Unreal Spaces series - Recent Works by Susan Constanse

Unreal Spaces series
Recent Works by Susan Constanse
Imagebox
4933 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
(412) 441-0930
imagebox.com

Contact: Susan Constanse
412-969-7689
susanconstanse(AT)gmail.com

Unreal Spaces series - Recent Works by Susan Constanse

Pittsburgh… Paintings from Susan Constanse’s Unreal Spaces series will be on display during the month of October. Imagebox, 4933 Penn Ave., October 1 - 29, 2010. Opening reception: Friday, October 1, 2010: 7-10PM. Free

Unreal Spaces series - Recent Works by Susan Constanse

Ms. Constanse will be presenting works from her Unreal Spaces series at Imagebox in Garfield, While several of the pieces from the series have been included in group shows, this exhibit is the first exclusive assemblage of the works.

In The Unreal Spaces series, Ms. Constanse wields a precise brush and a complex palette. Moving from atmospheric effects to idiosyncratic line within the bounds of each canvas, the works indeed express an Unreal Space.

The show is available for viewing during the opening reception, all other times by appointment only. Contact Susan Constanse at susanconstanse@gmail.com to set up a meeting.



Artist Statement
Unreal Spaces series

I am a habitual pedestrian, using public transportation only for journeys further than two miles. In my walks through the neighborhoods of Pittsburgh, I became very aware of the structure of the streets, with its triangle blocks, breezeways and alleys. The streets echo back to the birth of the city, when pathways evolved along the contours of the land, seeking always the path of least resistance. The city has an organic quality to its structure, with houses and buildings evolving and decaying in their use and function. Much of the architecture has strange, almost purposeless, features.

The geography implied in Unreal Spaces references the architecture and contours of Pittsburgh. The works do not reflect a physical landscape but are a recording of foot travel and its purpose; an abstract auto-geography. As I travel between my home and various points around my city, I am fully engaged, taking the time to observe building facades and the odd corners and spaces between structures.

The paintings take several sessions over the course of a month. In this respect, the works are like a portrait, not of a moment but of a time span. The difference between a portrait and a photograph is just this distinction; that the artist records their observations over a period of time, providing a denser and more meaningful representation.

Light features highly in the work, specifically referenced in adding dimension and depth through veils, shafts and implied reflection. Palette, which is a subtle and complex vocabulary, is integral to my work. Color, in all of its values, provides a way of creating a subtext within individual works.

I am influenced by the design and color characteristics explored by painters like Klee and Kandinsky. Klee’s compositions and palette are emotionally orchestrated, implying movement and space beyond the confines of the individual works. Kandinsky is a master at reconciling objective and non-objective elements.

Materials

Paintings. The paint is applied in thin layers, building from broad foundations to greater complexity in color and in hand. The paintings are allowed to mature and are finished with Dammar varnish.

Works on paper. The works on paper allow a casual exploration of themes and materials.

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www.susanconstanse.com


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