Video Interview and Exhibition Preview:
February 10 - March 3, 2012 "Rhythm and Opticality"
"I have always been fascinated by patterns in works of art. I’m especially drawn to hypnotic and repetitive patterns like those in works by Bridget Riley and Victor Vasarely. I began experimenting with non-traditional painting tools such as palette knives, spoons, spatulas, and squeeze bottles in 2002. Since 2005, I have exclusively used squeeze bottles. As I no longer directly apply paint to canvas or board, the amount of control I have over the final product has diminished. The degree to which I am able to control the medium has become an important undercurrent in my work as I continue to explore new techniques."
"Based on printmaking technique, my current series is called “Lift Off”. To create these paintings, I use squeeze bottles to produce a non-representational image, often based on striped patterns, onto a wooden panel. Then I lay a large piece of paper on top of the wet painting and press down on the paper. The paper is then peeled off revealing a mono-print on the piece of paper. The “negative” of the mono-print remains on the wooden panel which is coated with epoxy resin after it dries."
Mike Hammer 2012