Ideopolis - Charles Greeley
Our current exhibit at Mill Fine Art features the work of Santa Fe painter and mixed-media artist Charles Greeley, and will be on display until June 26. Greeley is famous for both his daringly colorful acrylic paintings and his Japanese paper collages that reimagine and evoke Southwest landscapes.
The acrylic paintings on display had spontaneous geneses, as many were created by doodling with brushstrokes and searching for emerging forms. The finished products, Greeley has said, “resemble a visionary landscape,” achieved through multiple layers of cross-hatching, dotting, and wash effects. Both Greeley’s paintings and collages are intricately constructed, starting on a small scale to envision something very vast. The paintings are harmoniously complex and shifting, encouraging the eye to see beyond the surface shapes and forms.
Cloudsplitter - Charles Greeley
The collages use the medium of silk-screened Japanese mulberry paper to act as the terrain of landscapes. One such piece, “Cordova,” overlooks the warm Southwestern street we know well, framed by the darker mountains behind. While capturing the essence of their original scenes, Greeley’s collages introduce new qualities and meanings.
As the subject of most of Greeley’s work, nature is an important inspiration. “Living in New Mexico for 40 years,” he says, “has added to my consciousness a greater awareness of light and its many nuances.” He believes that nature holds the “realm of the miraculous,” and one way we can experience this is through art. The Glorieta Pass of Northern New Mexico, which is where Greeley has made his residence, is awash with scenes from which to draw inspiration.
If you have not already visited the show, please join us before June 26 in celebrating the work of this wonderful Santa Fe-based artist.
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