David Ligare at the Triton

There is an absolutely stunning retrospective of David Ligare‘s paintings currently on at the Triton Museum of Art.  I could try to stumble around a description of his work, the impeccable technique, the fine draftsmanship, the exquisite sense of light and place, the billowing drapery caught on a sea breeze, the classically themed allegories with their sensitively rendered figures and buildings but all of this seems to exist on a higher plain that needs to be seen and experienced rather than clumsily communicated by me. David Ligare – California Classicist runs until August 14 and must be seen to be appreciated!  Here are a few pictures from last Friday’s Opening Reception:

Me standing in front of Arete – simply a stunning masterpiece!

And better still standing in front of Arete with the artist David Ligare himself!

                       

Coung Nguyen, getting his book signed by the artist,  Docta Pietas – Oil on Canvas – Collection of Barbara N. Hyland and William G. Hyland,   Preston Metcalf Executive Director of the Triton and Marianne McGrath, Curator NUMU in conversation.

David Molesky and David Ligare in front of Landscape with an Archer – Oil on canvas –  collection of the Pasadena Museum of California Art.

Artists David Molesky and Holly Lane viewing the exhibition.

The model for Penelope was present at the reception and inspired a photography frenzy!

                          

Rock – Oil on canvas – Collection of Lorna Meyer Calas and Dennis Calas

50 and Looking Forward

To celebrate turning 50 the Triton Museum of Art organized a forward looking exhibition of emerging and mid-career artists that will play an important role in the art scene into the future. I was able to meet with a number of the artists at the opening reception last Friday and while this post is by no means comprehensive, I hope it will give readers a taste for more of the exciting work in 50 and Looking Forward which runs until July 12, 2015. Click on the names of the artists for links to their websites.

50 and Looking Forward - Triton - Demetris Washington - photo Marie Cameron 2015

Mind of Gold is a dynamic, bold and colorful painting by Demetris “BAMR” Washington, his tag standing for Becoming A Man Righteously. I wish I’d asked him to tell me about his imagery it’s really intriguing!

50 and Looking Forward - Triton - Shannon Amindon- photo Marie Cameron 2015

Shannon Amindon  and her lovely, layered, mixed media encaustic silhouettes.

50 and Looking Forward - Triton - Shannon Amindon - Stirred by the Wind - photo Marie Cameron 2015

Stirred by the Wind by Shannon Amindon.

50 and Looking Forward - Triton - Julie Hughes - Spore(kle) - photo Marie Cameron 2015

Spore(kle) (detail) installation by Julia Hughes  – acrylic on mylar, paper, wax, glue, thread.

50 and Looking Forward - Triton - Jaya King, The Chicken That Saved the Day and honey : hand model  -  photo Marie Cameron 2015

Jaya King,  her mixed media gouache, The Chicken that Saved the Day and her honey / hand model reenacting the scene.

50 and Looking Forward - Triton - Jojo Perea -The Beautiful Teacher- photo Marie Cameron 2015

The Beautiful Teacher by Jojo Perea painted on recycled cardboard, there was a magnifying glass on hand to catch the fine details.

50 and Looking Forward - Triton - Pantea Karimi - photo Marie Cameron 2015

Pantea Karimi turns to early Persian texts and scientific illustrations for longue durée clues to today’s environment. She meticulously recreates styles of alphabets to employ in her work, these marks at times resembling birds or waves or bookends. Subtle, smart and intriguing!

50 and Looking Forward - Pantea Karimi - Water, Earth Air, Wood -  photo Marie Cameron 2015

Water, Earth, Air, Wood by Pantea Karimi.

50 and Looking Forward - Triton - Cuong Nguyen and model - photo Marie Cameron 2015

Exceptional portraitist, Cuong Nguyen and his beautifully bearded model.

50 and Looking Forward - Triton - Miguel Machuca - Unlocking through Fear- photo Marie Cameron 2015

Unlocking Through Fear by Miguel Machuca.

50 and Looking Forward - Triton - Vanessa Callanta - photo Marie Cameron 2015

Vanessa Callanta and her personality filled portraits.

50 and Looking Forward - Triton - Viviana Paredes - photo Marie Cameron 2015

Viviana Paredes works with glass and natural materials in her sculptures that explore a cultural tradition of the natural and the sacred in an changing world.

50 and Looking Forward - Triton - Viviana Paredes corn cache detail - photo Marie Cameron 2015             50 and Looking Forward - Triton - Viviana Paredes - Talismu - photo Marie Cameron 2015           50 and Looking Forward - Triton - Viviana Paredes - Heirloom Corn Cache  - photo Marie Cameron 2015

Heirloom corn kernels in glass flasks (details from wall installation)  and Talismu by Viviana Paredes.

50 and Looking Forward - Triton - Patrick Hofmeister and painting - photo Marie Cameron 2015

Patrick WäDL Hofmeister paints intricate, highly symbolic and often autobigraphical worlds .

50 and Looking Forward - Triton - Stephanie Metz sculptures- photo Marie Cameron 2015

Flesh and Bone  felted wool sculptures by Stephanie Metz.

Reception at the Triton

Yes, it feels every bit as good as I thought it might to have a painting hanging in the Triton! It’s such well regarded museum with a beautiful exhibition space and to have Feathers hanging alongside the works of so many of my piers made me feel truly at home! Thanks to friends and family who came out to share this evening with me – you’re the best!

First place was awarded to two artists this year (I know both of them!) Cuong Nguyen (who also won the painting competition last time ’round and is so good they might just devote a wing to him) and Holly Van Hart (who just joined the Los Gatos Museums Gallery). They each get a solo show!

In fact, the Gallery was very well represented with nine member artists in the show. In addition to Holly and me, there was David Stonesifer (with two pieces), Donna Orme, Will Maller, Ed Lucey, Ellen Howard, Linda Smythe, and Joan Harvey.

Artists I know and love, Jaya King (two pieces), Mei-Ying Dell’Aquila, Teresa Ruzzo and Brigitte Curt were also included. So much really interesting work – I need to go back for a better look!

Triton Statewide - Gallery View - photo Marie Cameron 2013

Proud to be hanging on this wall as you enter with with Jaya King and Cuong Nguyen!

Triton Statewide - Marie Cameorn and Preston Metcalf - photo Ann Dubois 2013

Talking with Chief Curator Preston Metcalf about my project plans for 2014.

Triton Statewide - Cuong Nguyen- photo Marie Cameron 2013

Cuong with his first place winning Portrait of Paul as Leonardo.

Triton Statewide - Holly Van Hart - photo Marie Cameron 2013

Holly Van Hart in front of her painting Possibilities Abound.

Triton Statewide - Jaya King - photo Marie Cameron 2013

Jaya King with her moving paintings in the upper left and lower right (see below)

Triton Statewide - Jaya King's Little Silver Bullet From a Pretty Blue Gun- photo Marie Cameron 2013

Jaya’s Little Silver Bullet from a Pretty Blue Gun.

Triton Statewide - Joan Harvey - photo Marie Cameron 2013

Joan Harvey with her painting Endless Summer.

Triton Statewide - Gallery View 3 - photo Marie Cameron

I met the artist, Vincent Liu who painted Kung Pao Chicken hanging in the upper left and chatted with Linda Smythe who painted Pretty in Pink.

Triton Statewide - The Boys - photo Ann Dubois 2013

With the boys.

Triton Statewide - My Crew - photo Ron Dell'Aquila 2013

With the girls

Triton Statewide - Galler Viewers 2 - photo Marie Cameron 2013

 

Triton Statewide - Pam Prentice and Marie Cameron - photo Daniel Margulies 2013

I first met Pam Prentice, a Bay Area blogger at one of my Open Studios.

Triton Statewide - Gallery View 2 - photo Marie Cameron 2013

Cuong Nguyen’s Aspects

I find Cuong Nguyen’s portraits simply awe inspiring so it must be obvious what a delight it was for me to meet him in person at his opening reception for his show Aspects at the Triton Museum of Art!  This artist is so genuinely warm and friendly it was easy to see how he must put his subjects immediately at ease and be granted access to peer into their souls!

His muses milled about the guests and it was fun to spotting these models walking around the show: a distinctive pair of glasses, a pair of gorgeous eyes, a striking profile, these intimate details seemed familiar in real life after admiring them on the monumental scale that Cuong paints.

Preston Metcalf,  the Triton’s chief curator related to me a bit of the artist’s roots in Viet Nam where he began to paint as a boy of 10 and was tutored in the techniques of Russian Realism. He began his formal training at the Academy of Art in Saigon and continued at San Jose State studying Graphic Design and Illustration.  Cuong Nguyen has recently swept up all kinds of accolades including  Best in Show at the International Association of Pastel Societies’ 15th Juried Exhibition, Grand Prize of the Pastel Journal Magazine Competition 2010 and winning First Place at the Triton’s 2011 Statewide Painting Competition and Exhibition. Needless to say, Cuong has his hands full with commissions!

Aspects: Multiple Face, Multiple Views will be on exhibit at the Triton Museum of Art located on 1501 Warburton Avenue in San Jose, California until  November 11, 2012.

For more information check out www.tritonmuseum.org and the artist’s website www.icuong.com.

Marie Cameron meets Cuong Nguyen at the Triton


It was a real pleasure meeting artist Cuong Nguyen at his reception for Aspects at the Triton! We’re standing in front of Him oil on canvas 48″ x 60″ (my favorite piece).

Cuong Nguyen's Portraits of Hope Triptych


Cuong Nguyen Portraits of Hope Triptych oil on canvas in Aspects.

Cuong Nguyen with Resolve and Muse


Cuong Nguyen with Resolve oil on canvas 40″ x 40″ and his muse.

Cuong Nguyen and His Many Muses


Cuong Nguyen and his many muses (including the amazing artist Jaya King).

 

Cuong Nguyen's Portraits of Blue and Green


Cuong Nguyen Portrait of Blue and Portrait of Green triptychs oil on canvas.

Cuong Nguyen's Up from Portraits of Green


Cuong Nguyen Up (Portraits of Green) oil on canvas 40″ x 40″.
I love this piece and understand that it was sold before the exhibition was fully installed. I adore tattoos in paintings and have one in the works myself (a painting with a tattoo, that is, not a real one).

Girl Viewing Cuong Nguyen's Her


This photograph of a girl viewing Cuong Nguyen’s Her oil on canvas 48″ x 60″ shows what it’s like to be face to face with one of these stunning paintings.