Uncommon Perspective
Paintings by Art Sherwyn
Presented by The Dolores F. and Victor S. Cerro Endowment for Art Exhibits
February 11, 2021 – September 11, 2021
Art Sherwyn, Kern River, 2019, acrylic on canvas, 34 x 49 inches. Courtesy of the Artist.
Art Sherwyn's (b. 1950, California) most recent work combines vibrant colors with his love for storytelling. His incorporation of calligraphic mark-making resonates with the lives and characters of those who live in the scenes painted. Each work becomes a commemorative anecdote of the community in which Sherwyn calls home. Beginning the series in 2018, this body of work differs in scale and material, challenging the artist's forty-year practice. Continuity lies in the artist’s notable gestural lines, which move in and out of his subjects, creating interest and enforcing Sherwyn's lifelong dedication to the arts and its ability to document the complexities of humanity.
Art Sherwyn, Busy Downtown Alley, 2020, acrylic on canvas, 40 x 30 inches. Courtesy of the Artist.
After witnessing newfound energy in Bakersfield's urban core revitalization, Sherwyn spent half a year exploring the streets with pencil and sketch pad looking for compelling compositions. The sketches went back to the studio and became small colored compositions that would morph into the paintings on display in this exhibition. Each composition is constructed with a deliberate denying of preconceived notions and formal articulation; perspective and scale are manipulated to energize and distort the imagery. Once the painting's structure is finalized, intuition takes over as color, marks, and patterns are negotiated spontaneously. As an educator and lecturer, Sherwyn employs the term "Uncommon Path" to define an essential attitude for creativity to flourish. Whether used strategically or intuitively, the process of making becomes one of discovery. Within this path lies a symbiotic collaboration between the artist and his work.
Art Sherwyn's forty years of experience as both an artist and an esteemed educator have shaped an eclectic career. His work continues to push artistic boundaries through his creative impulses. Everything he does is centered around a core philosophy that focuses on the transformative power of education and the value of art in each person's life. Uncommon Perspective marks Sherwyn's fourth solo museum exhibition.
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Museum Curator Rachel Magnus and Moneywise’s David Anderson discussed process, personal evolution, and a life devoted to the arts with Sherwyn on episode 4 of our podcast.
Proceeds from your donation benefit the BMoA fund, which supports all areas of the museum including preservation of the permanent collection of over 350 works, visiting exhibitions, and youth art education and outreach.
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