VISUAL ARTS + MUSEUMS

Archway Gallery presents Polychromes and Monochromes, featuring new work from artist James Myres’ latest collection of paintings and sculptures.

This new series represents a drip paint process that juxtaposes a group of polychromes (Pollock style) and a group of monochromes. The drip paint process lends itself to a brushless gestural expression in which the texture of each piece is based on “psychic automations” (the conscious/subconscious painting movement that is rendered onto the canvas).

The artists will be on hand to visit with guests firsthand during the exhibition at the opening reception on Saturday, December 4 from 5 - 8 pm at the gallery, Light refreshments from Hungry’s Café and wine will be served. On Saturday, December 11, from 2 - 4 pm, Myres will present an artist talk to discuss the concepts and techniques that make up this new collection.

Polychromes and Monochromes will be on view at Archway Gallery December 4 - 30, 2010.

Myres is a mixed-media artist who joined Archway Gallery in June 2010. His work has been mainly in wood, paper and acrylics. His unique experimental style has been shown the last few years in local galleries and juried exhibitions. Many know of his past work in sculpted wood paintings.

Polychromes and Monochromes was inspired by the artist’s own foray into abstract expressionism. “My previous works were highly engineered and structural,” Myres said. “This new series is my own unabashed release of pure inner creativity.”

The Polychromes have an implied texture derived from the interplay of different colors and the movement of their application in addition to a layering effect. The depth of each piece is an intentional representation of a minimal consciousness of figurative representation and yet still creates a describable abstract energy.

The Monochromes have the same drip paint process but the texture is explicit. The polychromatic effect is removed and an intentional texture becomes evident. This intended texture defines the particular piece.

This new collection when seen as a whole gives a unique display of the artist’s own representation of abstract expressionism. The Polychromes are representing the subconscious expression with myriad of colors and the Monochromes representing the conscious expression of meaning for a single color. This juxtaposition is an intentional dynamic between these two forces and chromatic styles.

All the paints used in this collection were recycled and repurposed from the City of Houston Environmental Services Department, which collects household hazardous materials and keeps them out of local landfills. The availability of these materials were in abundance and the artist made generous use of them in the pieces of this exhibition. A separate piece will soon be presented to the City made from these materials.

ABOUT ARCHWAY GALLERY
Archway Gallery, one of Houston’s and the nation’s oldest artist owned and operated galleries, is located at 2305 Dunlavy and is open Monday – Saturday from 10 am – 6 pm and Sunday from 1 – 5 pm. Since 1976, Archway Gallery has been exhibiting the work of the area’s finest artists, providing a great selection of affordable, high quality art including sculpture, pottery and painting in a variety of media and styles. Artists are always on site, offering visitors a unique experience to meet the artist who created the work, offering a personal insight about the process behind their creativity.

The gallery offers a “Tea and Tour” program, providing visitors with a free artist-led tour of the current exhibition, followed by tea and refreshments. In addition to monthly exhibitions, Archway also hosts a variety of demonstrations and monthly readings for local writers and authors. With 30 artist-members, Archway Gallery is THE destination in the Houston area for art.

For more information, visit ArchwayGallery.com or call 713.522.2409. Become a fan on Facebook.

Pictured above: detail Infusion. (Full image below).