the North and the South. Paddy's Lamentation is named for an Irishman who came over to the states to make his fortune. Instead of realizing his dream, he was caught up in our nation's war."
The dialogue continues with the uncovering of a grid painting, life's calendar. "Morning Plaid I did work into this one. Couldn't decide what to do, so I did something drastic. I striped over the entire grid. The change is still secondary to the main form, though."
Racing Toward Nightfall, Now Take Your Rest, Memories Linger On - all are titles reflecting death. "As I get closer to the reality of death, it becomes more apparent. We lose our animal friends, our friends, our parents, our family." Themes of Love, Life, Sacrifice, Death, Loyalty, Good, Evil, Innocence, Strength are embodied in the paintings, as well as the sculptures.
Animals are the subject of Blair's sculptures. Rarely put on public display, these creatures are whimsical reminders of characters or people Blair has known. They are not accurate representations, rather, nonexistent, rugged animals that evolve as Blair plays with them. Cut out wooden shapes are pieced together. A skunk appears. Those left over negative shapes are eyed and often incorporated in the work. The wooden puzzle makes the connections, and a Blair bird is born.
Hero, the pegged leg horse; General, the bird of primary colors; Innocence, the wide-eyed squirrel; One Eyed Serpent, the snake of car radiator parts; all examples of the menagerie Blair has built.
A most unusual work in this exhibition is the sculpture Mace for a Left Handed Artist. Seven old brushes fan out from a wooden bar, as a well-worn glove grips the standard. A symbol of Blair's kingdom, his world.
For more information check our SC Commercial Gallery listings, call the gallery at 864/268-2771 or email to (hampton3gallery@mindspring.com).
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