"Kim Laurel's work is familiar to Chicago print collectors and her mixed media works on paper are well represented in this showing. Prism Chamber (1999), from her "Prism System Series," is representative of her recent work. A first impression is one of contemporary, illuminated manuscripts. The gilding and subtlety of color must be seen live: reproduction cannot do it justice. These are small, affordable paper jewels. Laurel's prints in this exhibit harmonize and counterpoint natural and abstracted geometries. In Prism Chamber, the Fibonacci spiral inherent in a Nautilus shell forms a focus, while a vegetive tendril at left echoes that animal symmetry. The diamond, regular octahedrons, and faceted geometric stylizations play in contrast against the soft curves. Throughout the image area, spontaneous, free lines form a discrete and unifying netting. Laurel's current printwork brings to mind a Charles Demuth illuminating miniature jewelry onto paper. Laurel's prints were selected this past September for Chicago's "Around The Coyote" Curator's Choice Group Show."
G. Jurek Polanski
ArtScope
Chicago Printmakers Collaborative Small Print Exhibition 1999
Jurek Polanski has previously written and art edited for Strong Coffee in Chicago. He's also well known and respected among the Chicago museums and galleries. Jurek is currently a Visual Arts Correspondent for ArtScope.net.
G. Jurek Polanski
ArtScope
Chicago Printmakers Collaborative Small Print Exhibition 1999
Jurek Polanski has previously written and art edited for Strong Coffee in Chicago. He's also well known and respected among the Chicago museums and galleries. Jurek is currently a Visual Arts Correspondent for ArtScope.net.
Fine Art
Graphic Design • Illustration
Graphic Design • Illustration
Personal work includes: painting, printmaking, collage and mixed media works
Artist's statement: My work is symbolic commentary on sociological and environmental issues in a complex and alienating society. The themes are inadequacies in society posed as allegory.
Primal experiences, nature and personal identity
for example, so basic to our understanding of existence, are symbolized in this allegorical world. Contemporary cultural icons and words are used
to enhance or countermand the associations of the figurative images and symbols, emphasizing the dichotomy between physical self survival and spiritual isolation.
Utilizing printmaking and collage as an extension
of drawing and painting, I have found that in the realm of two dimensional expression that mixed media collage is the most authentic and subjective tool to express my voice.
Prism Chamber Mixed Media, 10" x 10" © Kim Laurel
