Haussmann’s environments; Ringholz’s celebrities

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

By Henry Sweets

Bernd Haussmann uses colors that are vivid enough to taste.

And his upcoming show at the Muse Gallery is a good opportunity for those who know very little about contemporary art to give it a try.

He uses splatters and flourishes of bright paint and glazed textures to create very simple paintings. Blues, greens, reds, oranges and rich burnt shades of anything go with colors you might not have suspected. His art is magnetic and enjoyable.

There is no need to search for hidden meanings or stories on the surface, but to enjoy something pleasant to look at. Stil, seasoned art appreciators will have plenty of fodder. His different textures, layers and colors are carefully orchestrated despite their freedom, and a closer look will reveal that the visual image is only possible through some secret process, or timing of the way different materials were applied and dried in relation to each other. The show includes oil and mixed media paintings on wood, aluminum, canvas and paper. To see the way his process reacts to the different bases could be the most fascinating part of the show.

Like a band that plays different styles of music but has the same singer’s voice, his art represents different tastes or types of human experience, despite their similarities. Haussmann’s show “Subjective Environments” opens from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. this Thursday, July 17, at Muse Gallery, 62 S. Glenwood Street. Call 733-0555 for more information.

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For a glimpse into the future of the western wildlife art scene, step into Mountain Trails Gallery to check out the work of local painter Amy Ringholz. The free, contemporary style with which she paints wild animals has been capturing the eyes of collectors for the last few years, and she can’t seem to paint enough to keep up with demand.

She starts her paintings by laying down loose lines with a turkey baster and India ink. Then she shades in between the lines with earth tones and “bright, bold reds, turquoises and oranges,” she said. The result is something flashy enough to catch your eye, but not too overpowering. Her work is, coincidentally, a decorator’s dream. Her last show at Mountain Trails was a sell out at the opening.

This show has some really large paintings, which fit her style well because the movement and action in her paintings are more comfortable with space to breathe. Ringholz said painting big helps her stay loose, which could explain why her large paintings have such a good feel.

Her new show, “Local Celebrities,” will open this weekend at Mountain Trails Gallery. After painting in Jackson for five years, she has returned to the subjects that inspired her to move here: buffalo, moose and elk. She said she likes to think that the animals of Teton County are its biggest attraction, whether they know it or not.
The celebration for her work will have a “Hollywood-esque” theme, complete with champagne to honor these ironic superstars.
The reception will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday at Mountain Trails, at 160 Center St. Call 734-8154 for information.

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Have you ever wondered how a traditional western painter could paint a bear or a cowboy in the middle of an idyllic mountain setting, when they might never have seen that exact scene, or even a photograph of it?

This Thursday, Galleries West will present “From Thought to Finish,” a show that will depict the different ways artists get to a final product by including their plein air sketches or paintings alongside the finished work.

It is interesting to see the different methods the artists use, to imagine them actually standing in the mountains somewhere, preparing the painting.

Participating artist and gallery assistant Jennifer Hoffman said the gallery received 100 percent positive response when they asked their artists if they would like to participate in the show.

See the process, “From Thought to Finish,” at the opening reception from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 17, at Galleries West Fine Art, 70 S. Glenwood. Call 733-4412 for more information.

Courtesy
Bernd Haussmann, 1679 Untitled, oil and mixed media on aluminum, 2008.

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Haussmann’s environments; Ringholz’s celebrities | Planet JH News Article: Arts Beat

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