Peter Blake Gallery presents "ConTEXTual Abstraction" a group show curated by Mat Gleason. The exhibition presents recent abstract art that contains text as a motif. In the world we live in, text has become part of our daily landscape be it online or on our phones. Inescapable, it appears in fine art and abstract artworks are no exception. The show presents eight artists who cover a range of approaches and experiences but who, Gleason feels, reflect a moment in our epoch.

Gleason discussed the artists in the show and the curating process with Chris Hoff of the OC Art Blog:

  • Each artist uses text in their art but the results skew toward abstraction.
  • Gary Lang composes grids of letters that are actually short poems.
  • Mark Dutcher uses verbal scrawlings as a point of departure upon which to make abstract paintings he calls "Time Machines" that relate to different years in his life.
  • Molly Larkey makes abstracted letters.
  • Jonmarc Edwards uses text as an element within abstract paintings that can often be deciphered.
  • Tim Youd retypes whole novels on two sheets of paper sandwiched together in vintage typewriters and ends up with an abstracted diptych caused solely by text itself.
  • Adam Mars paints slogans that deconstruct contemporary culture, often hilariously.
  • William Powhida writes screeds and then paints the crumpled sheet of paper upon which this analytical writing rests. He takes on a lot of art targets, hilariously.
  • Cole Sternberg uses text as an element within paintings that reference landscape.
  • We looked around, bandied about a few names, ended up with these ones for their distinction, not wanting to repeat ideas that might be too similar, curating is a real honing process.

Together, the exhibition reflects the inescapable connection that artists have to their times, no matter what formal medium they embrace. From the deconstructive to the ephemeral, from the beautiful to the rigorous, no matter what vehicle the artist works in, the reality of the present seeps through. The audience can see their times reflected in great art.

"ConTEXTual Abstraction" is one of three new shows opening at Peter Blake Gallery on Saturday, March 21. The other two shows are solo exhibitions by David McDonald and Leslie Wayne. A reception for the three exhibitions and the artists takes place on Saturday evening, March 21, at five PM until seven PM. All three exhibitions run thru May 2, 2015.

Peter Blake Gallery is located at 435 Ocean Avenue in Laguna Beach 92651. The gallery is open Wednesday – Sunday, 11am-4pm and by appointment.