Archive for September, 2010

Next show: Chaos Theory 11, opening October 1 at Legend City Studios

Monday, September 27th, 2010
Chaos Theory 11

Starting this Friday, October 1, I will be exhibiting a new painting along with works by more than 50 of Phoenix’s most well-respected artists in Chaos Theory. The much-anticipated 11th edition of this invitational group show will be held at Legend City Studios, 521 W. Van Buren, in downtown Phoenix. Google map and directions here.

Opening night festivities, which are open to the public, will take place between 6 p.m. and midnight. Admission is free. The show will conclude at the end of November.

For this year’s Chaos Theory, I will be showing a modern graphic painting titled Hexagonal Banfield Forcefield.

In last year’s Chaos Theory 10, I showed SuperAcid Autobacs Ambilify, a fluorescent-paint packed abstract acrylic art work.

Artists exhibiting in this year’s Chaos Theory include: Rafael Navarro, Joshua Rhodes, Rick Toerne, Steven J Yazzie, James Angel, David Dauncey, Suzie Falk, Brent Bond, Steve Hoffberger, Luiz Gutierrez, Melissa Martinez, Kate Twist, Bobby Castaneda, Lara Plecas, Jeff Falk, Annie Lopez, Michael Zep, Dave Quan, Danielle Hacche, Brian Boner, Christina Ramirez, Fausto Fernandez, Shauna Thibault, Greg Esser, Pete Deise, Carrie Marill, Cindy Dach, Hector Ruiz, Molten Brothers, Alex Krump, Jesse Rieser, William LeGoullon, Leslie Englert Yazzie, Henry Schoebel, Leon Lucero, Joe Willie Smith, John Colona, Colin Chillag, Kathleen D Cone, Grant Wiggins, Matt Priebe, John Randall Nelson, Eddie Shea, Sergio Aguirre, Steve Gompf, Jason Rudolph Pena, Jehu, Randy Slack, John Balinkie, and Brandon Sullivan.

I sincerely thank Randy Slack for inviting me to participate in Chaos Theory 11. It should be a great show and a lot of fun.

— Grant Wiggins

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Featured in new book: Acrylic Innovation

Saturday, September 25th, 2010
Acrylic Innovation Book
See a full preview of Acrylic Innovation on Amazon.com

I am proud to convey to you that two of my paintings are showcased in Acrylic Innovation: Styles and Techniques Featuring 64 Visionary Artists, a survey of current approaches to acrylic painting by Nancy Reyner.

This fantastic book is very much like a sourcebook — it is geared toward helping artists find new ideas, approaches, and techniques for paintings. Acrylic Innovation is also an eye-opening account of just how vast and varied painting has become, in subject matter and technique. There’s even room for nonobjective, nonrepresentational artists.

With a sweeping perspective on acrylic painting, Acrylic Innovation examines paintings according to twenty-nine “styles,” as Ms. Reyner writes, “from photorealism to minimal color field and everything in between.”

Throughout Acrylic Innovation, as Ms. Reyner offers examples of paintings that represent a given approach, she complements these with a discussion of featured techniques on the facing page.

My paintings are featured in two different places in this book. First, on page 82, under the banner Variations on Confronting the Viewer, you’ll find Where Is Gibarian?, a maximal painting I produced in 2008. The supporting caption, titled Variation 2: Shockingly Bright Color reads, “Fluorescent orange paint vibrates, layers collide and colors bounce off each other. Grant Wiggins likes his work to clash and uses advertising and corporate logos for the basis of his inspiration.” I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Acrylic Innovation Book
Acrylic Innovation Book

Elsewhere, in the Minimal section, on page 134, under the banner Variations on a Singular Note, you will find Spaceloop Two, another painting from 2008.

“Racing stripes are graphically illuminated with fluorescent paint and emphasized on a solid black background,” Ms. Reyner writes. I invite you to learn more about the inspiration for this painting in a March 2008 blog post.

For me, it is a massive honor to be showing my work with so many remarkably talented contemporary artists. I’m in very good company. Likewise, it has been a pleasure to work with Ms. Reyner on lending images of my work to her book.

This book was just released on Amazon.com, and seems to be selling quite well. I wish Ms. Reyner the best of success with her book.

Thanks for reading,
— Grant Wiggins

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New Modern Graphic Painting: Hexagonal Banfield Forcefield

Thursday, September 23rd, 2010
modern graphic painting

I would like to introduce you to my newest painting, Hexagonal Banfield Forcefield. Measuring 81 centimeters high by 61 inches wide (32 x 24 inches), this modern graphic painting was produced between August 19 – 31, 2010, and underwent a few minor adjustments since.

Banfield Football Shirt

The inspiration for this piece is a football (soccer) shirt worn by the Argentine team Banfield in 2006, shown at right. I love the diagonal slash, as well as the clashing orange and green color scheme.

The hexagonal pattern coursing through the background of my painting is one I invented over the summer. And I planted a couple of oblique (or not so oblique) references to corporate logos, too. Can you name them?

To be certain, the finished product was a giant migration away from the initial point of inspiration. For modern graphic paintings like these, that’s the way it should be. Each of these compositions opens the door to seemingly infinite approaches to color, form, and combinations thereof. I like having room to maneuver and improvise.

What’s more, this way of composing a painting affords incredible, inexhaustible flexibility to invent something new. At the same time, it is also very challenging to find balance in the right places. I am trying to strike a balance of dynamic forms.

And so, you will note that I have taken a break from producing minimalist paintings for a while. The ideas are still coming along, however. One day I will shift gears again, I am sure.

Thanks for reading.

— Grant Wiggins

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Douglas Nielsen, Art Collector

Thursday, September 9th, 2010

I’d like you to meet Douglas Nielsen, a collector of my art who is the unifying force behind the 75 works of art on display in Thanks for Being with Us: Contemporary Art from the Douglas Nielsen Collection, at Tucson Museum of Art (TMA) through October 10, 2010.

The following video offers a glimpse into the life of a person who collects art with a passion — buying art that interests him, not promises a return on investment. His collection — which includes hundreds of works from legendary and lesser-known artists of our time alike — completely eclipses the walls of his Tucson loft.

A professor of dance at University of Arizona, Nielsen is one of the most genuine, tuned-into-the-moment persons you could meet. And I don’t say this because he owns two of my paintings: Hands (in the current TMA show) and Open System (in the 2009 Arizona Biennial at the TMA). I truly admire Nielsen for his open-mindedness, willingness to take creative risks as a choreographer, and enthusiasm for learning and changing as a person.

Despite his wealth of professional accomplishments in the field of dance (recipient of four fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, for starters), he is remarkably down-to-earth and approachable.

I’m proud to call Douglas Nielsen one of my collectors. But don’t take my word for it. Please watch the video.

— Grant Wiggins

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