Artists "Review" Artists: Rob Hitzig on Susan Constanse

The Artists "Review" Artists Project was launched on June 30, 2008.  Below is a "review" of Susan Constanse's work, Untitled (Unreal Spaces series), written by Rob Hitzig.  Susan provided the second jpeg, an image of Untitled (Unreal Spaces series), as well as a brief response to Rob's "review."

Susan currently resides in Pittsburgh, PA, and Rob lives in Montpelier, VT.

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

                     
Untitled (Unreal Spaces series)
Oil on canvas
24" x 18"
2008

The "Review"

One of the most interesting aspects of art, for me, is seeing the artist through their work.  In getting to know artists, I am always amazed at how perfectly the art matches the person.  Their work is always a clear, direct, window into their inner being.  It lets you see what is going on beneath the surface and should/does make artists feel very vulnerable as the world looks into their soul.  In being given just one painting -- no history, no background -- giving a critic is a very interesting and difficult task.  What does one piece in isolation say about an artist or about what they are trying to accomplish?  It is like drawing a trend line with one data point. Can someone look into your eyes and see your soul? Perhaps, but I think George Bush would have had better luck if he asked Putin to paint him a picture instead.

This painting is interesting and scary. These ribbons are floating in deep space or deep in the ocean, in a very dark place.  One light source projects out.  Oddly, the light source is blue and it enlightens both the white and the red. Does the blue symbolize peace? Personal, political, or both? Is this an overtly political piece?  Is the artist saying something about the USA, either consciously or unconsciously? I don’t know but I believe that this is both a political and a spiritual person and that they have these issues on the forefront of their mind.  Is this person a light in what they perceive to be a dark place?  Or, are they in a dark place, looking, searching, or hoping to find the light?

The initial feeling is that the ribbons are isolated, but closer examination reveals that there is more around the ribbons.  If only more light were projected or created in the space, the ribbons would not be so alone.  I believe the painter is calling for more light. I believe the artist believes it would be a much more interesting and beautiful world with more light, unfortunately, in painting the way the world exists through the artists eyes, there wasn’t enough light at the time.  We should all hope for more light in the future.

The only thing that concerns me about the painting is the two brown ribbons projecting on the lower section.  I feel there is a disconnect there.  What does it have to do with the rest of the painting?  It feels to me to be a distraction that doesn’t relate to the rest.  What does it mean and why is it there?  Hope reaching out? Is this person a great fan of Barack Obama? I don’t know whether this is intentionally or unintentionally a political statement but it seems forced. Regardless, I think it is interesting and I would like to see more.  There is a subtle depth to the work that draws you in and calls for closer examination.

By Rob Hitzig

           
Untitled (Unreal Spaces series)
Oil on canvas
30" x 25"
2008

The Response

I appreciate the time Mr. Hitzig took to consider this work from the Unreal Spaces series.

It has always been my opinion that it is the viewer that completes a work. This completion, as Mr. Hertzig points out, is difficult when based on one work. It is doubly so when the work is non-narrative.

By Susan Constanse

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
Mark L. Power on Steven Alexander
Steven Alexander on Mark L. Power
Molly Norris on M. Trigos
Ken Weathersby on Joseph Barbaccia
Sondra Arkin on Susan Tolbert
John M. Adams on Sharon Butler
Michael Paul Oman-Reagan on Brent Hallard
Daniel Mafe on Pam Farrell
Joanna Knox on John M. Adams
John Lucien Grillo on Joanna Knox
Brent Hallard on Lisa Klow
Joseph Barbaccia on John Lucien Grillo
M. Trigos on Michael Paul Oman-Reagan
Mary Klein on Imants Ozers
Richard Schemmerer on Michael Konrad
Michael Konrad on Richard Schemmerer
Jennifer Mawby on Lee Gainer
Lisa Klow on Molly Norris
Bob Barbera on Jenn Figg
Tom Wagner on Kimberley L. Lindsley
Michelle Hunter on Aaron McMasters
Gail Vollrath on Daniel Mafe
Aaron McMasters on Michelle Hunter
Demetrius Romanos on Chris Rywalt
Chris Rywalt on Demetrius Romanos
Imants Ozers on Sondra Arkin
Timothy Buckwalter on Rob Hitzig

Comments

[*]

The paintings are nice and have compelling floaty lyricism-- a type of space couched in surrealism and 1950's abstract painting.

The political projections made by the reviewer, though, (Bush and Putin, etc.) are kind of bizarre. Brown ribbons standing in for Obama? Strange. (If we're going down that road, maybe we'd have had better luck if we had asked Bush to paint us a picture instead! Who wouldn't trade a wacky outsider painting of a cowboy for the last eight years of disaster!)

[Rob Hitzig]

I agree, totally wacky interpretation. Don't know where that came from. All I can say is that after staring at the painting for a while, it had the power to take my mind places I don't understand and can't justify. I do like the work though, especially the second one.

[*]

Rob-- I know what you mean about the mind going strange places! Hope I didn't sound harsh before.

[sus]

Hi Rob,

I was a little surprised at your political interpretation, too.

I really like the idea that my paintings take your to strange places. Thank you, both Rob and Anon.

[John M. Adams]

These paintings remind me of the work of DC Artist Pat Goslee: http://www.patgoslee.com/recent_01.html
Although not quit as layered...