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Rick Spitzer < Back Rick Spitzer Colorado River Red Canyon 2022 CMC Fine Arts Show Landscape Photography using Digital Camera on Paper 16 x 20 Inquire Previous Next

< Back Raymond Bleesz Raymond Bleesz is an American original, and by that, I mean something specific. “American originals,” whether they be musicians, politicians, writers, artists, or photographers, have something in common: they tend to be attached to places, patches of land (even though they may travel far and wide), and their work has a strong regional flavor. At the same time, no matter how local their interests, they always seem to seek qualities that are universal, that could be understood and appreciated by anyone — a city slicker from New York or Paris, say, or an immigrant recently arrived, or an astrophysicist with her newly minted Ph.D. from Berkeley. Is this universal mode of address all just an illusion of American optimism? I think it’s worth consulting Raymond’s photographs for the answer. First of all, he has been looking at a large patch of land in Colorado and points west for a very long time. So he is sensitive to its physical moods and textures, its spaces, and its theatrical shifts of light. There’s plenty of visual interest in his landscapes, made even more dramatic by the contrast of his favored black and white. But unlike Ansel Adams’ west, Raymond’s is populated. People make their marks on it, build there, and travel through. Just when you might be inclined to take all this metaphysical panorama too seriously, however, the photographer will show you an outhouse, or a goofy road sign. So much for human hubris, ambition, and the taming of the west. That sense of humor reveals what might be most important of all about this photographer, more important even that the extensive catalog of Colorado scenes he has imaged– a valuable visual history. It is a quality of sympathy. This is especially clear in his portraits. Very often what you see in photographic portraits is an artifact, usually of the photographer’s control and desire to make some kind of statement about his hapless (usually) victim. In Raymond’s portraits, something else is revealed. His portraits rarely seem forced even when they are formal because what he really captures is something that passes back and forth between himself and his subjects. I am not sure how to put that into words. Call it respect or affection or trust, it yields portraits that are distinct and particular as a signature but as common and familiar as a nearby relative. He accords them dignity, but he lets them breathe. For many reasons, these are fraught times to call yourself American. Look at these pictures, and take it easy. It’ll pass. We’ll get together again, put aside the internet-stoked grievances, and recognize that we’re all together in the same leaky boat. We may even laugh at each other’s jokes. Raymond Bleesz absolutely guarantees it. March 23, 2019 – These words, sentences were written by Lyle Rexer. Rexer is an author, teacher, photo critic, and curator. Bleesz has worked with Rexer as a mentor. Rexer is a faculty member of the school of visual arts, NYC. Previous Next

Trish Donovan < Back Trish Donovan Hovenweep Lingers 2022 CMC Fine Arts Show Historical Painting using Oil on Canvas 18"x28"x.5" Inquire Previous Next

Amazing in-person artist workshops in Eagle County, Vail, Beaver Creek, Colorado. Art classes. Learn to paint from professional artists No events at the moment Back to All Workshops

Rick Spitzer < Back Rick Spitzer Gathering Storm 2022 CMC Fine Arts Show Landscape Photography using Digital Camera on Paper 16 x 20 Inquire Previous Next

Bob Will < Back Bob Will #3 2022 CMC Fine Arts Show Abstract Sculpture/3D using Multimedia on Wood 33wx19x2 Inquire Previous Next

Mason Torry < Back Mason Torry Along the Eagle 2022 CMC Fine Arts Show Landscape Painting using Oil on Canvas 8" x 10" Inquire Previous Next

Zack Bukovich < Back Zack Bukovich Community Garden, End of Day 2022 CMC Fine Arts Show Landscape Painting using Oil on Wood 18 x 24 in Inquire Previous Next

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Tamra Converse < Back Tamra Converse Let her go 2022 CMC Fine Arts Show Landscape Printmaking using Multimedia on Paper 25”w x 19”h Inquire Previous Next

Raj Manickam < Back Raj Manickam Take OFF your Cloves 2022 CMC Fine Arts Show Still Life Photography using Digital Camera on Canvas 14 x 26 Inquire Previous Next