By M. “Charlie” Ferrazzi, Special to the Independent
“Contemporary Abstraction,” Community Art Project’s newest juried exhibition, showcases the works of Kate Cohen, Halverson Frazier and Fred Hope. The juried show presents some of the current directions that the genre of Abstract Art is moving, from the viewpoints of these well-established artists.
A mixed media artist, Cohen layers her work with acrylic, charcoal, oil pastel, oil, ink and varnish, experimenting as she goes to see the results. Her works start from something that may catch the corner of her eye; something that keeps nudging her on until she allows it to become a vision that can be put into reality. Then it is a matter of “what if” that drives it. What if she uses particular materials, colors, lines, shapes, experimenting until she feels she has arrived at her finished piece.
Cohen’s latest series, “Explanation of the Doodle,” combines the playfulness of whimsy and the beat of urban slang, utilizing her layering and strong love of lines. In the piece titled “Waka Boo” (she ain’t gotta work no mo), there is a feeling of lightness and freedom; shapes and lines move the eye around the piece into the various areas of color while the texture of the paper gives more dimension.
Frazier works from the perspective of memory and metaphor. His work brings in a sensorial response as well as a visual one. Using a fine glaze technique, he builds transparent layer upon layer giving an atmosphere quality to each piece. Some pieces start with a metallic layer of paint which may give a glow to the finished work, or it may not show at all. Sometimes there is texture added to give more depth to the work.
In Frazier’s “Transposition Series,” he uses this technique and skill in creating layers that, rather than build on one another seem to reveal or expose the under layers like rock formations.
Hope’s “Tidal Zone” and “Monolith” series draw from nature, memory and imagination. Growing up on Corona del Mar Beach, he experienced the light, colors and the effect of the natural elements on his surroundings. He has also been working with Wayne Thiebaud in recent years to push and expand his exploration of abstraction.
Based on his experiences and memory, and his work with Thiebaud, Hope approaches his work without planning, but instead uses intuitive paint handling, a free-form way of pushing the color around and watching the results. This method frees up his mind and allows him to further experiment getting deeper into abstraction, letting the paint do the talking.
“Abstraction Study,” from his “Tidal Zone” series, is a piece that came from his free-form method. Loose shapes in a light palette with punches of color and light line work come together with a feeling of the sun and being outdoors, a sense of place and not a defined image.
The three artists share common threads not just in the genre of their work, but also in their passion for creating, experimenting and sharing their world with art lovers.
The show rings the second floor of Wells Fargo, 260 Ocean Ave., and can be seen during business hours, through mid-August.
Charlie Ferrazi formerly owned the Esther Wells Gallery in Laguna Beach.
