Landscape, Observation and Abstraction:
Recent Paintings by
Gina Werfel and Hearne Pardee
January 24 –March 3, 2007
The Wiegand Gallery is proud to present recent paintings of the distinguished artist couple, Gina Werfel and Hearne Pardee. The Gallery has held several exhibitions in the past that utilized the idea of a working relationship between two artists, most notably Joan Brown and Manuel Neri: Working Together 1958–64 in 1995, and From the Figurative Tradition: Theophilus Brown and Paul Wonner in 1999. It is always interesting to see how influences move back and forth in couples, and cross-pollination is certainly evident in this exhibition.
As landscape painters, Gina Werfel and Hearne Pardee are curious about contradiction that they find in different subjects in the region west of Davis, CA. Pardee’s focus shifts between rural, urban and suburban; Werfel’s shifts between domestic, cultivated, and wild.
Hearne Pardee’s recent paintings show images of suburban architecture examined up close in forceful gestures of brilliant acrylic color. Titled the East Davis Series, these mid-size works on paper are typically painted on sight and then finished later on in the studio where they then receive collage components of brightly colored paper emphasizing geometric shapes and powerful color compositions.
Gina Werfel’s work jumps from landscape subjects painted directly from nature to non-referential abstractions, revealing important connections between the two approaches to painting. Her forceful, fluid brushstrokes and vivid color choices create an energy that pulls the viewer in.
Opening Reception: Sunday, January 28, 2-4 P.M.
For further information, contact the Wiegand Gallery at 650 508 3595.
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