Mass
Transit
Recent work by Shawn McNulty and Dave Whannel
Opening
reception with the artists: Sat, October 8th, 2005 7-11 pm
Show runs: October 4th – October 31st, 2005
Rosalux Gallery: 1011 Washington Ave So, Minneapolis
Gallery hours: Tues -Thurs, 12 - 8pm, Fri - Sun, 12 - 5pm
Reviews: Downtown Journal | The Rake
Rosalux gallery
is proud to announce the upcoming exhibition Mass Transit featuring
new work from artists Shawn McNulty and Dave Whannel. Art enthusiasts
who enjoy large scale, abstract work typically found in larger museums
will want to see this show. McNulty and Whannel’s work appropriately
reflects the title Mass Transit by the scale of their work
as well as their individual interpretation and interplay of daily urban
movement. The viewer will need some time with these pieces. They will
want to sit back, take a few breaths and let their senses become bombarded
with the magnitude of this important abstract work.
McNulty and Whannel’s
work is urban and its emphasis is the interplay of city transportation
from light rail to an old beat up bike. There is constant motion. For
every character going, there’s a character returning. It may be
an aerial snapshot of downtown Minneapolis or a more intimate urban
landscape depicting the daily struggles of commuters. A metro bus and
SUV challenge each other for their rightful piece of urban space. These
abstract paintings affirm that all movement comes together and is possible
to view as one unified character.
Together their work
bounces off each other with a strong energy. Colors and textures come
from the same family, but the styles veer off in their own direction.
McNulty’s work has a feeling of chaos within calmness. Whannel
has more of an all over composition, like billiard balls bouncing infinitely
around a pool table. Figures tend to show up here and there, almost
unknowingly.
Shawn McNulty
McNulty has approached Mass Transit by focusing on urban motion
and how society moves around within it. His work is often viewed as
representing bizarre aerial views. He can easily see this interpretation
but that is not his intent or part of the process. A characteristic
of his new work is the feeling of duality. There may be some thing going
on one side of the piece and something entirely different construing
toward the other edge. McNulty is working that idea more consciously.
McNulty’s
work is dependent on form, color, and composition. He believes the most
complex emotions can be evoked from the simplest forms. He explores
the relationship between man-made structures and the natural world;
the idea of recognizable shapes and structures living within irrational
thoughts and emotions. He begins a painting very spontaneously and becomes
more detailed as the composition starts to show itself. McNulty uses
neutral colors and complex textures to enhance the bright, rich colors.
Non objective Abstract Art is difficult to fathom, and this keeps the
viewer interested.
Dave Whannel
Whannel’s approach to Mass Transit reflects urban landscapes
with an emphasis on motion. There are characters moving about in each
piece. He uses a variety of media including acrylic, latex, collage,
and other found materials. He likes to use found items from city streets
as collage, actually putting the city itself into the piece. There is
a lot of layering so characters may get lost or appear as ghosts wandering
aimlessly, wondering why the bus doesn’t stop.”
Growing up in Iowa, Whannel spent his life studying the land, thinking
of ways to energize fields of corn, soybeans, and silos. Whannel creates
fresh new landscapes with modern themes by adding abstraction, found
objects, collage, surrealism, and distorted perspective. These techniques
combine to create a voice and very personal interpretation about the
environment. The viewer will be reminded of something familiar but will
have the freedom draw their individual conclusions. Whannel hides objects
inside abstraction to draw viewers in and create an element of surprise
when they are found.
Rosalux Gallery
is funded and managed by its 24 artist members. Consumers buy direct
from the artist at very affordable prices for original art.
For
general information or to request an exhibition schedule, visit us at:
www.rosaluxgallery.com
or 1011 Washington Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN
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