Jackson Hole Gallery – Art Catalog

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IRVING NORMAN - How Come - oil on canvas - 90 x 60 in.

IRVING NORMAN

Irving Norman was born in 1906 in Vilna, then part of the Russian Empire, now Lithuania. Norman's immigration to New York City in 1923 was short-lived, as he would return to Europe to fight as part of the Abraham Lincoln battalion against the Spanish dictator Francisco Franco. After the War, Norman would eventually settle in Half Moon Bay, California, where he embarked on a prolific studio practice.
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<br>Norman's work portrays the horrors of war and his firsthand knowledge of totalitarian dictatorships. Norman's work has been described as "Social Surrealism," and his grand scenes are immediate and arresting. The large-scale works of Norman truly capture the power of his lived experiences; they are as much a visual record as they are a warning for the future, intended to inspire change.

IRVING NORMAN

<div><font face=Calibri size=3 color=black>Harry Bertoia’s “Sonambient” sculptures are a mesmerizing blend of art, sound, and science, and this 36-tine piece is a quintessential example of his innovative genius. Meticulously crafted with 36 rods aligned in a precise six-by-six configuration on a square base, this 77-inch-tall work embodies the harmonious intersection of visual beauty and auditory wonder.</font></div>
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<br><div><font face=Calibri size=3 color=black>Made from beryllium copper, a material favored by Bertoia for its superior acoustic properties and aesthetic appeal, the rods have developed a rich walnut-like patina over time. This patina adds to the sculpture’s visual allure, enhancing its historical and artistic value, and reflects a natural aging process that the artist himself, a naturalist, would have admired. When activated by touch or the movement of air, the rods produce a perceptible, fixed note accompanied by a range of ethereal tones, transforming the sculpture from a static object into a dynamic, multisensory experience. The long, swaying motion of the tall rods, reminiscent of the undulating desert grasses that inspired the artist initially, adds a captivating visual dimension. The cattail-like finials further evoke natural forms, underscoring Bertoia’s inspiration derived from the natural world.</font></div>
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<br><div><font face=Calibri size=3 color=black>Bertoia’s 36-tine “Sonambient” sculpture is more than a visual masterpiece; it profoundly explores sound, material, and participatory interaction. It exemplifies Bertoia’s belief in art as an immersive and evolving experience, where each encounter offers discoveries and sensations. Through this work, Bertoia has created a timeless piece that continues to captivate and inspire, highlighting his artistic vision's enduring power and deep connection to nature’s spiritual qualities.</font></div>

HARRY BERTOIA

IRVING NORMAN - Snapshots - oil on canvas - 40 x 90 in.

IRVING NORMAN

Oliveira’s existential figures convey an unease reminiscent of Giacometti's style, a characteristic that persisted throughout Oliveira's extensive career. But he also explored the intrinsic essence of birds and animals and investigated the fleeting nature of perception, where memory reconstructs ephemeral experiences. In his later years, he focused on site paintings and monographs, evoking the forgotten names of ancient civilizations or tribes as if unearthed in an archaeological excavation. With Mask, the enigmatic egg-shape, elevated as if placed upon a burial platform, and its subdued, soft, earthen terracotta palette point to tribal associations and may reflect his interest as a collector of Indigenous masks, mostly from Mexico.

NATHAN OLIVEIRA

Irving Norman was born in 1906 in Vilna, then part of the Russian Empire, now Lithuania. Norman's immigration to New York City in 1923 was short-lived, as he would return to Europe to fight as part of the Abraham Lincoln battalion against the Spanish dictator Francisco Franco. After the War, Norman would eventually settle in Half Moon Bay, California, where he embarked on a prolific studio practice.
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<br>Norman's work portrays the horrors of war and his firsthand knowledge of totalitarian dictatorships. Norman's work has been described as "Social Surrealism," and his grand scenes are immediate and arresting. The large-scale works of Norman truly capture the power of his lived experiences; they are as much a visual record as they are a warning for the future, intended to inspire change.

IRVING NORMAN

Nathan Olivera is often associated with the Bay Area Figurative painters of California, but in reality, his work reveals his interest in Willem de Kooning, Alberto Giacometti, and Francis Bacon. These influences are salient characteristics of Nude Stepping from the Carpet. Painted when Olivera was in his early 30s, it is just the sort of painting that established his early reputation for haunting depictions of isolated figures painted in an improvisational style. Oliveira's later work reflects de Kooning's influential comment regarding the challenge of painting visual memories and creating figurations having a tenuous presence, yet the strong horizon line grounding this landscape lends the figure a more corporeal presence than usual.

NATHAN OLIVEIRA

Nathan Oliveira's solitary figures convey a sense of existential unease reminiscent of Giacometti's style, yet they also possess an ethereal quality and a transcendent presence. These figures embody timeless, universal expressions of a self-transcending consciousness, more aligned with the intangible aspects of metaphysics. Figure with Blue Eyes has a haunting quality. As if reaching into the past, if we assume the slashing vertical strokes of white from the chin downward is a painterly metaphor for an eighteenth-century cravat, it resonates with Oliveira's deep respect and engagement with Goya's legacy. Figure with Blue Eyes could be a direct homage. Oliveira based his first serial compositions on Goya's 1818 etching La Tauromaquia 21 and participated in many events discussing the influence and significance of Goya's work.

NATHAN OLIVEIRA

IRVING NORMAN - Man and Time - oil on canvas - 58 x 30 in.

IRVING NORMAN

NATHAN OLIVEIRA - Stelae No. 5 - oil on canvas - 66 x 54 1/8 in.

NATHAN OLIVEIRA

GREGORY SUMIDA - Brook's Bend - watercolor - 10 1/2 x 14 1/2 in

GREGORY SUMIDA

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