Artists "Review" Artists: Mark L. Power on Steven Alexander

The Artists "Review" Artists Project was launched on June 30, 2008.  Below is a "review" of Steven Alexander's work, AXIS, written by Mark L. Power.  Steven provided the second jpeg, an image of YOU AND YOU, as well as a brief response to Mark's "review."

Steven currently resides in Dalton, PA, and Mark lives in Silver Spring, MD.

If you would like to participate in this project, please email me at jtkirkland [at] gmail [dot] com.

AXIS
acrylic on canvas
72" x 60"
2007

The "Review"

So what is this object we have before us? An abstract acrylic painting called “Axis” featuring geometrical blocks of color-planes which play perceptual games as they recede and advance.  I try to keep in mind when viewing the small digital image that this painting is six feet high and five feet wide; in other words it has an imposing physical presence that one has to mostly imagine, although I fill my 24” screen as much as possible with the image.  Also it seems to have some textural interest which emphasize this painting’s architectural qualities; they are not only color blocks, they might also be building blocks. One can imagine a building with an “Axis’ façade; it might be quite an exciting structure. The perceptual color shifts bring to mind Josef Albers but it has been quite a while since I’ve examined his color theories.

It strikes me as a somewhat ‘academic’ painting, a word that is bound to raise hackles. When I use the term I simply mean it is a well-executed, professionally competent painting by an obviously well-schooled artist.  What is missing for me is inspiration and individuality but I say that guardedly, giving the limitations of viewing a single work as a digital image; in other words, I’m not contemplating the real thing and there is no substitute for that experience.

On the subject of limitations, I might mention my own as a reviewer. I am a photographer who works for the most part figuratively. It is ironic that I get an abstract work to review as I submitted an abstract piece myself, mostly out of curiosity to see what reaction I would get as abstraction is not my usual métier.

My own taste in art leans towards the figurative, although I appreciate Mark Rothko, Barnett Newman and Robert Motherwell. Gene Davis and I were good friends and often discussed the shifts in perception caused by his use of color stripes. I also appreciated the subtle color shifts in the work of the minimalist sculptor-painter, Ann Truitt. I indulge myself with this name-dropping, not my usual practice, to show I am not totally unfamiliar with color abstraction.
   
But another perhaps more serious limitation is that I am mildly color blind and sometimes confuse subtle shades of red and green, although with ‘Axis’ I had no trouble distinguishing  the greens  from the reds and oranges. But with this work, color shifts are everything and even the possibility that I am seeing different shades of color than the less impaired viewer would rule me out a reviewer of this work.
In other words, had I been professionally assigned to review this artist’s work, I would have probably recused myself.  I am sorry to go on at such length about myself but I thought the artist would appreciate the context of my comments on his or her art which, when all is said and done, I would like to see more of.

By Mark L. Power

YOU AND YOU
acrylic on canvas over wood
5 1/2" x 11"
2008

The Response

Thanks Mark -- I appreciate your comments. I don't feel any particular affinity for Albers and the academic approach to color, but I do relate to the intuitive approach of Davis and Truitt (both of whom I consider to be severely underappreciated), and of course to Rothko and Newman and their lineage to Matisse.

I took a peek at your website, and am most impressed -- wonderful work. I particularly love the portraits, and the great color in your Florida series. What is most striking is that each series is infused with empathy and feeling that is specific to each subject -- giving us not just the image through your lens but the feeling of its presence.

By Steven Alexander

Previous "Reviews":
Pam Farrell on Ken Weathersby
Paula McCullough on Aric Calfee
Lee Gainer on Leigh Waldron-Taylor
Aric Calfee on Paula McCullough
Matthew Ballou on Heather Levy
Giovanni Garcia-Fenech on TJ Norris
TJ Norris on Giovanni Garcia-Fenech
Susan Tolbert on Mary Klein
Heather Levy on Gail Vollrath
Sharon Butler on Matthew Ballou

Comments

[paula]

I am not generally a fan of painting, it's usually so flat ~ for the most part I prefer more dimension in art; having said that, these works speak to me! I love how industrial they are. I purposely have not checked to see his other works just yet, I wanted to soak these in for what they were all on their own. So bare and raw, perfect use of color.