Long-Overdue Solo Exhibition by John U. Abrahamson at Bert Green Fine Art

Written by Bert Green Sunday, 14 March 2010 20:19

LOS ANGELES, CA.- Bert Green Fine Art presents a long-overdue solo exhibition by San Francisco based artist John U. Abrahamson, and the gallery debut of the works of Paul Guillemette. John U. Abrahamson paints in a dramatic, pained style which is born of a gothic sensibility, but fully transcends that stylistic limitation through the masterful application of technical skill in the service of a real, experiential subject matter. On exhibition through 24 April, 2010.

John U. Abrahamson’s “Flesh and Blood” includes 20 oils on wood and paper with a central installation work of the same title. The installation is steel, glass, wood, journals, blood and flesh: 650 suspended vials of the artist’s own blood and flesh create the shape of a prone human form that hovers 3 feet over 30 journals, 220 pages each, opened upon a table for the viewer to destroy—15 years worth of the artist’s daily writings. This is an interactive experience — the public is encouraged to tear and keep pages from the journals to assist in the purging of the artist's history.

In the artist’s words, "'Flesh and Blood' is catharsis. From the flesh and blood letting needed for the installation work to the subjects I gave form to in paint culminating in the destruction of 15 years worth of writings. An artist in midlife contemplating the waste, sloth and slowly approaching mortality of his life framed by moments of self-flagellation. My figures seem to have a resigned appreciation of their own personal hells."

Paul Guillemette uses found wood to create compositionally-driven sculpture, both free-standing and wall mounted. The act of “finding” is integral to the process, and the resultant artworks signify personal catharsis and inner joy. Finely crafted and sealed in clear resin, these works celebrate simple materiality as inspiration.

In the Project Windows, Jerico Woggon’s The Four Seasons is a four-part installation which will change with each season. Made of custom shapes and fluorecent paint, The Four Seasons interprets seasonal fluctuations in Woggon's signature graphic style, using color and black light.

Bert Green Fine Art exhibits contemporary artists from California and beyond, and works to further artistic dialogue and aesthetic development in Los Angeles. Bert Green, Gallery Director, graduated from New York University, and was the executive director of the New York based non-profit arts organization Circumference from 1982 through 1989. From 1992 to 1996, Mr. Green was a co-curator for the San Francisco based non-profit arts organization ArtReach. In the interim and throughout his career, he has organized many independent exhibitions prior to relocating to Los Angeles to open the Circle Elephant Art gallery in 1999, and Bert Green Fine Art in 2004.

Visit Bert Green Fine Art at : http://www.bgfa.us/

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