BE THERE
Forest LightPresented by Robert Steele Gallery March 24, 2006- April 22, 2006Reception: March 23, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pmJames Cook
Forest Light features 15 landscapes that exist in an area between abstraction, realism, and the essence of a memory. As an expansive terrain expressed in a single view, Cook's paintings encompass a region that is true in its ability to be both recognizable and characteristic of the natural world, yet simultaneously forces the viewer to be conscious of the presence of an unexplored territory. Possessing the ability to paint solely from visual memory, Cook creates rich, textured paintings by utilizing a palette-knife technique. This precise approach ultimately transforms the canvas into a geometric perception of depth within horizontal and vertical layers of oil paint. The visual accuracy created by Cook's memory offers a defined vision of the world by conveying an overwhelming sense of place in its "true" reality. In Forest Light, Cook invites the viewer into a panorama of Autumnal forest scenes through such works as "East Fork – Autumn #1" and "Iron Door – Autumn Study #2." Through a dense growth of trees and a cascade of water, Forest Light brings forth the harmonious woodlands of Cook's abstract representation of a natural world, uninterrupted. Originally from Topeka, Kansas, James Cook received his Bachelor of Fine Arts at Emporia State University (1969, 1970), and his Master of Fine Arts at Wichita State University (1972). James Cook has exhibited in over 37 solo and 80 group exhibitions nationwide. His work is included in numerous private, public and institutional collections around the world. Cook currently lives and works in Tucson, Arizona.
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