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Thursday, January 15, 2004 Art: About face
By F. Andrew Taylor A decade ago, I spent a lot of time enjoying art in and around Green Valley. As Las Vegas expanded, several of my favorite galleries closed, my personal roaming range shifted and I saw less and less of the place. With some chagrin I realized it's been years since I'd laid eyes on J. Seward Johnson's "Water Works," the painted bronze sculptures of children at play in the fountain in front of the Green Valley Library. The library's current art display, recent portraits of women by Kat Tatz, is reason enough to return. The works are all relatively small, a personal-feeling size. Coincidentally, about the size of the newspaper you're reading this review in. The size alone conveys an intimacy that a larger work does not. The works draw you in, force you to relate more personally with them. The women depicted range from an anonymous 16-year-old girl to (oh good Lord no) Celine Dion. Undoubtedly, because of this paper's constant mockery of the diabetes-inducing songstress, this message will not get to her, but she should buy her portrait, titled "Welcome to Las Vegas," because it's unlikely anyone is ever going to make her look this good again. This work establishes that Tatz can capture a likeness; the other portraits are so carefully realized that we can assume they are as accurate. Much of the show appears to be tightly controlled, uber-detailed colored pencils, not a medium for the faint of heart or the impatient. She captures the anatomy and the light, but also a glimpse into the heart and soul of the subject. It is difficult not to form opinions about the subjects. While they all have their own beauty, there are some who you assume would be joyful and deep conversationalists and others who look like they might just talk your ear off about their CC&Rs. You can't find fault with her draftswomanship, but there is a certain uncomfortable stiffness to much of it. Fortunately, there are several looser, less fussy works that have a lighter, more open flow. Many of the black-and-white pieces are much more lively than the painstakingly crafted color works. An exception to this is the delightfully freely painted yet still elegantly controlled watercolor "Recline," with its brilliant mottled blues and oranges. Personally, I like these works more, but, as they say, your mileage may vary. Through Feb. 22 Green Valley Library 2797 N. Green Valley Parkway 507-3790 |
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