Artist GC Myers aims for maximum visual impact in his new solo show at Principle Gallery, by going bolder with size and color. The show title Continuum: The RedTreeat 25 references that this will mark the artist’s 25th annual show at the gallery, and the enduring appearance of his signature “RedTree” in imagined landscapes.
Time Reverberation, acrylic on canvas, 36 x 24"
“Anytime your work has been with a gallery for an extended period of time, there is a need to continuously expand the range of your work in some way in order to keep it fresh,” says Myers in acknowledgment of his 27-year tenure with Principle Gallery. “And that is not only for the collectors. I spend a huge amount of time in my studio and it is vital that I feel excited by the work.”
Myers is always adding elements and making subtle changes in texture, paint application, color and the composition of each canvas. “I think the work today is more multi-layered and complex than it was 25 years ago in that first show,” says Myers. “My process is much more elaborate now with more stages, which requires more time. But even so, I am mindful of maintaining a feeling of simplicity and open emotion in the work so that people can easily recognize [it] as mine and connect with it. So, while the work has expanded and changed over the decades, there is a line of continuity that runs through it.”
All Embracing, acrylic on canvas, 30 x 48"
While the RedTree motif is one way Myers creates “continuity,” often the true subject of his paintings is the emotion conveyed. The artist also notes that his use of the sun and moon throughout the new collection plays a vital role compositionally and emotionally. “This is particularly so in [the painting Time Reverberation],” he says. “The RedTree here symbolizes the here and now, while the rising moon represents the passing of time, and the warm arcs surrounding it represent the echoes of history and eternity that come down to us. While these could be daunting subjects, this painting’s warmth and the solidness of its forms give this piece, for me, a sense of understanding unity with the greater forces of the universe.”
Flame Feeding Flame, acrylic on canvas, 30 x 40"
Not all of the show paintings will have a RedTree present, as in the case of piece Call of the Blue Moon, and yet, “I think this painting captures the best of what I am hoping to achieve with my work,” Myers says. “It is simply constructed. It has wonderful depth into the picture plane that draws me in. It is meditative yet has a rhythm and smoothness that plays off the underlying texture and underpainting—lending to its strength. Then there is the paradox of it. While it represents snow and coolness, there is still a feeling of warmth. The blue moon, as I see it, should feel unusual, yet feels calm and reasoned here. And the crows in the bare tree serve as silent witnesses to the scene.”
Call of the Blue Moon, acrylic on canvas, 36 x 36"
Myers will sometimes use crows and ravens to symbolize a “natural wisdom that is beyond us.”
Continuum: The RedTree at 25 features approximately 50 paintings and opens on Friday, June 14 with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. The show will hang through July 1. —
Principle Gallery, 208 King Street • Alexandria, VA 22314 • (703) 739-9326 • www.principlegallery.com
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