As a part of the Southern California community, Long Beach stands out with a uniqueness all its own. One of the things that defines our coastal city is the local art scene, which churns out an abundance of artists and artistic styles as diverse as the city itself. “Three: Fern Bowen, Carl Aldana and Lori LaMont,” showing now through June 8 at the Long Beach Museum of Art, celebrates the works of three Long Beach artists who are not to be missed.
Bowen was an experimental artist, and this is apparent through her varied styles and techniques. Even if you do not enjoy modern abstract art, there is still much to be gained by observing Bowen’s paintings.
Bowen’s works are rife with a spectrum of colors, from pale neutrals to nearly electric hues. Her more abstract pieces give a feel of spatial relations and geometric forms.
In contrast, her still life and landscape scenes reflect keen observations from her international travels and local community. We see vibrant, sunlit depictions of architecture in China as well as a Middle Eastern bazaar bathed in the blue shadows of a moonlit night.
Another piece focuses on a group of women gathered for lunch, and the kinship of the subjects gives us a sense of human connection – this could be Long Beach or any other of Bowen’s international locales.
Aldana’s acrylic and oil paintings are the most representative of Long Beach out of the entire exhibit. His scenes are familiar, and yet his artistic treatment opens our eyes to the city by allowing us a different perspective.
Aldana captures the beauty of a Santa Ana Freeway traffic jam, or the Metro docked at First Street and Pine Avenue. This encourages us to appreciate the ordinary, which turns out to be not so ordinary on a second glance.
Up close the texture of impasto carries the memory of Aldana’s brush strokes. Step back and his scenes transform into delicious landscapes. Lush, saturated colors consume Aldana’s canvases. Sunset scenes are captured with fiery warmth and surprising touches of neon. The nighttime scenes are filled with mysterious shadows, and street lamps glow in the misty haze.
Simple, yet impressive, is Aldana’s series of the Long Beach Harbor. These small acrylic paintings capture tankers on the horizon, either departing or arriving. Some are depicted with purple-orange sunsets flaming behind them, while others are ghostly behind veils of cool, haunting fog. It inspires one to take a stroll along Bluff Park and see the real thing.
LaMont, our final artist, is probably one of the most talented watercolor artists you will ever see. Her subject matter has a playful feel with parades of animals and fantastical characters. Her use of color is incredible. Rich and bold throughout, even the backgrounds are gorgeous. Intense blocks of color juxtapose against her subject matter. These paintings are alive.
It is not only the boldness of her colors that stands out, but the range of colors she works with. In one portrait, she incorporated shades of green, lavender and aqua to create strands of blonde hair. The effect is both surprising and wholly exquisite.
Perhaps it is LaMont’s brush technique that will be impressed on your memories after you leave the gallery. You will not find transparent, softly blurred watercolor here. LaMont’s brushstrokes are crisp, aggressive and clean to the point that it’s almost hard to believe this is watercolor.
Her attention to detail also helps to infuse these paintings with life. She uses shadow and light to enhance the draping of fabrics, as well as the wrinkles of the flesh. It is easy to imagine these characters could step right off the paper if they wanted.
“Three” is located in the Kurt Schulzman and Richard Neri Gallery. The LBMA offers free admission on Fridays, so there is no excuse to miss this exhibit. Show some Beach Pride by supporting our local artists.
