Luminosity at 180 Degrees

Since we knew two of the artists and since I was in Connecticut on my way to New York last week, Binnie and I stopped in at the opening of Luminosity at 180 Degrees. This show of work in encaustic at The Flinn Gallery in the Greenwich Public Library featured five artists including Kim Bernard, the founding member and Chair of New England Wax (NEW), and Richard Keen who had previously been a member of NEW.

The Finn Gallery is a spacious room in a very large library building that puts on six shows per year. This show was curated by Kelly Eberly and Cynthia Whalen and featured a large selection of work by each artist.


Kim Bernard

Kim Bernard, "Epicycloid," encaustic on panel, 36"x36", 2010

"Indirect Energy," encaustic on panel, 24" x 24", 2010

"Lissajous," encaustic on panel, 48" x 24", 2010

The paintings that Kim showed were from her Spirendulum Series, described as follows:

The Spirendulum Series involves 2-D encaustic panels positioned on the studio floor to receive marks made with a wax-drizzling pendulum that she swings, pushes and propels, then layers with spirographic transfers. Aware of the tension created between mechanical symmetry and organic flow, Bernard plays with the relationship of control and lack thereof.

This video shows a piece being created:

In addition to the paintings, Kim also showed sculpture. Here are some of the pieces included in the show:

"Chambered Nautilus," encaustic, plywood and lead, 31" x 15" x 29"

"Hippodrome," encaustic, plywood and lead, 40" x 44" x 19"

"Uprooted," encaustic on plaster, 6" x 12" x 24"

Kim Bernard and her husband, Chris Calivas, at the opening

Check out Kim's website for a look at some of her fascinating experiments with movement + art. You can also get more info on the numerous classes she teaches around the country.

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Two of the other artists included in the exhibit were Leah Macdonald and Martha Robinson. Images of three of their works are below. Mark Dooley also participated, but unfortunately I did not take pictures of his work.

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Leah Macdonald

"Bird's Nest," wax on wood panel, 20" x 16"

"Candelabra," wax on wood panel, 16" x 16"

"Two portraits," wax on wood panel, 16" x 20"

I do not know Leah Macdonald and have never seen her work before, however, despite the description of these works as "wax on wood panel," they look to me like wax over photos with some color added either under or on top of the wax.


Martha Robinson

Top: "Lotus Language," 12" x 12" and bottom: "Root Matrix" also 12" x 12. Both encaustic with mixed media

"Green Leaves Vescia Pisces," encaustic with mixed media, 20"x20"

Three other works by Martha Robinson - info missing.

Richard Keen

Richard works as a mooring diver in Casco Bay, off the coast of Maine. Many of his works are inspired by boats, rigging and other marine elements. Like Kim, he showed both paintings and three-dimensional works.

Richard Keen in front of his work at the opening

"Sea Geometry No. 112," encaustic on canvas/panel, 24" x 24"

"Ocean Hull No. 77," encaustic on panel, 24" x 30"

Three works on panels

Rigging piece - did not get the exact title

Another rigging piece with blue rope

Side view of installation

You can see more of Richard's work here.

As you might have gathered, I was having too much fun chatting to get all the details correctly, but it was an interesting show, very nicely installed and offering a good representation of each artist's work.

The show will continue until January 26th and the open hours are on the gallery's website.