Opening Reception: Friday, July 20, 2012, 5-7 PM
The human condition may be one of confusion and pain, but it’s also magical and
mysterious when examined via the fertile, sometimes surreal imaginations of sculptor
Ted Gall and painter Michael Madzo. Each in his own way, these artists address
questions about the nature of existence and personal identity through subtly humorous
works that are as endearing and uplifting as they are mordant in their social commentary.
Ted Gall’s masterful creations in bronze and steel weave multiple story lines drawn from
myth and legend, creating complex narratives that are as fluid and elusive as the medium
is fixed and firm. These interactive sculptures feature masks that open to other masks,
ultimately revealing faces that must contend with the multilayered reality swirling around
them. Futuristic elements combine with ancient symbols to fuse past, present, and future
into an almost dreamlike vision of the world in all its complexities.
“We all have some kind of mask, whether physical or emotional,” says Gall. “That’s why
people can relate to my sculpture. I guide viewers somewhat, but let them create their
own stories and interpretations of my work.”
In painter Michael Madzo’s beautifully realized collages, we see idealized landscapes
peopled by figures engaged in off-beat situations and activities. Blending classical
elements and techniques with these wryly wrought characters, he cuts apart his paintings
and sews them back together with cotton thread to add structure and texture to the work.
The effect is a cross between an unconventional jigsaw puzzle and a rescued family
heirloom that’s been lovingly restored to wholeness.
“I’m attracted to odd shapes and forms,” says Madzo. “My paintings seem to be becoming
more narrative. I think painting, and art in general, are about communicating aspects of
the spiritual being in some form, like dreams do.”
The show continues through August 5, 2012.
For Additional Information Contact:
Nancy Hunter
505.984.2111
hunterkirkland@earthlink.net
www.hunterkirklandcontemporary.com