KINDREDKINDRED SPIRITS SPIRITS ExploringExploring Abstract Abstract Expressionism Expressionism Today Today KINDRED SPIRITS Exploring Abstract Expressionism Today

APRIL 1 - MAY 20, 2016

jay zerbe galen cheney matthew dibble katherine aimone margaret glew ThisThis exhibition exhibition was was organized organized and and curated curated by by KatherineKatherine Duncan Duncan Aimone, Aimone, www.artswrite.com www.artswrite.com steven aimone CatalogueCatalogue design design by by Steven Steven Aimone, Aimone, www.aimoneartservices.com www.aimoneartservices.com DiisplayDiisplay fonts: fonts: American American Purpose, Purpose, Birch Birch Std. Std. Body Body font:Helvetica font:Helvetica Neue Neue Printer:Printer: Modern Modern Postcard Postcard

GreenvilleGreenville Center Center for for Creative Creative Arts Arts 2525 Draper Draper Street Street Greenville,Greenville, South South Carolina Carolina 29611 29611 864.735.3948864.735.3948 www.artcentergreenville.org www.artcentergreenville.org IntroductionIntroduction Exploring Abstract Expressionism Today

TheThe Greenville Greenville Center Center for for Creative Creative Arts Arts is delightedis delighted to topresent present Kindred Kindred Spirits: Spirits: Exploring Exploring Abstract Abstract Expressioism Expressioism Abstract Expressionism was a post-World War II movement that happened in New TodayToday, a, nationala national show show organized organized by by Katherine Katherine Duncan Duncan Aimone Aimone from from Asheville, Asheville, North North Carolina. Carolina. The The exhibition exhibition York during the 1940s and 50s, and there are numerous artists that work in abstract bringsbrings in insix six artists artists from from Canada, Canada, Indiana, Indiana, North North Carolina, Carolina, Ohio, Ohio, and and Vermont. Vermont. It isIt onlyis only fitting fitting that that this this show show expressionistic modes today. This exhibition represents the work of six contemporary opensopens in inconjunction conjunction with with the the Center’s Center’s one-year one-year anniversary anniversary in inMay May 2016. 2016. painters that have been influenced by this movement of art—the first art movement to put New York City at the center of the Western art world. AbstractAbstract painter painter Carrie Carrie Burns Burns Brown Brown and and her her life-long life-long friend friend Randolph Randolph (Randy) (Randy) New New Armstrong, Armstrong, the the original original kindredkindred spirits spirits of ofthis this Center, Center, planted planted the the seed seed of ofa community-drivena community-driven art art center center in inGreenville Greenville and and invited invited others others Some associate this movement primarily with the works of Jackson Pollock, but there were to tonurture nurture the the idea. idea. With With the the help help of ofhundreds hundreds of ofvolunteer volunteer hours hours and and generous generous contributions, contributions, Carrie Carrie and and Randy’sRandy’s perseverance perseverance initiated initiated the the Greenville Greenville Center Center for for Creative Creative Arts. Arts. It isIt theiris their gift gift to tothe the next next generation. generation. many artists involved, and they pursued different styles. What bound these artists together was a commitment to working from an emotional source and with universal themes. All were DuringDuring our our first first eight eight months months we we hosted hosted more more than than 5,000 5,000 visitors, visitors, taught taught art art to tomore more than than 250 250 adults adults and and influenced by Surrealism; however, in the aftermath of the trauma of the war, they sought, in children,children, and and created created six six exemplary exemplary exhibits. exhibits. Each Each show show uniquely uniquely highlighted highlighted artists artists from from our our community community and and part, to express the seriousness of their time. As these young artists succeeded, the beyond.beyond. I thank I thank GCCA GCCA Founders Founders Pat Pat Kilburg Kilburg and and Becky Becky Johnson, Johnson, an and Exhibitiond Exhibition Committee Committee members members Judy Judy spotlight of the art world moved from Paris to New York, setting the stage for America’s Verhoeven,Verhoeven, Adam Adam Schrimmer, Schrimmer, and and Kevin Kevin Isgett Isgett for for their their dedication dedication and and hard hard work work to toproduce produce these these exhibitions. exhibitions. It It post-war prominence in the international art scene. is trulyis truly a privilegea privilege to toobserve observe artists artists walking walking through through the the GCCA GCCA gallery gallery as as they they proudly proudly point point to totheir their work work and and share share their their stories. stories. The artists featured in this exhibition reflect reverence for the works from this era. Abstract Expressionism is their artistic heritage. Without this movement, none of us who paint in this OnOn First First Friday, Friday, we we host host children children as as they they paint, paint, stitch, stitch, glue, glue, draw, draw, and and generally generally make make a wonderfula wonderful mess. mess. It isIt is mode would likely be doing this type of painting. AbEx artists gifted us that freedom. The strikingstriking to tome me that that the the experience experience of ofgetting getting their their hands hands dirty dirty with with paint paint or orglue, glue, transforms transforms hesitation hesitation into into a spirita spirit large and vital group of painters throughout the world who work in this mode still continue of ofeagerness eagerness for for another another try. try. The The kids kids and and adults adults become become kindred kindred spirits spirits seeking seeking to toexperience experience a bursta burst of of to gain from the philosophical and visual roots of the original movement, while adding their creativecreative freedom freedom together! together! own relevant influences. TheThe idea idea of ofa blanka blank canvas canvas is dauntingis daunting to tosome, some, but but more more often often than than not not it excitesit excites the the mind mind and and awakens awakens the the soulsoul to toconnect connect with with one’s one’s innate innate creativity. creativity. We We thank thank our our GGCA GGCA Founders Founders Bryant Bryant Brown, Brown, Allen Allen Armstrong, Armstrong, Don Don This kind of painting can be a joyous and imaginative exploration. But for it to be good Kilburg,Kilburg, Linda Linda and and Earle Earle Furman, Furman, and and Tracy Tracy Hardaway Hardaway for for creating creating a collaborativea collaborative venue venue where where dormant dormant creativity creativity painting, its development can take years. The artists in this show are all dedicated to that cancan be be rediscovered rediscovered or orblossom. blossom. process, diligently working in their studios to uncover their most authentic work.

WeWe ask ask for for your your support support as as we we enter enter our our second second year year of ofstimulating stimulating the the growth growth of ofGreenville’s Greenville’s community-driven community-driven Abstract art in general is an internal process rather than outwardly motivated one. Having arts.arts. We We will will continue continue to tofocus focus on on providing providing exhibitions exhibitions that that showcase showcase the the breadth breadth and and depth depth of ofwork work produced produced no particular reference (as does representational art), it can be difficult and challenging in inour our region. region. We We will will also also continue continue to toeducate educate visitors visitors and and students students who who seek seek to toexperience experience art art though though classes classes work, and there are usually many incarnations and layers in each painter’s work. andand interactiions interactiions with with artists artists working working in intheir their studios studios at atthe the Center. Center. With With your your generous generous support, support, we we plan plan to toinvest invest in inand and develop develop the the next next generation generation of ofvisual visual artists, artists, art art educa educators,tors, and and art art lovers. lovers. We We welcome welcome art art lovers lovers from from Since abstract painters begin with no plan, they are in a way akin to improvisational jazz nearnear and and far far to tobecome become kindred kindred spirits spirits of ofours ours at atGCCA. GCCA. musicians—visual composers that make it up as they go along. They are process-oriented,

and each step leads to the next in the work. ——CheringtonCherington Love Love Shucker Shucker, Executive, Executive Director Director

Each artist in this show connects in their individual way with Abstract Expressionism—its Jay Zerbe explains the evolution of his work in relationship to Abstract Expressionism: physicality, style, philosophical nature, and lore. Galen Cheney feels a connection to the unconscious that was a major motivation for the AbEx painters: …in the past, my work moved from narrative figuration to abstraction. Over time, I became especially fond of the abstract artists of the 30s and 40s. Already aware of the I feel that the grit and vision and courage of the Abstract Expressionists imprinted itself Abstract Expressionists, I was particularly drawn to the brushwork of Willem de Kooning. on my artistic DNA. Willem de Kooning, Joan Mitchell, Philip Guston, Lee Krasner, and The strength and emotional quality of his mark, and the linear delineation of space, Franz Kline are my painting . They fearlessly mined their unconscious and lay it captivated me. I spent two years melding his vocabulary, as well as those of other all bare on the canvas, facing their fears and blowing things open with powerful and AbEx painters, with Chinese calligraphy. Today that mark-making is completely natural original beauty. This is what I strive for every time I work on a painting. to my hand. My vocabulary owes much to this group of painters.

Matthew Dibble playfully ponders what it would be like to be friends with these painters Steven Aimone’s words reflect the philosophical nature of Abstract Expressionism: in their heyday: Abstract Expressionism brought 20th century Modernism to its synthetic I’ve always had a nostalgic fantasy to visit the Cedar Street Tavern in New York around crescendo. Modernist challenges to Renaissance assumptions, taken together, 1950 and have a drink with the “slipping glimpser” (de Kooning), then challenge Jackson brought to light the brand new language of nonobjective (“abstract”) art. As a result, Pollock to an arm wrestling contest. Conrad Marca-Relli and Joan Mitchell would be painting no longer needed to document appearances or tell stories. Instead, visual there. I would bum a cigarette from Mark Rothko, and Franz Kline would make sure I arrangements could be about the unseen, the immeasurable, and the indescribable. got home all right. Knowing they played hard, I would have stayed right with them…. For the first time, paintings could function purely as experiences to have, rather than things to understand. To the brave and audacious explorers of this language, we are When Margaret Glew thinks of Abstract Expressionism, she considers process: forever in debt.

Working on a large scale, as the AbEx artists did, changes everything. It engages your My own painting emerges out of a dream-like inner world, that of the subconscious. In the whole body – gestures are larger, more forceful. The scale of a large canvas creates a creation of the work, I discover the meaning, beginning simply with a few scrawled marks on feeling of working inside the painting rather than observing it from the outside. Paint canvas. I love the emotive qualities of color, the gesture that comes naturally from my body, becomes a language of the body, not just the heads and hand. and the unrepressed energy and physicality of painting. I rediscover and connect with my calm, reflective, and silent self when I paint. It expresses my spirituality. The act of painting is a process of discovery, and the finished work is a record of our actions and reactions and interactions. Process gives birth to ideas. Freedom, We kindred spirits sincerely thank the Greenville Center for the Creative Arts for the opportunity spontaneity, and raw expression are more important than a tidied up finished product. afforded us to show our work. We hope that each of you will find inspiration here, possibly leading you to find your own corner in which give birth to your creative dreams.

—Katherine Duncan Aimone, Exhibition Organizer and Curator JAY ZERBE Michigan City, Indiana The contrast of chaos with order provides the structure for my work. The appearance of order breaks down under scrutiny, which mirrors my understanding of reality. My emotions seek pattern and rationality, while my intellect sees mismatched parts and ambiguous systems. The core of my work revolves around juxtaposing these diverse structures and their uncertain references.

Jay Zerbe, unhinderedAccess, 2016, 30 x 30 x .75 inches, acrylic and crayon on canvas Jay Zerbe, flipTheScript, 2015, 30 x 30 x .75 inches, acrylic and crayon on canvas GALEN CHENEY Middlesex, Vermont I strive for my paintings to exist on a kind of tightrope, right on the edge of coming apart. Not fixed or static, but open… and also with a sense of being composed. I begin each painting with no specific outcome in mind, responding to the changes in the painting in real time. I don’t want the struggle of my process to be covered over or tidied up. For instance, I am interested in edges, connections, and intersections of the , such as the tension that arises at the junction of pretty and ugly, slick and gritty, smooth and rough….

Jay Zerbe, curtainCall, 2015, 36 x 36 x 1.5 inches, acrylic and crayon on canvas Galen Cheney, Rupture/Rapture, 2014, plaster and oil on two panels, 48 x 64 inches Galen Cheney, Miss New York, 2012, plaster and oil on two panels, 48 x 64 inches

Galen Cheney, Blue Pulse, 2014, oil on two panels, 48 x 48 inches MATTHEW DIBBLE Cleveland, Ohio I have a natural curiosity about my place on earth, and a thirst for sincerity in all forms. These paintings are a glimpse into what happens when my very active inner life and the outer world collide. I approach the work as a tradesman approaches his job…with a watchful attention and a certain confidence that comes from experience, while at the same time searching for something new. How I begin the painting is important to me. If I start with what I know, I usually get the same results. However, I strive to make something with heart and authenticity that emerges out of experimentation and discovery.

Matthew Dibble, Sad Ape, 2015, enamel and paper on birch panel, 48 x 42 inches Matthew Dibble, Temple Hum, 2013, oil, charcoal,canvas and thumbtacks on canvas, 48 x 44 inches KATHERINE AIMONE Asheville, North Carolina and Monhegan Island, Maine My body of work is about experiencing beauty—that vulnerable state that is accessible each day, but often overlooked in our push to succeed and take care of practical concerns. It is about feeling and sensing in the present moment; I consider it to be the source of my deepest and most authentic voice.

Matthew Dibble, Flophouse, 2016, oil on canvas, 74 x 84 inches (diptych) Katherine Aimone, The Floating World #13, 2016, 48 x 36 inches, acrylic on canvas KatherineKatherine Aimone, Aimone, The The Floating Floating World World #1 #1, ,2015, 2015, 48 48 x x 72 72 inches inches (each (each panel: panel: 48 48 x x 36 36 in.), in.), acrylic acrylic on on canvas canvas

Katherine Aimone, The Floating World #12, 2016, 48 x 60 inches (each panel: 48 x 30 in.), acrylic on canvas MARGARET GLEW Toronto, Ontario I like a painting to have an element of unpredictability. I want to surprise myself. I deliberately try to disrupt the surface, unsettle myself, and provoke new ways of thinking about the work. I am never satisfied. At times the process seems random and arbitrary. Clarity is elusive, as if I am circling around a truth that I can never quite reach. If it resides anywhere, it is in the visceral—in the muck and mess and ordinariness of daily work.

Margaret Glew, Untitled, 2015, acrylic, oil, spray paint on canvas, 36 x 48 inches Margaret Glew, Untitled, 2015, acrylic, oil, spray paint on canvas, 48 x 54 inches STEVEN AIMONE Asheville, North Carolina and Monhegan Island, Maine My work is visual poetry, speaking indirectly and metaphorically about the human experience. The paintings serve as gateways, affording access to complex, internal states of emotion, psyche, and spirit. They convey a poignant sense of delicacy, fragility, and vulnerability.

Margaret Glew, Untitled, 2016, acrylic, oil, spray paint on canvas, 60 x 60 inches Steven Aimone, Emergence and Dissipation 2015 #9, 2015, oil and graphite on paper, 10 x 11 inches Steven Aimone, Emergence and Dissipation 2015 #14, 2015, oil and graphite on paper, 10 x 8 inches Steven Aimone, Emergence and Dissipation 2016 #1, 2016, oil and graphite on paper, 12 x 11 inches TheThe Artists Artists

KatherineKatherine Aimone; Aimone; Asheville, Asheville, North North Carolina Carolina and and Monhegan Monhegan Island, Island, Maine Maine MatthewMatthew Dibble; Dibble; Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio Ohio KatherineKatherine Aimone Aimone holds holds a a BA BA in in Studio Studio Painting Painting and and an an MA MA in in Art Art History History fr fromom Florida Florida State State MatthewMatthew Dibble Dibble is is a a1978 1978 Graduate Graduate of of Cooper Cooper School School of of Art Art in in Cleveland Cleveland and and has has been been University.University. She She worked worked as as a a museum museum curator curator and and director director for for many many years years before before working working in in creatingcreating oil oil paintings paintings for for 35 35 years. years. His His energetic, energetic, large-scale large-scale paintings paintings convey convey a asense sense of of publishing.publishing. She She currently currently writes writes essays essays for for artists artists through through her her company company ArtsWrite ArtsWrite, ,and and she she depthdepth and and space space expressed expressed through through a alayering layering technique technique in in which which color, color, line line and and shape shape writeswrites for for Art Art New New England England. .She She began began painting painting professionally professionally seven seven years years ago. ago. She She had had a a partnerpartner with with one one another another in in what what has has been been described described as, as, “top “top r aterate craftsmanship craftsmanship and and solosolo show show in in Asheville Asheville during during 2015, 2015, and and she she showed showed with with Steven Steven Aimone Aimone in in Florida Florida at at Fifth Fifth high-riskhigh-risk aesthetic aesthetic adventurism.” adventurism.” Before Before unveiling unveiling its its interactive interactive Gallery Gallery One One in in 2012, 2012, the the AvenueAvenue Gallery Gallery in in 2016. 2016. Her Her paintings paintings were were hung hung at at the the American American Embassy Embassy in in Moldova Moldova from from ClevelandCleveland Museum Museum of of Art Art filmed filmed Matt Matt demonstrating demonstrating abstract abstract pain paintingting techniques. techniques. The The 2010-142010-14 through through the the Art Art in in Embassies Embassies Program. Program. Together Together with with Dr. Dr. Nancy Nancy Hillis, Hillis, she she teaches teaches resultingresulting video video is is currently currently on on public public view view in in Gallery Gallery One One at at the the Museum. Museum. He He is is represented represented workshopsworkshops called called Doing Doing the the Work Work of of Your Your Life: Life: Moving Moving Beyond Beyond Fear Fear in in Abstract Abstract Art Art. .She She and and byby Elder Elder Art Art Gallery Gallery in in Charlotte, Charlotte, North North Carolina; Carolina; Tregoning Tregoning & & Company Company in in Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio; Ohio; StevenSteven Aimone Aimone own own the the Carina Carina House House on on Monhegan Monhegan Island Island where where they they paint paint and and show show their their andand in in First First Street Street Gallery Gallery in in New New York. York. For For more more info info visit visit www.dibblepaintings.com. www.dibblepaintings.com. workwork during during the the summer. summer. For For more more info info visit visit www.katherineaimone.com. www.katherineaimone.com. MargaretMargaret Glew; Glew; Toronto, Toronto, Ontario Ontario StevenSteven Aimone; Aimone; Asheville, Asheville, North North Carolina Carolina and and Monhegan Monhegan Island, Island, Maine Maine MargaretMargaret Glew Glew has has exhibited exhibited widely widely in in both both Canada Canada and and the the United United States. States. She She is is BornBorn and and raised raised in in northern northern New New Jersey, Jersey, Steven Steven Aimone Aimone spent spent his his formative formative years years as as an an artist artist representedrepresented in in Mississauga Mississauga by by Rumi Rumi Galleries, Galleries, and and in in Kelowna, Kelowna, B.C. B.C. by by SOPA SOPA Gallery. Gallery. inin New New York York City, City, immersing immersing himself himself in in the the offerings offerings of of art art galleries galleries and and museums. museums. He He received received HerHer work work has has been been exhibited exhibited at at Art Art Toronto, Toronto, Love Love Art Art Fair, Fair, and and Fountain Fountain Art Art Fair Fair in in New New York York anan MFA MFA in in painting painting and and drawing drawing from from Brooklyn Brooklyn College, College, exhibited exhibited regularly regularly at at First First Street Street City.City. She She is is in in a anumber number of of public public and and corporate corporate collections, collections, including including the the City City of of Toronto Toronto GalleryGallery and and was was represented represented by by Kathryn Kathryn Markel Markel Fine Fine Arts. Arts. Aimone Aimone is is the the author author of of Expressive Expressive Archives,Archives, the the City City of of Scarborough Scarborough Art Art Collection, Collection, and and the the Richmond Richmond Hill Hill Public Public Library Library Drawing:Drawing: A A Practical Practical Guide Guide to to Freeing Freeing the the Artist Artist Within Within (Sterling (Sterling Publishing, Publishing, 2009). 2009). A A highly- highly- Collection.Collection. She She has has an an upcoming upcoming solo solo exhibition exhibition at at GNSTUDIO GNSTUDIO Con Contemporarytemporary Art Art in in regardedregarded teacher teacher of of abstract abstract painting, painting, Aimone Aimone actively actively conducts conducts workshops workshops throughout throughout Oakville,Oakville, Ontario Ontario in in May May and and June June of of 2016. 2016. For For more more info info visit visit www.margaretglew.com. www.margaretglew.com. NorthNorth America. America. He He and and Katherine Katherine Aimone Aimone own own and and operate operate Aimone Aimone A Artrt Services, Services, of offeringfering workshopsworkshops and and arts arts writing writing services services (www.aimoneartservices.com). (www.aimoneartservices.com). For For more more info info JayJay Zerbe; Zerbe; Michigan Michigan City, City, Michigan Michigan visitvisit www.stevenaimone.com. www.stevenaimone.com. JayJay Zerbe Zerbe completed completed a aBA BA from from the the American American University University of of Beirut, Beirut, and and an an MFA MFA in in printmakingprintmaking from from Indiana Indiana University University in in Bloomington. Bloomington. His His professional professional art art career career began began in in 1968 1968 GalenGalen Cheney; Cheney; Montpelier, Montpelier, Vermont Vermont inin Beirut Beirut with with several several exhibitions. exhibitions. His His work work was was first first shown shown in in Chicago Chicago in in the the 1977 1977 Chicago Chicago BornBorn in in Los Los Angeles, Angeles, Galen Galen Cheney Cheney now now lives lives and and works works in in rural rural Vermont. Vermont. She She earned earned her her andand Vicinity Vicinity Exhibition Exhibition at at the the Art Art Institute. Institute. Jay Jay Zerbe Zerbe has has worked worked as as a agraphic graphic designer designer for for BABA from from Mount Mount Holyoke Holyoke College College and and her her MFA MFA from from the the Maryland Maryland Institute, Institute, College College of of Art. Art. PBSPBS and and later later as as a aweb web designer designer and and virtual virtual world world designer designer for for IBM. IBM. He He is is now now a afull-time full-time SheShe has has been been awarded awarded fellowships fellowships from from The The Millay Millay Colony, Colony, The The Vermont Vermont Studio Studio Center, Center, and and professionalprofessional artist. artist. His His work work has has been been shown shown throughout throughout the the United United States States including including Atlanta, Atlanta, DaDa Wang Wang Culture Culture Highland. Highland. She She received received a a publication publication award award from from Open Open Studios Studios Press Press and and Chicago,Chicago, New New Orleans, Orleans, New New York, York, and and Santa Santa Fe. Fe. He He has has gallery gallery representation representation in in Michigan Michigan in in anan exhibition exhibition award award from from Saint-Gaudens Saint-Gaudens National National Historic Historic Site. Site. She She has has been been nominated nominated for for GrandGrand Rapids, Rapids, Douglas, Douglas, and and Detroit. Detroit. For For more more info info visit visit www.jayzerbe.com. www.jayzerbe.com. aa Joan Joan Mitchell Mitchell Foundation Foundation Grant Grant in in painting. painting. Her Her work work has has been been collected collected and and shown shown throughoutthroughout the the United United States States and and abroad, abroad, and and her her most most recent recent exhibitions exhibitions have have been been at at TheThe Painting Painting Center Center in in New New York York City; City; The The Kent Kent Museum Museum in in Calais, Calais, Vermont; Vermont; and and Da Da Wang Wang CultureCulture Highland Highland in in Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China. China. For For more more info info go go to to www.galencheney.com. www.galencheney.com.