Contemplating Contemporary Art
Photography: Courtesy of Individual Galleries
It’s the type of question that begs an elusive answer: What, exactly, is contemporary art? Nine people immersed in the Park City contemporary art world describe what they sell—and sometimes create—in different terms. While there is a vague consensus on the overall definition of “contemporary art,” (most agree that it is the art of ‘now’), the details are highly subjective.
“There is a personal bent to what you consider contemporary,” explained Linda Littell of CODA Gallery. “It’s a many-faceted question because it involves not just the technical definition of contemporary, but it involves the emotion of the time period.” Littell went on to explain that there are really two different categories. “There is the art of the ‘now’—what everyone seems to be attracted to, sort of where we’re at emotionally, environmentally and spiritually … then there’s also contemporary art that doesn’t become contemporary art until later because it’s too much for people to get their teeth around right now. I think Picasso was like that.”
Mitch Pretner of Old Town Gallery tends to speak of contemporary art in broader terms. “I guess, to me, all art is contemporary art. It just depends what period you’re talking about. Contemporary art is a function of its time.”
Julie Nester of Julie Nester Gallery explained: “Contemporary art is defined as any art that has been produced after 1960.” Maren Bargreen, director of Meyer Gallery, prefers a literal definition: “Contemporary art is anything that pertains to today … but it takes on so many meanings.” The gallery she represents has recently added more “contemporary art” to its offerings in a move to appeal to today’s buyers. However, she explained that since the entire gallery is comprised of work by living artists, it has always been contemporary. The newer work simply reflects what the layperson would consider modern or contemporary.
Like Pretner and Bargreen, Judi Grenney of Phoenix Gallery provided a fairly all-encompassing definition. However, she insists that all contemporary art is that of living artists. “Contemporary art, I think, has a vitality, so it is continually changing,” she explained. “Contemporary art speaks to our time. It has to be relevant, and it has to be [created by] somebody living.”
Jenece Lemon, director of redstone gallery agrees, reiterating Grenney’s assertion, “Technically, contemporary art is art of living masters. I would have to say it is art that is created in one’s lifetime. Contemporary means existing at the same time. Depending on the age of the collector, that timeline can change.”
According to Judy Summer, owner of Artworks Gallery and an artist in her own right, that changing timeline has been illustrated in a piece of work she owns, a small painting from the Vietnam era. “At some point, its meaning changes,” she said, explaining that for her, that painting makes a certain statement, but for her children or friends, it has different meanings. In reference to her own gallery, she said, “When I define contemporary art in terms of craft, I basically refer to a style that has clean lines and makes a statement without being fussy. That doesn’t mean it isn’t complicated.”
The evolution of contemporary art is also up for debate. Is there another Picasso or Dali on the horizon or can such an artist’s relevance be seen only in hindsight? According to John Bell, featured artist and One Modern Art owner, there are so many artists under today’s contemporary art umbrella that such a distinction is difficult to make. “Contemporary art used to be a pretty ground-breaking genre,” the artist explained. “It used to be an elite or outcast group. Now, it’s pretty well marketed,” he said.
Aside from making history with cutting edge art, there is also an element of the mainstream in contemporary work. “The word contemporary means now, what is current or, so to speak, hip or in. I think it’s colorful, thought-provoking, much more whimsical than maybe it used to be,” noted Karen Terzian of Terzian Galleries.
Emerging trends and artists of the “now”
Terzian is not alone in noticing a trend toward happy, colorful, feel-good art. Some attribute this growing need for escape or distraction through art to political events, while others see it as a response to today’s busy lifestyle.
Littell noted that a recent article attributed the trend to reaction to the events of September 11, 2001. “The ‘now’ is emotional and psychological.
I think 9/11 had a lot to do with that— I think the [9/11] shadow is shortening, but it’s still there,” she said. One of CODA gallery’s most popular artists is Tracey Lane, a painter who depicts expressionist landscapes with a unique style that Littell describes as both “mystical” and “soothing.” That soothing trend, according to Littell, is cropping up in a variety of artists’ works.
“These whimsical, colorful, beautiful landscapes make us feel good,” commented Terzian. She also noted that there is a significant move toward nostalgia in art. Dave Newman, who incorporates Western pop icons and Americana into his work, and Arunas Oslapas, who creates bicycle seats out of found objects, are top-selling Terzian Galleries artists whose works incorporate obvious nostalgia.
“People are drawn to saturated colors, boldness and simplicity,” explained Summer, who is also seeing a trend toward fun, colorful art. “We’re no longer being minimalist. People want things with real structure. Maybe because our world is unstructured—we don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow.”
And what better escape than art that makes you laugh, or at least smile? “There’s some trend in escapism or humor that’s in vogue right now, commented Grenney, noting that one of the Phoenix Gallery’s top-selling artists, Jim Budish, creates sculpture with humor (featuring elongated animal figures such as horses and rabbits).
Similarly elongated sculpture in CODA Gallery fits into yet another contemporary art trend: universality. Littell pointed out that the sculpture of artist John Kennedy is known more for its universal nature than for its humor. “I’ve always thought that sculpture without faces is very contemporary because it just represents every man.
Summer, Terzian and Pretner are all witnessing an emergence in glass art, a relatively new phenomenon. According to Terzian, 40 years ago glass was considered a craft rather than true art in the United States. Collectors are now taking notice of glass as an art form. “Glass has sort of gone ‘ha, ha, ha… I’m gorgeous, I’m functional and I can make a statement,’” explained Summer, who features the works of glass blower Loretta Eby in Artworks Gallery. Pretner highlighted successful Old Town Gallery artists that feature glass in their creations: Rafael Navarro-Leiton’s Spirit Vessels (glass vessels with copper inlaid figures) and Tony Milici’s work that combines wood, stone and glass in architectural pieces.
Another defining element of contemporary artwork is process. According to Grenney, many contemporary artists are developing their own brand new techniques as they create. “I meet people all the time who are inventing the techniques they’re using.” She explained that Elis Gudman, one of the artists represented at Phoenix Gallery, has created a 15-step technique which is all her own. Another successful artist in the gallery, Curtis Olsen, “had something in mind, scheduled a show for himself, quit his job and had three months to figure it out,” she explained. Similarly, Lemon has discovered that the artists they represent are pioneers in original technique. For example, redstone gallery features the work of 27-year-old artist, Michael Flohr. The successful young artist has developed a painting technique that incorporates colored blocks or broad strokes in modern impressionist scenes of bars and cafés.
Both Julie Nester and Maren Bargreen have seen a resurgence of encaustic work, an ancient wax-based medium which is now being used by contemporary artists. “I think encaustic is really what’s happening now,” said Bargreen. The Meyer Gallery carries encaustic works by Chris Reilly, while Julie Nester Gallery represents artist Kirsten Stolle, whose encaustic pieces are layered.
There is also a trend in what collectors are purchasing, perhaps illustrated by the growing number of galleries that are showing and selling less traditional work. It would appear that the future is looking good for adventurous contemporary artists and gallery owners who have decided to ride the trend. According to Bargreen, younger buyers are seeking out contemporary works. “The more traditional art is not resonating in our generation. [Younger buyers] don’t want to buy what their parents bought.”
Rules of the abstract and “modern” world
Some gallery directors, owners and artists insist that contemporary art, particularly abstract art, requires the use of certain elements—that there are, in fact, rules. This may be hard for some of us to imagine as we peer at art books and museum exhibits depicting splattered paint or solid lines across a canvas. “Modern art is about deconstruction. If you don’t know how to build something first, you can’t deconstruct it,” Bell explained.
Does contemporary art have to be abstract? According to the majority of those interviewed, the answer is no.
“It can be anything,” Grenney ex-plained, describing an artist she heard about recently who creates one-of-a-kind pieces of paper out of things he puts in a blender. “Contemporary art doesn’t have all the details, the rules … It’s just that it has to be created now and relevant. I think those are the only rules.”
Just as there is debate over what is art and what is not, so, too, is there a debate over whether or not modern and contemporary are synonymous. Bell, who sees the terms as similar said, “I always preferred the term “modern”… take the c-o-n off contemporary and what are you left with? Temporary.” He went on to explain, “Modern art is the history of progression of art.” Others see a great distinction between modern and contemporary. “Modern art is considered an era,” explained Terzian. For example, Dali was considered a contemporary artist during his time, but is now considered a modern artist rather than a contemporary one.
Whether considered modern or contemporary, there seems to be a consensus about what challenges face the artists of today. “The biggest challenge is to find an original voice,” said Bell. Summer expanded on the theme, explaining, “Every contemporary artist is hoping to make a statement that will last the century, even though they’re creating it now.”
Feeling a bit more educated on contemporary art, Jane Gendron is mightily impressed with the complexities of the genre. When she's not grappling with philosophical art questions or working with Park City Performing Arts Foundation, Jane takes advantage of Utah's stunning outdoors.
Decide for yourself what is contemporary art. The following art galleries offer an eclectic mix of the latest:
Artworks, 461 Main Street
CODA Gallery, 804 Main Street
Julie Nester Gallery, 1755 B Bonanza Drive
Meyer Gallery, 305 Main Street
Old Town Gallery, 444 Main Street
One Modern Art, 1074 East 2100 South, Salt Lake City
Phoenix Gallery, 508 Main Street
Redstone Gallery, 1678 West Redstone Center Drive
Terzian Galleries, 309 Main Street
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