Stephen Westfall

In a series of new, brightly colored and deeply saturated gouaches Stephen Westfall continues his exploration of a simplified geometric space and various pictorial possibilities of his own identifiable abstraction.  In some the picture plane bends to create the effect of leaning into a room rather than opening up an illusionistic space.  In others a central “figure’ emerges from the intersection of broad, irregular saw-toothed planes.  Landscapes are sometimes suggested such as a chain of ponds, an opening of canyon walls or a sequence of land parcels in arial perspective.  Overall the feeling in these new paintings is joyous and intense.

Stephen Westfall Press

Tom Uttech

During our recent Covid isolation Tom Uttech has continued his studio practice of creating richly imagined depictions of the Northwoods based on his long, extended sojourns in it over many years.  Uttech’s new paintings are now divided roughly into three primary motifs – “migrations” in which the landscapes are inhabited with dense arrangements of flying birds; “reflections” in which complex details of forest patterns are reflected in water; and the long panoramic view toward a distant horizon, often with a bear looking out with the viewer to a place described by the critic Lucy Lippard where “the scrubby natural grandeur and spiritual power of this place is transmitted with extraordinary detail that transcends ordinary experience.”

Tom Uttech Press

Lois Dodd

With Covid Lois Dodd made her annual move from New York to her already relatively isolated Mid-Coast Maine studio where she began work on two new series of small oil on aluminum paintings – her flashings.  Dodd’s subject has been divided about equally between figurative and botanical subjects.  The former are based on earlier drawings from once regular weekly life-drawing sessions with friends – the group has now disbanded.  The latter plants and flowers are brought from the yard and garden into the studio.

Lois Dodd Press

Brett Bigbee

For almost thirty years Brett Bigbee has been known for his unique magic precisionist realism that shared qualities with both European Renaissance masters and American folk art.  During Covid Bigbee has continued to explore personal and intimate surrealist portrayals of his own emotional landscape through more symbolic and metaphoric compositions, which he began about two years ago.  The external world has become internal.

Brett Bigbee Press

John Walker

John Walker’s engagement with the power, rhythms and cycles of the natural world as he experiences and observes it on the New England coast has given way more recently to more patterned, solid and brightly colored semi-abstract compositions that continue to be characterized with the deep emotional and physical connection to his subject that has always characterized his work.  Walker continues to paint his signature vertical canvases, which, harking back to earlier work, include more canvas-collaged elements.  He has also been engaged in suites of more modestly sized works on paper.

John Walker Press