Artist Talk | Charles Emerson: Color & Abstraction

Introduction

Introduction

Welcome, everyone, to the insightful conversation with Charles Emerson on color and abstraction in art. Please ensure your cell phones are in silent mode. My name is Jenna, and I am the Education and Community Engagement Lead at Bimma. To commence, I'd like to quote Chief Seattle: "Every part of this soil is sacred in the estimation of my people. Every hillside, every valley, every plain, and grove has been hallowed by some sad or happy event in days long vanished."

Land Acknowledgment

We acknowledge the land on which we are gathering. It is the ancestral territory of the Suquamish people, expert fishermen, canoe builders, and basket weavers who thrived along Washington's Central Salish Sea for thousands of years. Here, the Suquamish live and protect the lands and waters of their ancestors for future generations, as promised by the Point Elliott Treaty of 1855.

Introduction to Charles Emerson

Today, I am thrilled and honored to moderate this conversation with Charles Emerson. There will be time for questions and answers afterward, and a reception out in the galleries.

Art and the Synaesthetic Experience

Emerson recounts his transformative experience with Vermeer’s "View of Delft." Observing the painting, he felt a synesthetic response where multiple senses were activated, changing his perception of what art could be. He emphasizes the challenge in defining art, noting that a characteristic of a work of art is an "additional reality."

Influences from Los Angeles Art Scene

Emerson discusses his time in Venice, California, during the 1960s. Despite being an old-fashioned painter among the avant-garde "cool school," he remained fascinated by realistic painting. His friends, like James Turrell and Robert Irwin, experimented with light, space, and perception, pushing the boundaries of art.

Robert Irwin

Irwin’s work demonstrated how to make a painting transcend its physical confines. His experiments led him to create installations that manipulated light and perception. Emerson describes the magic of experiencing Irwin's work.

James Turrell

Turrell is known for his works that play with light and space, such as the Roden Crater project. His approach to art, grounded in his Quaker beliefs, explores how we perceive light and color. Emerson particularly admires Turrell’s ability to create immersive environments.

The Paintings and Legacy of Jackson Pollock

Emerson details Jackson Pollock's method of painting with movement and rhythm, resulting in works like "Blue Poles." He praises Pollock for creating a new way of seeing without focusing on pictorial representation.

Learning to Read Color

Emerson stresses the importance of learning to read color, as exemplified by artists like Josef Albers and Hans Hofmann. He discusses Albers' color theories, emphasizing the interplay of color perception.

Influence of Bonnard

Emerson admires Pierre Bonnard's ability to create flat yet dimensional spaces through color. He encourages viewers to read depth within a painting by observing how colors interact.

Ken Price and Playing with Color

Ken Price, a good friend of Emerson, played with reflected colors in his work, creating surfaces that changed with the viewer's movement. Emerson emphasizes that color can dictate spatial perception.

Clifford Still: The Tyrant of San Francisco

Emerson fondly recalls Clifford Still’s influence, describing him as a pioneer who created non-European, distinctly American paintings. Still's work is monumental, both in size and emotional impact.

Painting Techniques and Challenges

Emerson shares anecdotes about learning painting techniques from masters and applying them to his work. He describes his approach to abstraction as solving a painting problem, often drawing inspiration from observations and experiences.

Concluding Thoughts and Personal Paintings

Emerson reflects on several of his paintings, explaining the challenges and inspirations behind works such as "Listen to the Crows," "Venice Through Memories," and others. He encourages viewers to see his work in person to appreciate the nuances of color and texture.

Q&A Session

During the Q&A session, Emerson answers questions about his approach to art, his thoughts on the power of paintings, and the specific problems he addresses in his work. He emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and experimentation in art.

Keywords

• Color
• Abstraction
• Synesthesia
• James Turrell
• Robert Irwin
• Jackson Pollock
• Josef Albers
• Pierre Bonnard
• Ken Price
• Clifford Still
• Painting Techniques
• Art Perception
• Light and Space Movement

FAQ

Q1: What was Charles Emerson's transformative experience with Vermeer’s "View of Delft"?

A1: Charles Emerson described a synesthetic experience where multiple senses were activated while observing Vermeer’s "View of Delft." This moment altered his perception of what art could be.

Q2: How did the Los Angeles art scene influence Charles Emerson?

A2: Despite being a traditional painter, Emerson found inspiration in the experimental works of artists like James Turrell and Robert Irwin, who were part of the "cool school" and aligned with the light and space movement.

Q3: Why is learning to read color important, according to Emerson?

A3: Emerson emphasizes that understanding color perception and interaction is crucial for creating and appreciating art. He draws on principles from Josef Albers and Hans Hofmann to illustrate this point.

Q4: What are some techniques Emerson uses in his paintings?

A4: Emerson employs techniques such as varying brush strokes, transparency, translucency, and opaque colors to create different spatial perceptions. He also experiments with compositions and solving painting problems through these methods.

Q5: How did Clifford Still influence Charles Emerson's work?

A5: Clifford Still, known for his monumental and emotionally powerful paintings, inspired Emerson with his philosophy of creating distinctly American art that transcends traditional European styles.

Q6: What kind of problems does Emerson address in his paintings?

A6: Emerson often tackles compositional and perceptual challenges in his work. He experiments with how colors interact and create depth, aiming to keep his work dynamic and engaging.