Art Exhibit Description
#1 Red as a primary (or secondary) color
Red is found at the longest wavelength end of the visible spectrum of light with a wavelength of approximately 625–740 nanometres. In the Red-Green-Blue (RGB) additive mixing of light color model it is a primary color (think LCD screens) but is a secondary color,made from combining yellow and magenta, in the Cyan-Magenta-Yellow-Key/black (CMYK) subtractive mixing of light color model (think newspaper or magazine printing). In traditional color theory, it is a primary color along with yellow and blue. This comes from the mixing of paint and the ability to use those colors to get all other hues.
#2 Cardinal
In this work, fields of color create a classical animal portrait using a digital-age low-poly technique. Linear perspective is combined with abstraction. The work is ironic in satirizing digital art by borrowing from the traditionally lowbrow digital to a fine art paint medium. The continued movement of light demonstrated through the various shades of red lines placed on top of the underlying grid and blocks of color signifies a shared source between all things.The effect of these misaligned, repeated shapes combined with flowing brush strokes creates multiple focal points in space and lots of movement, making the bird appear as if it is alive.
Press the red button to hear the call of a cardinal.
#3 Fractal Stop Sign
Stop lights and stop signs use red to alert drivers about the dangers of an intersection. This is because red is used to focus attention quickly and make decisions. The stop sign here is created from many smaller stop signs. There are 11 stop signs in each row of the painting.
#4 Larger than life Licorice
Accompaniments, Various Found Pieces
Over the course of the last century we witnessed modern art first introduce the concept of found objects in art. Marcel Duchamp's (1887-1968) “ready-mades” such as Fountain, 1917, (a urinal pulled from its plumbing and presented as sculpture) started to question many ideas of art, including that it should be a one-of-a-kind original work. This line of questioning was continued by Marcel Broodthaers (1924-1976) who challenged the legitimacy of the museum as the arbiter of art value and significance through his own use of mass produced materials in art.
In Post-Modern art those works were often deconstructed. Whereas Duchamp made us consider what is art and if it should have value or is deserving to be urinated on, Piero Manzoni (1933-1963) said not only should art be pissed on, but that it is shit and literally sold his feces as art (Merda d'artista, 1961). Previously, what made something art or artisan is its scarcity or in creativity demonstrated through skill to lead to a unique aesthetic work. Crap in a can is neither of those, yet on October 16, 2015, tin 54 was sold at Christies for £182,500.
In Reconstruction, we take the ready made, combine it with the unique, and manipulate it using classical and contemporary techniques. In the Red Room you will find various found objects, one-of-a-kind creations, and mixtures of the two co-existing in one presentation further presenting a unified message through diverse means.
Larger than Life Licorice (under the bench and along the wall) is a combination of rubber rope and paint to create “sculptures” that are meant to look and feel like pull ‘n peel Twizzlers. Wax Heart (in the second room, on the table) combines classical sculpture with a traditionally low-brow wax dripping technique. The difference in the smooth and rough wax sections represents how we can experience both untroubled and fraught times in our relationships and with those with love, both platonically and not. These Hands (on the gallery balcony) is a sculpture made of plaster combined with latex gloves and the contrast in the two materials of sleek latex and hard stone epitomizes the contrast in the moods of red between sexuality and anger, passion and rage.
#5 Synonyms ( A Mural)
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crimson.
carmine.
cherry.
coral.
ruby.
scarlet.
vermilion
cardinal.
maroon.
rose.
wine.
tomato.
iron.
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#6 Fractal Rose
Using deconstruction to get to simplicity, then rebuilding with nuance to a complex, infinite form is how reconstruction will reimagine our world. Inspired by Paul Cezzane, the Father of Modern Art, whose interest in the “simplification of naturally occurring forms to their geometric essentials” led to a change in the art world of which we are still feeling the ramifications, the Fractal Rose takes a simple repeated shape design and adds color, specifically red, to create neither abstraction nor realism.
So stop and smell the roses. Seriously, smell the roses around the painting.
# 7 Why are bricks red? Why is barnwood red?
Bricks traditionally were composed of clay and the particular minerals in the clay determined the brick’s color. During the firing process the minerals absorb oxygen and give the brick color. Clay with a high content of iron oxide turns reddish while clay with lime turns white or yellow.
Barns were historically painted red as the paint was less expensive than white paint and also had properties that would protect the structure from decay. The manufacturing process was particularly easy, consisting of linseed oil and ferrous oxide (rust). These products would act as a sealant and vegetation deterrent. The orange linseed oil mixed with the deep red of rust turned the mixture an iconic bright red.
#8 Red Ochre
This may just look like a red rock; however, this rock contains iron which is found in more than 5% of the earth’s crust. Once crushed into a fine powder the hematite, rust, and other iron oxide in this rock can be mixed with fats, oils, or other pigment extenders to create a paint. Red Ochre (iron oxide) is thought to be the first paint ever used as far back as 350,000 to 400,000 BC and a “painting kit” with red ochre was found in the Blombos Caves in South Africa thought to be from 73,000 BC. The earliest cave drawings and paintings found used the pigment causing many to call red ochre the first paint color. Over history, this color has gone by a variety of names, including: red earth, Venetian red, and mars red. The artist and avid hiker, Charles Pellicane, obtained this red rock from Tin Mine Canyon in the Santa Ana Mountains.
#9 Red around the world
Different cultures assign many different meanings to the color red, leading to a diverse range of symbolism associated with the color.
In Western countries, red evokes danger (exit signs), urgency, and love. It can also represent blood and anger. Demonstrating the diverse meanings associated with red are its Holiday and political uses. Combined with pink it is the color of Valentine’s day symbolizing love and combined with green becomes a festive representation of Christmas. While in the United States, France, England and other countries, red when combined with white and blue becomes a symbol of patriotism, on its own can be a symbol for communism.
In Russia, the terms for red and for beautiful are strongly connected as the color is associated with beauty and honor. It is present in many cultural artifacts such as traditional dress, textiles, and art.
In Central Africa, it is seen as a symbol of life and health, leading to sick people being painted with the color; however in other parts of Africa red is a color of mourning and represents death.
In China, red is the symbol for luck, prosperity, and happiness. As such, it is the color of the Chinese New Year. Furthermore, brides wear red at traditional weddings.
In India, brides also traditionally wear red wedding dresses as red is associated with purity. Additionally, red is the color of the root chakra in Hindu Tantrism and it is believed that red aligns with the note of “C." This steel tongue drum is in the key of “C.” Play it. Does it sound red?
#10 Why the letter A?
Researchers believe up to 4% of the population could have some form of synesthesia or blending of the senses. Genetics may play a large factor in determining who is a synesthete. The most common form of synesthesia is grapheme (word, number, letter, or parts of word) to color. Essentially “seeing” or “experiencing” a word or number as color involuntarily and consistently.
While there does not appear to be overall consistency between synesthetes on these associations, the letter A is consistently found to be red in tests done on those with synesthesia. It is believed this occurs due to the unusually-distinct first position of the letter A and the unusual distinctness of the color red.
On this LED scroll there are many words and letters that are “red.” As you read the words, consider why these are red words. Do you agree?
#66
2 reds. Cherries.
Painting has evolved over time. From flat cave drawings (45,000 BC or before) past the linear perspective brought on by Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1446) in the 15th century and into use of vanishing points in the renaissance by masters like Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519). Through the flattening of perspective by Paul Cézanne (1839-1906) and the embracing of multiple perspectives by the cubists like Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) to flat fields of color like Mark Rothko (1903-1970) and paint drippings like Jackson Pollock (1912-1956).
Postmodern art includes the formerly lowbrow, text, hyperrealism, and digital and multimedia art. It may appear there is nearly nowhere left to go. Currently, we see movements with a focus on application through pouring, smearing, and other creative ways of applying paint to canvas or a focus on ideas like conceptualism and the burgeoning spiritual surrealism movement. What’s next? Some believe reconstructivist art is about putting a self-aware twist on the conventional while incorporating the classic and many other elements to create moments of genuine emotion (Chris Sunami, 2017). But what if it went even further, attempting to unify ambiguity and drive shared meaning from the disparate as one does when one reconstructs?
In this work, fields of color create a classical still life scene using a digital-age low-poly technique. Linear perspective is combined with abstraction. The work is ironic in satirizing digital art by borrowing from the traditionally lowbrow digital to a fine art paint medium. The continued movement of light demonstrated through the various shades of red lines placed on top of the underlying grid and blocks of color signifies a shared source between all things.The effect of these misaligned, repeated shapes combined with flowing brush strokes creates multiple focal points in space and lots of movement, making the cherries appear as if they are dancing or vibrating.
Consider adding to the experience by tasting something cherry while you view the piece.
#75 Red Request
This poem uses different and disparate “red” idioms (a phrase or expression that typically presents a figurative, non-literal meaning attached to the phrase) to create a cohesive and unified story, demonstrating reconstruction in the linguistic art of poetry. Despite such differences, when expertly combined the seemingly contradictory or antithetical can combine.
#80 Red Sounds
Synesthesia is a blending of the senses where stimulation of one sense triggers involuntary and consistent activity in another. Smelling shapes. Tasting sounds. Hearing color. Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890), in letters to his brother Theo, explained that, to him, sounds had colors and artists' technique would give their paintings the sound of different instruments. It is believed he was a synesthete: one with synesthesia.
If we all could hear color, what would Red sound like? This question has been answered by both synesthetes and non-synesthetes alike over the last few centuries.
Sir Issac Newton (1643-1727) published the first color wheel in his book Opticks in 1704. The wheel contained different sized areas for seven colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. He also associated each color with a musical note. Since red is the color of light with the lowest visible frequency to humans, Newton associated it with “D,” the lowest note on the Dorian scale. Despite associating color with sound, it is not believed that Newton was a synesthete.
Alexander Scriabin (1872-1915) was a composer who claimed to have synesthesia; however, the legitimacy of this claim is questioned. Critics and historians wonder if he actually had synesthesia or was simply enamored with the relationship between sight and sound. Regardless, in his book Prometheus, Scriabin designed a “color organ” which would cast color through a concert hall based on the tone and movement of the notes played. Scriabin described red as an “F” on the chromatic scale.
A known synesthete and forefather of abstract art, Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944), defined red as restless violins, saying “red is a fiery color of an immaterial and restless character. It recalls youthful joy, but in its dark tones it symbolizes manly maturity and resembles the light tones of a violin.”
Step as close to the window as you can and a sensor will play a short composition incorporating these different descriptions of red. Compare this to the sound of the drum. Which is more red to you?
Special Thank You!
Purples: My wife Perla, for consistent moral support and challenging ideas, being hands on with projects.
Floydwest22: for producing the music towards the Synesthesia experience.
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Gamez Painting LLC and Jerry Doninely: for the electric, carpet, and more.
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Michelle Del Rio: for showing up and contributing her time helping and organizing.
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Artist Carlos Rodas/ Crodas Visual: Photographing prints, repair, and support.
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AND, of course, Monkers: who has spent more time in the room than anyone (including myself).
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Family & friends : Thank you for the support and for letting me share my love for art, visions, & inspirations.
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Finally: My brother, Ryan Pellicane (1984-2018), for his tape measure, wrench, and companionship and inspiration. Until next time.
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