Doug Kacena, “Composite,” oil, 30 x 48 in. (left) painted over by David Santillanes on the right, “Into the Icy Blue,” oil, 30 x 48 in. (c) Mike Wright Gallery 2016
Andrew Webster Reporting
Mike Wright Gallery in Colorado is hosting a groundbreaking group exhibition that will certainly move viewers to question the boundaries of creativity and the realm of art.
“There’s a big divide between contemporary conceptual abstract artists and traditional representational artists,” explains Denver artist Doug Kacena. “There’s friendship, and mutual respect, but not much understanding.”
This divide was — and is — the basis for a groundbreaking exhibition at Mike Wright Gallery in Denver. “Crossover” will featured works from many of Colorado’s master artists, but with a twist that many will enjoy but others may perhaps find controversial. “Crossover” will see abstract expressionist Kacena painting over completed works by 12 of Colorado’s most talented representational painters and, in turn, allowing them to do the same to his works.
Edward Aldrich, “Bison (unaltered view),” oil, 42 x 32 in. (c) Mike Wright Gallery 2016
Among the representational masters included in the show are Quang Ho, Jill Soukup, Ron Hicks, Don Stinson, Robert Spooner, Kevin Weckbach, David Santillanes, Edward Aldrich, Terrie Lombardi, Ed Kucera, Mikael Olson, and Jeff Legg.
The gallery writes, “With both schools content to approach the world in familiar perspective, the gulf between them has gone mostly unremarked. Kacena, however, occupies a singular middle ground, giving him a clear view of both the rift and its remedy. As a prominent abstract artist, Kacena’s affinity for conceptual art is bone-deep. As gallery director of Evergreen Fine Art, he’s intimately acquainted with many of Colorado’s finest representational painters and sculptors. As co-owner of Artuvus Studios, he’s immersed in media and genres spanning the creative map. And from his place at the crossroads of so many artistic avenues, Kacena has become aware of a professional division amongst his colleagues.”
To learn more, visit Mike Wright Gallery.
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