The Eye Man

The Museum of Arts and Design is a happy source for sparking new ideas.
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The current exhibit of Latin American artists, like so many of their shows, mixes unlikely materials with functionality.  Like the chairs made out of lace cloth by Diana Cabeza.
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Sebastian Errazuruz from Chile. has a shoe-art wall.  Love it!  For me, the show stopper is his commentary on labor and consumerist excess.  The Atlas with the world of the golden stiletto on his shoulder.  This in a time when women are spending well over a thousand dollars for glass slippers.
At my personal time of questioning/questionable vision, I particularly enjoyed the exhibit of Richard Estes‘ paintings, watercolors, silk screens, and photography.  He’s a photo-realist who has long depicted pop culture with his stylized muscle-car paintings and other scenes with hyper-realized reflections.  Here are his street scenes of New York.
Richard Estes, Sunday Afternoon in the Park, 1989. oil on canvas

Richard Estes, Sunday Afternoon in the Park, 1989. oil on canvas

Look at the vantage points he plays with.  Overhead at the automat.  Straight on with a couple lounging on a rock at Central Park, with the distorting city panorama.
Richard Estes, Automat, c1971, oil on masonite

Richard Estes, Automat, c1971, oil on masonite

In several works he distorts viewer understanding of reality and vision.  His confusing self portraits like this one with his reflection on the Staten Island Ferry.  His presence is a shadow, a reflection.  He’s really inaccessible.  More like a mirage.
Richard Estes, Self Portrait, 2013

Richard Estes, Self Portrait, 2013, oil on board

You might not be surprised that my favorite is “The Eye Man” from 2014.  Look at how he plays with reflection, being able to see, signs, windows onto another world.  “Use It or Lose It” one sign at the lower center reads.  Ain’t that the truth?
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Richard Estes, The Eye Man, 2014, oil on canvas