Leya Evelyn - There Is No Hidden Meaning Here

Nov. 6 - Nov. 27, Secord Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia

So what is it about Taos that I have a hard time finding great painters and shows like this one and the one below?  There are times when I regret not keeping Sagefarm Fine Art open.  But then Marti at J Fine Art reminds me of the things I don't miss about owning a gallery and I realize I'm fine just painting and letting her (and thankfully a few other gallerists) do the hard work.

Anyway.  Leya Evelyn's paintings are chock full of passion for form and color.  The swing back and forth between thoughtful composition and wild abandon is very compelling.  She clearly gives a lot of attention and effort into the application of paint and other materials on the canvas and on top of other paint and yet the pieces don't come off as overly studied, perhaps due to the scrumbling and the fast stroked oil stick on the eventual surface.

This one is 'Do You Have Another Idea? No. 1', 42" square, mixed media and collage on canvas

Dave Hickey informs us that lacking specific and obvious reasons we like certain paintings, we make them up.  Evelyn's title for this exhibit (as well as it being the title of a short series of a few of her paintings) would want the viewer to believe that her work is all about design and no deep thoughts.  Keeping Hickey's comment in mind, I still have an emotional response to Evelyn's work and the magic of  her palate.  Her work makes me believe there is the chance of hope and peace and new possibilites ahead without forgeting the history we've lived in order to get to this place.  More can be seen here:

http://www.secordgallery.com/gallery/view_album.php?set_albumName=album07

Of course, with abstract art, the viewer brings his or her baggage to the table.  And so, that's mine.  I'm interested if you select and few readers feel the same about Evelyn's paintings?  Go see art and make up your own mind.

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Leya Evelyn responds: “The title means both stop thinking and also, it’s a little the opposite: there’s lots of meaning, but only if you stop thinking.”  She continues, "Because of the many layers of collage, words, drawing and paint in my paintings, there is, naturally, hidden aspects–meanings, it you care to put it that way. Interpretation is very personal. What you see is, usually, relative to your experience. What I want is for the painting to be able to transport the viewer beyond that relative knowledge, the everyday experience, to discover what is without reference. Forget words and meaning: just experience what you see."