ARTFULLY yours
BY DAN CRAIG
S
outh Valley locals and visitors may know
the region is rich in agriculture, wineries,
restaurants and recreational offerings,
what some may not know is that it’s also rich
in the arts. This article will shed some light on
abstract art, an elusive, often misunderstood
genre of visual arts.
Abstract art is a contemporary art form
evolving from the modern art movement that
began with the Impressionists in the later 19th
century. Artists such as Monet, Renoir and
Pissarro aimed to capture the momentary, sen-
sory effect of a scene – the impression objects
made on the eye in a fleeting instant. The
Expressionists of the early 1900s expanded on
Impressionism and began creating an abstract
style of art. The abstract movement, though
international in scope, is generally thought
to have officially begun in the 1940s in New
York City after World War II.
It is described as art that does not endeavor
to characterize an external reality, but uses
shapes, forms, colors and textures to achieve
its effect. The result is a composition that
bears no resemblance to visual references in
the world. Artwork that alters color and form
in ways that are obvious may be said to be
partially abstract, but total abstraction bears
no resemblance to anything recognizable.
Valle del Sur Art Guild, Morgan Hill Art
Gallery and Gilroy Arts Alliance showcase
abstract artists as members and are a good des-
tinations to explore for an array of art genres,
including abstract art.
ABOVE: Laurie Barmore in her
studio with oil painting, “That
We Might Meet.”
RIGHT: Gary Coleman’s paint-
ing, “Stravinsky” at the Odeum
restaurant in Morgan Hill.
FAR RIGHT: Gary Coleman in his
studio with oil painting “Force vs.
Stability.”
Photos By Dan Craig
62
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
MARCH/APRIL 2016
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