Chuck Gumpert ART BLOG

2011 Calendar

2010-12-20T11:15:00.000-08:00

Just arrived from the printer! Includes 12 full-color high-resolution images of pieces from the past year (or so)... $20.00

(I currently have four on hand, but will place an order for more based on requests. Order must be placed by 12/29)

BREAKING NEWS

2010-12-01T16:54:00.000-08:00

I've been commissioned by LAIR Design in Seattle to complete 12 pieces for

"The Station at Othello Park" luxury apartments
in Rainier Valley, Seattle — to be completed in March, 2011.

The paintings will be placed in the main lobby and other tenants' common areas.

SOLD
"Power Play II"
Mixed Media —36" x 72"

NEW GALLERY REPRESENTATION!

2010-11-03T13:22:00.000-07:00

I'm pleased to announce that my work is now represented in PORTLAND, OREGON!

at
GALLERY 903
903 NW Davis Street
in the heart of The Pearl District

"12th and Couch"

Mixed Media — 48" x 24"

at Gallery 903, Portland, OR

BIG!

2010-09-20T21:50:00.000-07:00

GROUP EXHIBITION IN TACOMA:

Handforth Gallery 2010 Exhibitions

presents

BIG: an exploration

September 23 - November 6, 2010

Handforth Gallery @ the Main Branch, Tacoma Public Library

How BIG is big? Can BIG be small? Is BIG a size? What about an idea, and attitude, a vision? Shoes are BIG (especially if you have to fill them) but just how big? Can something be so BIG that it's actually small? If someone doesn't have a BIG future ahead of him, does that mean he has a small one? How small? Can something be both small and BIG? Why does BIG sometimes seem so small? Is it because small has more letters? Is BIG absolute? Relative? Both? Neither? BIG is small from a distance. Tiny, even. What's that all about? What's the BIG deal?

BIG: an exploration — featuring work by , Marsha Galziere, Chuck Gumpert, Anne Haley, Judy Harvey, David Hodge, Karl Krogstad, Christopher Mathie, Ryan Molencamp, Phil Roach, Mauricio Robalino. Alexis St. John and Chris Sharp. The exhibition continues through November 6, 2010.

"Leaving the World For a While"
Mixed Media — 48" x 72"

Gumpert and Currier

2010-07-13T11:53:00.000-07:00

A good match at Childhood's End

The Weekly Volcano
By Alec Clayton on July 7, 2010

BETWEEN DARKNESS & WONDER: A mixed media painting by Chuck Gumpert

Now showing at Childhood's End Gallery in Olympia are paintings by Chuck Gumpert and Alfred Currier, plus a group of the very popular half-man, half-bird ceramic sculptures by the husband-and-wife team of John and Robin Gumaelius. I'm going to limit my comments to the paintings by Gumpert and Currier, two radically different artists whose contrasting styles complement one another nicely.

Gumpert is showing a group of a dozen loose, organic, abstract paintings that appear to be informed by, but not imitative of, nature. A lot of them look vaguely like undersea vistas or galaxies and star clusters in deep space. The paint is thick and loosely applied, often splattered or brushed on wet and allowed to pool on the canvas. He uses mostly earth tones - dull greens and browns.

Interestingly, what makes some of Gumpert's paintings very successful is the thing that keeps others from being successful: the mixture of figures and other recognizable natural forms with his organic abstract shapes. In a painting called Between Darkness & Wonder there is a figure that is not visible at first, but which becomes obvious upon closer study. Once this figure becomes clear, it gives definition to the entire painting. It's an excellent combination of figurative and abstract art. But superimposed on it is a splatter of white paint that looks like a star cluster seen in the heavens, which separates too much from the rest of the painting and seems contrived. (In the photograph of this painting seen here the separation is not obvious; the photo is more successful than the painting.)

Similarly, there is a painting called Coral Concerto that would easily be the best painting in the show except there are two shapes that look like shadowy figures from a noir detective story, thus making the whole painting seem too illustrational. If these two shapes were more abstract and less figurative it would be a much better painting.

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE OF THE COLLECTION:
http://www.chuckgumpert.com/current.htm#CE

Currier is showing paintings of Paris street scenes that look like a combination of landscapes and city scenes as painted by the French Impressionist Alfred Sisley and the modern American Edward Hopper. These paintings are strong, well composed and, despite the obvious subject matter, more about color and shape than about city streets and gardens. There is no attempt at originality in Currier's paintings. What he does has been done many times before and often by greater artists; but that doesn't seem to matter.

These are beautiful paintings. His colors are magnificent - especially on the glowing awnings in his street scenes - and I love his dramatic use of strong light and cast shadows. Look at the buttery yellow awning in Rainy Days, Paris and the angular shadows on Daily News, or the flickering reds of flowers and masterful placement of figures in his Alla.

Gumpert and Currier [link to article in The Weekly Volcano]

Through July 31, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday
Childhood's End Gallery, 222 Fourth Ave. W, Olympia
360.943.3724

ANOTHER New Gallery!

2010-06-16T10:35:00.000-07:00

I'm also proud to announce that I am now represented in Olympia, WA
at
CHILDHOOD'S END GALLERY
222 4th Avenue West, Olympia, WA

"Mapping My Microcosm"
Mixed Media — 30" x 30"

available at Childhood's End Gallery, Olympia, WA

New Gallery Representation!

2010-06-16T10:34:00.001-07:00

I'm thrilled to announce that I now have gallery representation in
LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA!
at
SWENSON FINE ART
460 South Coast Highway
in the heart of Laguna Beach

"Ockham's Razor"
Mixed Media — 48" x 60"

available at Swenson Fine Art, Laguna Beach, CA

Spring Unveiling — Cannon Beach, OR

2010-04-11T11:08:00.000-07:00

I will be featured at DragonFire Gallery for the biggest Cannon Beach event of the year...

"Spring Unveiling" Art Festival

April 30, May 1 & 2, 2010

Friday, April 30: Collector's Preview — 4 - 6 pm

Saturday, May 1: Unveiling

New work by Chuck Gumpert, Mandy Main, Catherine Foster

2 pm

Sunday, May 2: Light Brunch — 11 - 1 pm

DragonFire Gallery

123 S. Hemlock Street

Ecola Square

Cannon Beach, OR 97110

Here's a sneak peek...

"Leaving Melbourne"
Mixed Media — 36" x 36"

New figurative pieces on display at Two Vaults Gallery in Tacoma:

2010-01-23T10:43:00.000-08:00

"After Hours II"
Mixed Media —12" x 12"

"Leaving Zürich"
Mixed Media —30" x 30"

New Work at Seattle Design Center

2010-01-15T14:10:00.000-08:00

Just delivered a few new pieces to Trammell-Gagné showroom at the Seattle Design Center.

"2010"
Mixed Media — 48" x 48"

"Meditation"
Mixed Media — 24" x 24"

I will be joining Christopher Mathie for a painting demonstration at Trammell-Gagné during the Northwest Designers Expo (NORDEX), Thursday, March 11 at 11 am.

New BOOK!

2009-12-03T15:50:00.001-08:00

I've just published a new 30-page hardcover book full of images and musings about my work — a sort of mini retrospective of my art over the last 6 years.

Click here to view this photo book larger

NOTE: While the Shutterfly website allows purchase of the book directly... please contact me if interested, as I may be making changes to the book upon seeing the proof.

Soon to be published!

2009-09-06T09:35:00.000-07:00

My painting "The Philosopher Arrives at an Unintended Destination" will appear on a hardcover edition of the Journal of Philosophy of Education, to be published in Oxford, UK, in early 2010.

"The Philosopher Arrives at an Unintended Destination"
Mixed Media — 48" x 48"
(click here to see the full painting in a new window)

New figurative piece!

2009-08-19T10:27:00.000-07:00

"Living in Amsterdam"
mixed media — 20" x 24"

“Two Vaults”: Adventures in art (and navigation)

2009-08-16T21:57:00.001-07:00

Seattle Contemporary Art ExaminerKaren Fleur Tofti-Tufarelli

On the corner of one of Tacoma's newer “artsy” areas – between a little bakery, and a few doors down from a trendy movie house -- the Two Vaults Gallery buzzes on a recent Tacoma “Third Thursday” Artwalk.... read on... “Two Vaults”: Adventures in art (and navigation)

Mari's Fire

2009-07-01T12:37:00.000-07:00

On March 13 DragonFire Gallery in Cannon Beach, OR lost one of its co-founder-matriarchs to cancer. On June 20, the gallery hosted a tribute show of work donated by many DragonFire artists in her memory. All gallery proceeds from the show will go towards a piece of public art honoring Mari and her contribution to the arts in Cannon Beach and beyond.
Below is my contribution to the "Mari's Fire" show and my thoughts about the piece.

"Incendia Intus" — 30" x 30" — Mixed Media
SOLD

"Mari's Fire is something that each of us felt, and witnessed, and received each and every time we were in DragonFire Gallery.

My painting, "Incendia Intus" (the fire within) is abstraction, but I consciously used fire imagery, colors and light to symbolize the intense passion for art and comforting warmth of friendship that Mari gave to us all.

Mari's keen eye for exceptional art, her jovial, smiling attitude, and her wonderful, mom-like, great-big hugs are all memories that I will always treasure and reconnect to each time I visit Cannon Beach."

In New York, Mrs. Obama Praises Arts as Vital to U.S.

2009-05-18T19:01:00.000-07:00

By RACHEL L. SWARNS

Michelle Obama visited New York to promote the arts, at the American Ballet Theater and the American wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

FULL ARTICLE

“The arts are not just a nice thing to have, [the arts] define who we are as a people.”
First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama

Upcoming Solo Show! — Opens May 21

2009-05-13T09:06:00.000-07:00

One of TWO VAULTS GALLERY’S staple artists, Chuck Gumpert, is departing from the figure for a while and bringing us a collection of fresh abstracts for his fourth feature with the gallery.

Chuck sees his abstract work as a sort of "negotiation" happening between artist and audience. A viewer may not arrive at the same feeling or vision that inspired its creation, but for Chuck the joy of abstract is its ability to illicit in each viewer a unique response.
Above all — to ENGAGE !

Join us for an evening of conversation with the artist and satisfying refreshments.

(this image: "Source" – 36" x 36" – Mixed Media....
postcard image: "Engage" (detail) – 30" x 40" – Mixed Media)

New gallery representation!

2009-04-29T09:17:00.000-07:00

I'm pleased to announce that I've recently been invited to show my work at Director's Gallery located at 126 Madrone, Bainbridge Island, WA. • Open Daily 10-6 • 206.842.6000

Director's shows an eclectic collection of contemporary art ranging from abstract to figurative and everything in between.

Vern Yip at SDC!

2009-04-25T20:55:00.001-07:00

Vern Yip, host of HGTV's Deserving Design and Design Star was lecturing at the Seattle Design Center for EYE ON DESIGN 2009, Saturday, April 25.
He took some time out to visit Trammell-Gagné Showroom to do some TV and print interviews. (with some stunning art as a backdrop, I might add!)

Click here to learn more about Vern Yip and his HGTV shows.

Vision of Sound

2009-03-28T16:12:00.000-07:00

"Transient Topologies" appears on the cover of Berlin artist Simon Vincent's "Transients 1" online music CD
(Vincent's "abstract experimentalism" sounds can be heard here and here)

"Transient Topologies"
Mixed Media —20" x 20"
(available at DragonFire Gallery, Cannon Beach, OR)

What's Cookin' ?

2009-03-26T20:50:00.001-07:00

"Hestia's Kitchen"

Mixed Media — 48" x 48"

Hestia is the Greek goddess of the hearth fire, hence presiding over domestic life. She is the eldest sister of Zeus and the oldest daughter of Rhea and Cronus.

She was a virgin-goddess, and when wooed by Poseidon and Apollo, swore by the head of Zeus to remain a virgin. She had no throne, but tended the sacred fire in the hall on the Olympus and every hearth on Earth was her altar. She is the gentlest of all the Olympians.

Hestia also symbolized the alliance of the Metropolis ("mother-city") with the smaller settlements which were founded in the colonies. The colonists took fire from the hearth in the prytaneion and kept it burning in their new towns.

First They Came For The Artists

2009-03-06T18:46:00.000-08:00

As usual, the arts get the shaft when it comes to federal funding.

A couple of interesting articles have surfaced about how the stimulus debate has affected the arts...

"In less than 75 years, the arts have gone from the single largest priority in a government stimulus package to a toxic joke, with a popular special amendment keeping them out. It is a stunning turnaround."

....and why it's not just artists and art patrons who benefit from the arts.

"Hobble the arts and you hobble innovation. It's a lesson our legislators need to learn."

"At Play"

2009-03-04T11:05:00.001-08:00

UPDATE (3/12/09): picture of the below-mentioned vignette (3rd image)

Hanging the show at Trammell-Gagne on Monday brought about a daunting challenge: a particular vignette of steel-gray furniture, atop a hot-pink and orange rug, against a sage-green wall required two large paintings — which I definitely didn't have in my inventory. So an all-nighter painting session produced the following — I'm fairly pleased with what I was able to creat under pressure....

"At Play" (II and III)
Mixed Media — 48" x 48" ea

Seattle Design Center

2009-03-01T11:18:00.000-08:00

Christopher and I are getting ready to deliver a huge number of paintings to Trammell-Gagne Showroom at the Seattle Design Center. T-G is gearing up for its biggest event of the year during "NORDEX 2009" — March 11 and 12. The main event is a reception at 5 pm on the 11th.

"The Philosopher Arrives at an Unintended Destination"
Mixed Media — 48" x 48"

Welcome to my blog....

2009-02-26T15:29:00.000-08:00

This is my very first blog entry on my very first blog....
I hope to periodically preview my newest paintings, announce shows and events, and from time to time write something profound... (or something completely nonsensical)
Enjoy!

"Champs-Élysées"
Mixed Media — 24" x 24"