Who: |
Cal State University, Fullerton, Grand Central
Project Room |
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What: |
Color Me There: Thrift Store Surf
Paintings |
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Where: |
Cal State University Fullerton, Grand Central
Art Center, 125 N. Broadway, Santa Ana, CA 92701 |
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When: |
Feb. 1 through March 30, 2003
Reception: 7-10 p.m. Saturday, February 1, 2003 |
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Hours: |
11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays
11 a.m. - 8 p.m., Thursdays, Friday and Saturdays |
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Background: |
The collection of surf paintings are all done
by various artists with different backgrounds, levels of artistic
expertise and points of view. When viewed collectively, what
they do share in common are the same characteristics inherent
in surfing itself: an innocence and simplicity not found elsewhere.
The recurrent “theme” in each painting is the
same: a surfer riding a wave. But the interpretations vary
wildly.
Steve Jones started collecting surf paintings about 10 years
ago after seeing Jim Shaw’s “Thrift Store Paintings”
show. His love of flea markets and surfing finally collided
in a mash of weird canvases: surfers going the wrong way,
doing bizarre turns in strange positions over mysterious ocean
movements. The exhibition will feature 30 plus paintings.
The paintings are like surfers themselves: pros, bros, kooks
and geeks; all are welcome in the world of thrift store surf
paintings. All contain a purity of expression, that, when
viewed collectively sums up surfing itself: a “stoked”
feeling emerges. Enjoy! (From an essay by Steve Jones, 2003)
All of us approach artworks subjectively, projecting our
own meanings into them. One of the beauties of thrift store
paintings lies in their lack of any known history or stated
reasons for existence. We are all equals in our lack of knowledge
regarding them and are free to project at will and your interpretation
has as much validity as anyone else's.
This large grouping of paintings of one subject can be seen
as a testament to the power of surfing to draw its adherents
to express the inexpressible feeling of riding a wave, the
very impossibility of the endeavor that much more touching.
Or they could be the wish fulfillment of kids who merely aspire
to the sport, or the fulfillment of an assignment for a seascape
in a retiree's painting class, or an assembly line product
meant to be sold out of a car's trunk on La Cienega, or the
deceptively placid work of a death row inmate.
Your guess is as good as mine. (From an essay “Color
Me There,” by Jim Shaw, 2003) |
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Admission: |
Free |
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Internet: |
www.grandcentralartcenter.com
and www.arts.fullerton.edu/events/ |
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More Info: |
714-567-7233 / 714-567-7234 |
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Media Contacts: |
Andrea Harris, Grand Central Art Center at (714)
567-7234
Marilyn Moore, Cal State Fullerton Art Gallery at 657-278-7750 |