VISUAL ARTS + MUSEUMS

As part of its ARC Exhibition Series, Spacetaker presents Under Repair - New Works on Paper by Mark Masterson.  Opening Reception Saturday, October 1, 5 - 9 p.m. On view through October 28. 

Mark Masterson, a Houston native, is a painter and printmaker whose work reveals fine detail and tends to showcase the absurd and vulgar that exists in the world around him. Masterson’s twelve (12) paintings and three (3) lithographs that comprise this body of work are inspired by 16th century Northern Renaissance painter and printmaker Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Using Bruegel’s satiric images of controlled chaos as a basis for this series, Masterson injects personal experience alongside contemporary global social and political issues into the scenes, allowing the audience to build off their own experiences from the visual narratives. This is the first time this body of work is being exhibited in its entirety.

Using painted torn cotton linen print paper, randomly affixed to a heavy paper base to evoke images of a decaying fresco, Masterson brings his painting into the third dimension. The uneven peaks and valleys of the paper’s surface creates movement and shadow, allowing each viewer to experience a slightly different image depending on from where they are viewing the painting.

Under Repair: New Works on Paper will open with a public reception on Saturday, October 1 from 5 to 9 p.m. in conjunction with the Annual Artist Exhibit at Winter Street Studios and Spring Street Studios taking place October 1 & 2, 2011. The exhibition will be on view at Spacetaker’s ARC Gallery through October 28, 2011 and is free and open to the public.

About the Artist:: Houston native Mark Masterson graduated with a BFA in Printmaking/Art History from the University of Houston. Currently he works out of Winter Street Studios and is a member of Burning Bones Press print studios. His work has been exhibited in local group show and galleries. Visit his website: www.markmasterson.com.

Pictured above: "The Fat Kitchen" © Mark Masterson, 2010 (detail above, full image below).