Todd Ford (visit his website and blog) is an American artist painting photorealistic still life with conventional subjects — but arranging them in exotic and highly saturated compositions. And at times that means disfiguring or even destroying the depicted item; such is the case with his series of broken bottles paintings. The sharp naked edges of the glass literally cut into and slice the space around them, as if taking a blind revenge on their implicit host. The necks, upside-down or turning away from the viewer, as if desecrated, appear as trophies of destruction itself. Yet, the round softness of the intact glass necks and bottoms counterpoises the irregularity of the broken angular lines, implying a literal synthesis: all the pieces, sharp and round, are made of glass.
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February 29th, 2008
10:56 pm
Polls
I am pleased to announce that Todd Ford is the next reviewed artist.
Congratulations!
He won by a very wide margin, which leads me to suspect that a network of supporters and fans was involved in the voting.
I think that it is a good idea to ask friends to vote, because, first, it brings traffic to Art & Critique, which always makes me happy and, second, eventually gives a hopefully worthwhile exposure to the elected artist.
I actually believe that the best way to improve voting results would be for participants to announce about the poll on their respective blogs. I feel uncomfortable soliciting links, but this would be a mutual link exchange — and with an actual purpose behind it.
Anyway, back to work.
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Reading about classic Chevrolet cars I learned that there is a consensus about the flamboyant, excessive automobile designs of the late fifties. A 57 Chevy calls for a stylish match in terms of pictorial representation, and Vic aptly offers grotesque viewing angles and close ups that emphasize the magisterial metallic bodies, which have long been lauded to epitomize an entire era in post war America. That these cars are now sought for collectibles reflects a nostalgia for that era — and the artist probes into the collective sentiment, as well as partakes in it: his paintings remind why these machines are so irresistible, and how much care and affection they elicit from their owners and admirers, in either actual or painterly form.
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February 27th, 2008
12:50 am
Polls
I have not yet worked out a complete format, but it boils down to this: the elected artist will be the next reviewed painter on Art & Critique.
One possible way to proceed would be that votes for the two other artists would accumulate so that when nominated once more, they would stand a higher chance to be elected. That way, being featured on Art & Critique would eventually be only a matter of time.
These are the artists participating in current poll, which is planned to close on the first of March.
I encourage you to click these links and check these websites before casting your vote.
Todd Ford from Texas, USA.
Visit Todd Ford’s website and blog.
M Collier from California, USA.
Visit M Collier’s Daily Painter’s Gallery and blog.
Todd Bonita from New Hampshire, USA.
Visit Todd Bonita’s website and blog.
GOOD LUCK!
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I once bought a carton of unusual eggs. They were chicken’s alright — the anomaly went in a different direction: every other time after breaking an egg, I ended up with two yolks in the pan. I have to admit that I felt a slight pang of regret and otherwise inexplicable emotional response at the sight of this memorable phenomenon — hypothetical twins floating in the limpid liquid. After the second occurrence I felt strangely unsure, my hands were trembling and light, I was nervous. “Should I be sorry?” thought I, “And ponder the what-ifs?” I did when I had a whole chicken on Passover last year… Well, for me, these paintings transcend their own visual power to evoke such seemingly trivial memories and perhaps even force a reassessment of them as more meaningful.
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