Robin Rose @ Hemphill

As usual, the 14th St. "Arts Corridor" is the place to see contemporary art in D.C. I used to include Dupont Circle on my rounds but it just isn't worth it anymore. And I'd love to hit up 7th St. to see Numark and Flashpoint, but it's rarely convenient. If you want to see the best contemporary art in the city, go to 14th St.

Anyway, Robin Rose is enjoying quite a show at Hemphill right now. The works on display are pure elegance. Sophisticated, rich, powerful... all from a little wax. While I didn't love every single piece in the show, I did find the overall installation to be breathtaking. I have heard many people talk about Rose being one of the top painters in D.C. Now I understand why. It's not that the work presents anything new, really. It's just done so darn well.

Celestial I-VII, 200
Encaustic on linen on aluminum hexcel panel
16" x 11" each
$20,000

24" x 18" each

Nodes on left, Conspire on right
Encaustic on linen on aluminum hexcel panel
24" x 18" each

These two paintings were easily my favorite individual pieces in the show. Conspire had sold, apparently for $9,200.

Likeness (Glassman Diptych)
Encaustic on linen on aluminum hexcel panel
30" x 24" each

Sharon Sanderson has a small show in the back room. When I was there the artist was putting the final touches on the installation and her family was there too. I couldn't snap any pictures and unfrotunately the Hemphill site isn't updated with images from the show. The only image I could find (of a piece in the show) was this one:

(Boat) Star of Wonder Star of Might/
Star with Royal Beauty Bright/
Westward Leading Stll Proceeding/
Guide us to the Perfect Light
mulitple-color silkscreen with unique wash
30" x 30", Edition of 5
2006

This piece was quite nice, I thought. It also was the best deal in the gallery at $900 framed. The other works in the show are a bit different... silkscreens on individual panels all hung together. For instance, one piece called, There's A Song in The Air, was made up of 32 panels that measured 20" x 20" each.

It's an interesting pairing to put Rose and Sanderson together like that.

Comments

[Eileen Wold]

I agree that it was an interesting pairing. The Robin Rose portion of the show is just meticulous. His works are impeccable and brilliant. I thought Sharon’s work was a bit sloppy in comparison. Although I liked her graphic aesthetic, it just felt like a strange pairing.

[Bill Evans]

Ask Robin, if you should see him, where a painting tentatively entitled, "The Place Where God Sits," might be found.