Square Painting/Plane Painting, an exhibition of contemporary non-objective art curated by Seattle artist Lauri Chambers with assistance from Rhonda Howard, opens Friday, January 10 and runs through Saturday, March 8, 1997. Included are painters Jacqueline Barnett, Jake Berthot, Alfonse Borysewicz, John Dunn, Suzan Frecon, Keiko Hara, Mary Henry, Denzil Hurley, Robert C. Jones, Dan E. May, Paul Mogensen, and Thomas Nozkowski. An exhibition of this size, featuring non-objective paintings, has not been mounted in Seattle for many years. Many in this group have not shown their work in Seattle.

Berthot

Borysewicz

Frecon

Henry

Nozkowski

A series of slide lectures and discussions by artists from the exhibition and an open slide screening for local painters will take place on Saturdays at Seattle Art Museum’s Lecture Hall and at CoCA. In conjunction with the exhibition, CoCA will publish a four-color exhibition catalog featuring one reproduction from each artist and an essay (How Do We Talk When We Talk About Abstract Art?) by Chris Bruce, Artistic Director, Meyerson & Nowinski Art Associates/former Senior Curator, Henry Art Gallery.

Curator Lauri Chambers, herself a painter, states: "This work is not easy. There really is no text that will explain it. It must be looked at. To do that takes some courage. To be willing to not understand--to not know-allows for the possibility of seeing." Chris Bruce writes: "...where, in the inherent power of the art, does it coerce the viewer’s eyes to be willingly dragged across the painting? Where is the hook, where is the opening, where are the starting blocks? How fast does one mark take, how slow another? When people say they don’t know what a painting means, they should be asked to describe what they see."

Square Painting/Plane Painting opening reception
Friday, January 10, 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Center on Contemporary Art, 65 Cedar Street, Seattle
$4 general admission / free for CoCA members

John Dunn, Alfonse Borysewicz slide lecture
Saturday, January 11, 2:00 p.m., reception following
Seattle Art Museum lecture hall, First & University
$3 general admission / free for CoCA members

Thomas Nozkowski slide lecture with curator Lauri Chambers
Saturday, January 18, 2:00 p.m., reception following
Seattle Art Museum lecture hall, First & University
$3 general admission / free for CoCA members

Keiko Hara and poet Tess Gallagher
Saturday, February 1, 2:00 p.m., reception following
Center on Contemporary Art, 65 Cedar Street, Seattle
$3 general admission / free for CoCA members

Open call for slides to local non-objective painters.
Show your slides & discuss your work.
Saturday, February 15, 2:00 p.m., reception following
Seattle Art Museum lecture hall, First & University
$3 general admission / free for CoCA members

Panel Discussion: "What is good painting?"
Moderated by Trevor Fairbrother with Jacqueline Barnett, Denzil Hurley, and Robert C. Jones
Saturday, March 1, 2:00 p.m., reception following
Seattle Art Museum lecture hall, First & University
(reception following at CoCA, 65 Cedar Street, Seattle)
$3 general admission / free for CoCA members