The ‘Process’
Hanging an art show isn’t nearly as easy as you think
BY BARBARA H HUGHES
Tonalism was a nineteenth century art movement seeking the return to nature in a world, which had rapidly turned toward The Industrial Age.
Land was deforested, vast spaces along river fronts and in forests were quickly being altered so farms and factories could begin massive production.
Cities and towns drowned inside a toxic swirl of coal exhaust, trash and filth resulting from too many people crowded inside too small of spaces,
in order to manufacture all things meant for human consumption.
Emerson wrote “Self-Reliance” and Thoreau wrote “Walden,” which influenced generations since their publication in 1841 and 1854, respectively.
By the time Tonalism, as an art movement, became apparent, a couple generations of people had been born into and were working within the manufacturing facilities and expansive farms, which took over much of whatever pristine landscape existed around towns and cities in Britain and America.
As is typical throughout human history, it was the artists, who watched, processed, responded to and recorded these landscape transformations.
Emerson and Thoreau made deep and lasting impressions on American education, and I recall devouring those books while in school; their principles influenced many of us down through the ensuing generations.
But, certainly, it has been the artists who have kept reminding all of us just how precious this gorgeous world truly is, and it is they, even now, who present us with reflections of our world in the form of paintings.
“The Process” of preparing for an art exhibit is a long one. It begins with an idea, which leads to a vision and a plan of work for the artist and, also, for the gallery hosting the event.
Kevin Fitzgerald and I entered into “The Plan” well over a year ago, when we began discussing size, subject and palette for his 2022 one-man exhibit.
Today, and for the first time, Peter and I were given a beautiful gift: Kevin delivered his exhibit and, now, Peter takes the reins. This is a tricky situation because The Plan and The Story are part of The Process. It’s the gallery’s job how best to present the artist’s story: and, all of that involves this key factor – trust. When all parties proceed responsibly, the exhibit comes together beautifully, and the presentation becomes a success.
Personally, I eagerly await Kevin’s exhibit, because his paintings ask me to stop, to breathe, to observe.
Kevin Fitzgerald is America’s premier tonalist painter. He is not new to this style/genre, in fact, he found it, studied it and settled into it decades ago, early in his career and he has grown into a Master Tonalist painter.
He developed the ability to paint paintings which encourage us not only to “look,” but to “enter” his landscapes. Ethereal, luminescent, mystical, contemporary, magical AND traditional are a few of the words I’ve heard, and used, to describe what Kevin does – what he gifts us.
The word “reverent,” the words “deliberate,” “thoughtful,” “uncompromised,” “tender” … these are the words in my brain when I’m in the presence of great art … these are the descriptors of Kevin Fitzgerald’s paintings.
So, the next time you wander around an art gallery, I hope you’ll enjoy the exhibits even more, because now you can see into The Process of The Story and The Plan a bit clearer.
Kevin’s one-man exhibit is open now at Hughes Gallery, 333 Park Avenue (across from The Temp). We’ll see you soon!
