St. Louis Beacon - Review: Spehn shows new direction at Sheldon

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Review: Spehn shows new direction at Sheldon

By Ivy Cooper, Special to the Beacon

Posted 8:35 am Fri., 7.16.10

For a number of years, St. Louis artist Erik Spehn has been producing beautiful, delicate abstractions using masking tape to lie down and remove strips of paint.

Erik Spehn, Tape Drawing #32, acrylic and masking tape on matboard, 11 x 14," courtesy of the artist and Schmidt Contemporary Art, St. Louis.

When: Through Sept. 18

Where: Sheldon Art Galleries, 3648 Washington Blvd.

Information: 314-533-9900, www.thesheldon.org/galleries.asp

Recently, the artist began using the paint-covered, discarded strips of masking tape to make new works that he calls "Tape Drawings," and several are currently on view in the Sheldon's Nancy Spirtas Kranzberg Gallery.

The drawings exhibit an impressive variety, from the tightly structured rhythms reminiscent of the artist's paintings, to much looser, syncopated variations on the grid theme.

They range in their employment of color as well: a whole series of the drawings concentrate on a narrow range of yellow tones, while elsewhere works contrast black and white, or purple, cream and blue.

Although Spehn's paintings achieve nigh mystical effects of optical purity and equilibrium, one feels that the drawings allow him to relax and breathe a little. The results offer a greater range of visual allusion and metaphor -- some evoke fields of wheat, others cityscapes. One even resembles the jaunty switchback rhythms of African Kente cloth.

But at their heart, the drawings share what is marvelous about the paintings: their ability to transform mere strips of tape and paint into visual statements that are fragile yet solid, subdued yet lyrical, simple and yet sublime.

Ivy Cooper, a professor at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, is the Beacon art critic. To reach her, contact Beacon features and commentary editor Donna Korando.

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Editors' Picks

Books
- The JCC is holding its used book sale Feb. 5-9 at the Jewish Community Center Staenberg Family Complex, #2 Millstone Campus Dr. $10 for Feb. 5 (10 a.m.-4 p.m.) only. Free Feb. 6-8 (10 a.m.-7 p.m.) and Feb. 9 (10 a.m.-4 p.m.)
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- "One More Laugh," a comedy variety show, will be hitting the stage at Lemmons, 5800 Gravois on Tuesdays from 9-11 p.m. $1. For information, email the host, [email protected]
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- The Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Blvd., is hosting a "Cdelebrate the Gospel" concert at 3 p.m. Feb. 12 with the The St. Alphonsus Liguori "Rock" Catholic Church choir. Included with admission ($4-$8 - free children 12 and under). Schoenberg Theater.
- Blues singer Etta James dies at age 73: Her assertive, earthy voice lit up such hits as "The Wallflower," "Something's Got a Hold on Me" and the wedding favorite "At Last." | CNN
- Chamber Project Saint Louis presents "Very Open Rehearsal" at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12 at the Tavern of Fine Arts, 313 Belt Ave. Free
- Rob Hinkal (guitar, vocals) and Heather Lloyd (guitar, vocals, djembe) bring ilyAIMY (i love you And I Miss You) to the Focal Point, 2720 Sutton, at 8 p.m. June 18. $10 at the door 314-781-4200

Neighborhoods
- The Missouri Botanical Garden's Orchid Show will run from Jan. 28 through March 25. $5 in addition to regular garden admission. 4344 Shaw Blvd.
- "Run for the Chocolate" will take place Feb. 12 starting at 8 a.m. in downtown St. Louis. To find out more about this 5K run, go to downtownstl.org.
- The Missouri Botanical Garden is hosting Around the World Wine dinners on the third Friday of the month (Jan. 20, Feb. 17, March 16) at 6:30 p.m. $58 a person, plus 18 percent tax and service. Reservations required: 314-577-0200.
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- "Harry Bertoia, Forty Years of Drawing" will run from Jan. 26 to March 17 at Gallery 210 on UMSL's North Campus. (Reception with Bertoia's daughter willgo from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Jan. 26) Check website for regular hours.
- Balazx Kicsiny's "Killing Time" will be on exhibit at the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, Washington University, from Jan. 27-April 16 (opening reception 7-9 p.m. Jan. 27). Kicsiny will also speak on his work at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 30 in Steinberg Hall.
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