Gallery Watch

New Works by Geoffrey Todd Smith - April 3rd to May 30th - Western Exhibitions (Chicago)

Chicago's Geoffrey Todd Smith is nearly obsessed with discovery, and the result of his constant searching is an ever-growing collections of paintings. He has been so prolific over the last year that he is filling both galleries at Western Exhibitions for the next month and a half. His work acts as a consistent stimulus for the eyes. Beginning with a grid of painted dots, he adorns his color fields in a “horror vaccui” fizz of zigzags while directing the viewer through densely hand-drawn patterns and painted elements that optically mix and integrate colors. His patterns are incredibly intricate, and the fact that they are hand drawn is so impressive.

The two shows are titled, "Geoffrey Todd Smith is a Friend to Beauty!" and "I Could Look at Myself in Your Eyes Forever". Smith has formatted the titles of the works in this show in the style of status updates on Facebook, Myspace and Twitter, social networking sites that encourage users to provide indications of their current mood, predicament or condition. Each title reflects a self-involved, momentary declaration of Smith’s frame of mind while making said work, rather than hinting at any sort of narrative in the work. The titles present a range of emotions including comical (LOL), excessively personal (TMI), vulgar (OMG) and absurd (WTF!?), reinforcing the spirit in which each work is made and placing them deeper within the context of the moment in which they were produced. Examples include: “Geoffrey Todd Smith is Turned on, Logged in and Burned Out”; “Geoffrey Todd Smith is the Commander of Hugs and Kisses”; “Geoffrey Todd Smith is a Slave to Beauty” and “Geoffrey Todd Smith is Untitled”.

Stop by Western Exhibitions to see these images for yourself, but if you are not in Chicago you can view them on-line.

Flower Parade - April 10th to April12th - New Works By Jeremiah Ketner and Julie West - Rotofugi Gallery (Chicago)

The perfect Spring show, FlowerParade combines the grace and beauty of UK's Julie West with the more animation based stylings of Chicago's Jeremiah Ketner. The artists compliment each other in theme, and it is fascinating to witness the artists various takes beauty. Where West takes you to a more enchanting and mystical world, Ketner dwells in a world all is own.