March 19, 2024 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Artistic Expressions of Spring

By Michael Ray

 

The Craig Krull Gallery hosted an opening reception, Saturday March 3, for artists Robin Mitchell and Nancy Monk; both artists have exhibited at the gallery before. In their new series of paintings, both artists exhibited a connection to the natural world through their selection of subject and color. The event drew a sizable crowd of locals and art collectors from neighboring cities.

Robin Mitchell, now on her sixth solo exhibition at the Craig Krull Gallery, produced flower-like paintings. The works contain “obsessive, stitch-like brushstrokes” which happen to “swirl in vibrant concentric patterns” from the center to the edges of each canvass. According to Mitchell, the works reflect “breathing in and out….and the throb of a beating heart.” Her paintings are intricately detailed and don’t have a sense of a beginning or end, but rather a center and edge as the colors continue to flare in and out from the core. They are evocative of mandalas, flowers and planetary orbits.

“It is color and joyful!” stated attendee Beth Rendeiro “the flower-like paintings suggest, for me, the potential for blooming.”

“I feel very at home in this room,” added her friend Laurie Ramirez, both Santa Monica Unified School District teachers.

In the adjacent room Nancy Monk’s painting, a meticulous selection of trees, animals and geometric shapes, lined the gallery walls. Monk’s work can be considered “playfully fresh, inventive, and wisely naïve,” she draws her inspiration from other artists such as Paul Klee and Yves Klein. In this exhibition, her combination of paint and collage techniques are evocative of a sense of spring through her varied uses of yellow and white and animals selected.

According to Brett Arena, a follower of Monk’s work, the addition of a “glossy finishes, and glittered sections is a new element to her work, while the trees are a common motif.”

Robin Mitchell’s Paintings and Nancy Monk’s Twelve by Nine are currently on display at the Craig Krull Gallery, Bergamot Station, 2525 Michigan Ave # B3, Santa Monica, CA 90404.

Inside Robin Mitchell’s Paintings. Robin Mitchell smiling with attendees on left.
Photos: Michael Ray.

Related Posts

Film Review: Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One

July 19, 2023

July 19, 2023

FILM REVIEWMISSION IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING PART ONERated PG-13163 MinutesReleased July 11th The story in this “Mission: Impossible” chapter, “Dead...

Film Review: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

July 5, 2023

July 5, 2023

FILM REVIEWINDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINYRated PG-13154 MinutesReleased June 30th The director of Indiana Jones and the Dial...

Film Review: Past Lives

June 27, 2023

June 27, 2023

FILM REVIEWPAST LIVESRated PG-13105 MinutesLimited Releases June 2nd and June 9th, Full Release June 23rd The Korean concept of “In...

Film Review: Sanctuary

June 8, 2023

June 8, 2023

FILM REVIEWSANCTUARYRated R96 MinutesReleased May 19th In my humble estimation, this is one of the best movies of the year....

Film Review: The Little Mermaid

June 2, 2023

June 2, 2023

FILM REVIEWTHE LITTLE MERMAIDRated PG135 MinutesReleased May 26th With today’s technological developments, a live-action The Little Mermaid is not only...

A Riveting Revival of the Pulitzer Prize-Winning “A Soldier’s Play” Now Playing At The Ahmanson Theatre

May 31, 2023

May 31, 2023

On Stage With… Murder mysteries, whether cinematic or theatrical, are one of the most popular subjects. The list is quite...

Film Review: Chevalier

May 12, 2023

May 12, 2023

By Kathryn Boole  RATED PG-13107 MinutesReleased April 21, 2023 Chevalier is based on the true story of a historical figure...

Ballet at the Broad Stage Memorial Weekend – Meet the Talent!

May 10, 2023

May 10, 2023

Westside Ballet of Santa Monica returns to the Broad Stage with special guest artists kicking off Friday May 26th with...

Elizabeth McGovern Lights Up The Stage in “Ava – The Secret Conversations”

April 26, 2023

April 26, 2023

Play About Legendary Screen Star Runs Until May 14 At The Geffen Playhouse By Beverly Cohn Ava Gardner, born Ava...

Unconventional Art Festival “The Other Art Fair” Returns to Santa Monica This Weekend

March 31, 2023

March 31, 2023

140 independent artists, immersive installations, performances, DJs, and a fully stocked bar await visitors at Barker Hangar The Other Art...

Samohi Theatre’s “The Drowsy Chaperone” Takes the Stage in Santa Monica

March 1, 2023

March 1, 2023

Shows will take place at Barnum Hall on March 3 and 4 at 7 p.m. and March 5 at 3...

Film Review: “Marlow”

February 23, 2023

February 23, 2023

FILM REVIEW“MARLOWE”Rated R109 MinutesReleased February 15th “Marlowe” is a beautifully shot period piece that takes place in the late 1930’s....

Film Review: All Quite on the Western Front

February 22, 2023

February 22, 2023

I have never been a soldier at war, although I have close friends and relatives who have been. Universally they...

SMC Emeritus Concert Band to Hold Free Concert This Weekend at the Broad Stage

February 22, 2023

February 22, 2023

Concert February 26 will feature musical selections with an outdoor theme Santa Monica College’s Emeritus Concert Band, under the baton...