Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff
Published: Sunday, August 29, 2010
New York (TADIAS) – Two solo exhibitions featuring new paintings inspired by Dayton, Ohio artist Peter Gooch’s recent trip to Ethiopia are taking place through mid-September at the ArtStreet Studio D Gallery at the University of Dayton and at the B. Deemer Gallery in Louisville, Kentucky.
Professor Peter Gooch, a member of the painting faculty in the visual arts department at the University of Dayton, says he was moved to create the abstract works on paper and small panels by his multiple journey to the country and the striking images captured by his photographer wife Sharon Ransom.
“It was an incredibly powerful, visual and physical experience to be in Ethiopia. It has a very rich, complex and idiosyncratic culture,” Gooch told the Dayton Daily News. “It had such a powerful effect on me that I’m just beginning to distill or assimilate all the visual data I gathered.”
According to the paper: “Gooch broke down that experience into three related groups of work: Lalibela paintings, Boku paintings and Mekuamia paintings. He translated the rock-hewn churches and hilltop monasteries surrounding Lalibela into five acrylic paintings reflective of the ancient city’s atmospheric quality. “Lalibela — Yellow” is his recollection and synthesis of a lemon and lime roadside stand. This striking work on paper is characterized by vertical strips of yellows, greens and blues punctuated with exclamations of black on cream. Boku references the ceremonial leadership staffs of the Oromo tribes. The visuals he created include three high, narrow paintings shown together. Tiny horizontal strips of varying hues march upward in a sea of roughly blended colors. The Christian pilgrims of central and northern Ethiopia carry Mekuamia walking staffs. In “Mekuamia — Yellow Wedge,” tiny horizontal strips of yellow, green and blue cross behind a representative staff in a sea of blood red.”
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If You Go:
Project Ethiope |Paintings | Aug 23, 2010 to Sep 24, 2010
Professor Peter Gooch will exhibit his works on paper and small panels at ArtStreet Studio D Gallery Aug. 23 through Sept. 24. A free artists’ reception is scheduled for 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21. The gallery is open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to midnight; Saturday and Sunday noon to midnight. ArtStreet is located at the intersection of Lawnview Ave. and Kiefaber St. on the University of Dayton campus. For more information, call 937-229-5101 or visit: http://artstreet.udayton.edu.
Location: ArtStreet Studio D Gallery
Cost: Free
For more information, call Adrienne Niess at 937-229-5101 or email niessadl@notes.udayton.edu.
B. Deemer Gallery in Louisville, Kentucky
Peter Gooch “Ethiopian Paintings”, New paintings by Dayton, OH artist.
Ends September 14, 2010
2650 Frankfort Avenue
Louisville, KY 40206
www.bdeemer.com