Archive for September, 2009

Arizona Biennial closes; Chaos Theory 10 opens Oct 2

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

As one long-running Arizona art show ends, another one is set to begin.

Over the weekend, I finally got to check out Tucson Museum of Art’s Arizona Biennial 09, which closed Sunday, September 27. And as I took down Open System from the wall, I felt truly honored to be a part of such a highly esteemed event, which brings together some of Arizona’s best art works every two years. Indeed, Arizona Biennial is consistently one of the best Arizona art shows. I’m already debating whether I should submit work to the 2011 show!

arizona art shows
Open System — now in a private collection — right before I “de-installed” it. (I love that word.)

Thankfully, I have Chaos Theory 10 to look forward to. Organized by artist Randy Slack and his colleagues for a tenth year in a row, Chaos Theory brings together many of Phoenix’s most well-known artists. For me, though, this will be my first time showing in Chaos Theory, which also is one of the best Arizona art shows. And I’m thankful to Randy Slack for inviting me. Read Arizona Republic’s coverage of the event here.

arizona art shows

There’s more to Arizona art shows than the Cowboy Artists of America show. Trust me.

Thanks for stopping by. Until next time —
Grant Wiggins

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Fall 2009 Collection of Paintings Now Online

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

With the arrival of the autumnal equinox, at 21:18 UTC (2:18 PDST), I present to you my very own “fall harvest”: my Fall 2009 Collection of paintings.

I call it Circles with Corners, and you will find it in this gallery of contemporary abstract paintings.

geometric abstraction
Click image above to view the entire collection

The collection brings together 18 works that I have painted since early July. It encompasses 10 full-scale paintings, 2 smaller works and 6 studies. All are acrylic on canvas. Although I worked very hard to produce as much, I surely wish I could have made more. I always do.

For that reason, I very well may add more pieces to this collection over the next couple of weeks. There remain a few more ideas I’d like to explore; the autumnal equinox arrived before I could give them form.

Why do I call this collection Circles with Corners? For one, there is a literal sense: The controlling design, which I continue to return to throughout this collection, has a rounded hexagonal shape. It is like a circle with corners, and it embodies my idea of “geometric abstraction.” Two, since I continued to revisit the same design, there is a circularity going on; yet, I also took it in new directions — I turned a corner a few times.

Will there be a Spring 2010 collection? It all depends on how well this concept is received. If you demand one loudly enough, I just might oblige!

I must admit that focusing my creative energy on one goal — a unified collection with a controlling theme of geometric abstraction — has been an exhilarating experience. I’ve learned so much about my art-making process, and I’ve reconnected with my instincts, creatively.

I hope you enjoy the collection, and I look forward to your feedback.

Best,
Grant Wiggins

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An update on my Fall 2009 Painting Collection

Friday, September 4th, 2009

Of late, I have been working with notable alacrity on my fall 2009 painting collection, which I will unveil on the autumnal equinox: Tuesday, September 22, 21:18 UTC. More about the idea behind the collection of paintings.

fall 2009 painting collection
My painting table on September 4, 2009, as I near the home stretch of completing my fall 2009 painting collection.

Despite the occasional “big decision” about where this painting collection is headed, I am very much enjoying the process of making this painting collection happen. Making is what art is all about, after all.

So, as I write this, I have completed 12 pieces thus far. In other words, I am 80 percent of the way toward my stated goal of 15 works. The painting collection could approach 20 works, if I’m fortunate to have the requisite time.

I would show you images of these new works, but I don’t want to diminish the suspense.

To speed the process of giving form to my ideas and sketches, I have begun to use canvas panels — which is a surprise, because I once discounted them, albeit wrongly. Panels have freed up my time tremendously; I don’t spend hours stretching canvas over stretcher bars, only to remove the finished canvases, and roll them up, later.

I have discovered that canvas panels are perfect for painting studies, and variations of paintings. They enable me to test new ideas economically.

I once thought that every painting I made had to be as huge as possible. Now I’m enjoying the economy of expression afforded by making smaller modern paintings, in the range of 20 – 30cm.

Long story short, I’m finding that one painting is easily translating to the next. And dare I say it, painting is fun again.

I’ll keep you posted on my progress. Can’t wait to unveil the collection.

Best,
Grant Wiggins

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