Gabert Farrar Work | Artist Statement & CV | Return to Artist List
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Artist Statement
In these works I am interested in lines and shapes as they are before they are used to describe, delineate, or diagram. I am thinking in terms of the function of initial drawings, the moments when an idea begins to take a visual form, existing neither as form nor idea. The form fails to communicate the idea and as a consequence the idea is never recognized as such. What is left is open to interpretation—perhaps it is suggestive of other things or maybe simply an intention is visible.
As I am making these drawings in relief out of plywood or foam-core, I feel as if I may be attaching too great a significance to these forms such as they are. But then, as I make them, as they begin to actually look like the little decisions made to make them, I feel like this notion of significance and worthiness is moot, and that ultimately the successful communication of an idea is limiting. What is left is a worked-over object.
In these works I am interested in lines and shapes as they are before they are used to describe, delineate, or diagram. I am thinking in terms of the function of initial drawings, the moments when an idea begins to take a visual form, existing neither as form nor idea. The form fails to communicate the idea and as a consequence the idea is never recognized as such. What is left is open to interpretation—perhaps it is suggestive of other things or maybe simply an intention is visible.
As I am making these drawings in relief out of plywood or foam-core, I feel as if I may be attaching too great a significance to these forms such as they are. But then, as I make them, as they begin to actually look like the little decisions made to make them, I feel like this notion of significance and worthiness is moot, and that ultimately the successful communication of an idea is limiting. What is left is a worked-over object.
CV
Gabert Farrar
Education
2008 MFA, Brooklyn College, CUNY; Brooklyn, NY
1994 BFA, University of Michigan; Ann Arbor, MI
Exhibitions
2010
Backroom Biennial, LZ Project Space; New York, NY
2009
Recess, Crossing Art Gallery; Flushing, NY
2008
Beauty’s Burden, Ernest Rubenstein Gallery/Educational Alliance; New York, NY
Brooklyn College MFA Thesis Exhibition, New York, NY
2006
Half-colors of quarter things, moniquemeloche gallery, Chicago, IL (solo)
2005
Built Against Site, Paragraph Gallery, Kansas City, MO
Structure II, Gallery Katz, Boston, MA
2004
The Four-Color Pen Show, General Store, Milwaukee, WI; Van Harrison Gallery, Chicago, IL; Locust Projects, Miami, FL
I Feel Mysterious Today, Palm Beach Institute of Contemporary Art, Palm Beach, FL
2003
New American Paintings, a juried exhibition in print
2002
New Paintings, moniquemeloche gallery, Chicago, IL (solo)
2001
Adult Material, TBA Exhibition Space, Chicago, IL (collaboration with Greg Purcell)
Mixer, moniquemeloche gallery, Chicago, IL
2000
Homewrecker, moniquemeloche gallery, Chicago, IL
Bibliography
2006 Camper, Fed. “How He Sees the City.” Chicago Reader; May 19, 2006
2005 Lorg, Emily. “’Built Against Site’ Negotiates Architecture and Landscape.” The University News, Kansas City, MO; Feb. 28, 2005.
2004 Sjostrom, Jan. “Art of Ambiguity.” Palm Beach Daily News, Palm Beach, FL; Oct. 28, 2004
Molon, Dominic. “I Feel Mysterious Today.” Exhibition catalog, Palm Beach Institute of Contemporary Art; Palm Beach, FL
2003 Boris, Staci. “New American Paintings.” No. 47, The Open Studio Press; Boston, MA; pp 46-49.
Camper, Fred. “Critic’s Choice.” Chicago Reader; Jan. 3, 2003
2002 Cover for Bridge, Vol. 2, No.1.
Workman, Michael. “Gabert Farrar and Greg Purcell at TBA.” New Art Examiner; March/April 2002, p. 69.
2001 Schmidt, Kate. “On Exhibit: Mating Rituals Gone Awry.” Chicago Reader; Dec. 21, 2001.
Artner, Alan. “Gabert Farrar and Greg Purcell.” Chicago Tribune; Dec. 7,2001, sec. 7.
Gabert Farrar
Education
2008 MFA, Brooklyn College, CUNY; Brooklyn, NY
1994 BFA, University of Michigan; Ann Arbor, MI
Exhibitions
2010
Backroom Biennial, LZ Project Space; New York, NY
2009
Recess, Crossing Art Gallery; Flushing, NY
2008
Beauty’s Burden, Ernest Rubenstein Gallery/Educational Alliance; New York, NY
Brooklyn College MFA Thesis Exhibition, New York, NY
2006
Half-colors of quarter things, moniquemeloche gallery, Chicago, IL (solo)
2005
Built Against Site, Paragraph Gallery, Kansas City, MO
Structure II, Gallery Katz, Boston, MA
2004
The Four-Color Pen Show, General Store, Milwaukee, WI; Van Harrison Gallery, Chicago, IL; Locust Projects, Miami, FL
I Feel Mysterious Today, Palm Beach Institute of Contemporary Art, Palm Beach, FL
2003
New American Paintings, a juried exhibition in print
2002
New Paintings, moniquemeloche gallery, Chicago, IL (solo)
2001
Adult Material, TBA Exhibition Space, Chicago, IL (collaboration with Greg Purcell)
Mixer, moniquemeloche gallery, Chicago, IL
2000
Homewrecker, moniquemeloche gallery, Chicago, IL
Bibliography
2006 Camper, Fed. “How He Sees the City.” Chicago Reader; May 19, 2006
2005 Lorg, Emily. “’Built Against Site’ Negotiates Architecture and Landscape.” The University News, Kansas City, MO; Feb. 28, 2005.
2004 Sjostrom, Jan. “Art of Ambiguity.” Palm Beach Daily News, Palm Beach, FL; Oct. 28, 2004
Molon, Dominic. “I Feel Mysterious Today.” Exhibition catalog, Palm Beach Institute of Contemporary Art; Palm Beach, FL
2003 Boris, Staci. “New American Paintings.” No. 47, The Open Studio Press; Boston, MA; pp 46-49.
Camper, Fred. “Critic’s Choice.” Chicago Reader; Jan. 3, 2003
2002 Cover for Bridge, Vol. 2, No.1.
Workman, Michael. “Gabert Farrar and Greg Purcell at TBA.” New Art Examiner; March/April 2002, p. 69.
2001 Schmidt, Kate. “On Exhibit: Mating Rituals Gone Awry.” Chicago Reader; Dec. 21, 2001.
Artner, Alan. “Gabert Farrar and Greg Purcell.” Chicago Tribune; Dec. 7,2001, sec. 7.
Untitled2010
32 x 34
Foam core, cardboard, paint
Untitled2010
32 x 34
Foam core, plastic, paint
Untitled2010
32 x 34
Plywood, paint
Untitled2010
32 x 34
Plywood, paint
Untitled2010
32 x 34
Plywood, paint
Untitled2010
32 x 34
Plywood, paint
Untitled2010
32 x 34
Plywood, paint
Untitled2009
32 x 32
Plywood, paint