Recent Works by Laurie Lemmon (4 Dec 2007)

Review #1

Colorful chandeliers and Tiffany lamps. A circus. Hundreds of bright streamers at a child’s birthday party. The range of brilliant colors that swirl through Lemmon’s paintings put the 150 count Crayola® Crayon Tower to shame. Only Painter has a limited palette, depicting a distorted figure gripping a paint brush with both hands. The expression on the woman’s face is one of concentration, or perhaps anxiety, as if she is feeling pressured to produce. The tight hold on the brush heightens this feeling, as if she is frantically working. The piece is intriguing to me, and it made me think of the cover art for Joni Mitchell’s Blue, combined with Turbulent Indigo. Some of the paintings contain figures roughly sketched out over a color filled background, such as in Art Student, with a hand holding a brush that is reminiscent of Egon Schiele’s depiction of hands. A personal favorite of mine is Dream’s Beginnings, which looks like a whirlpool of rich and vibrant satin ribbons. Lemmon works better with larger canvases, as they allow her to fully explore the variations and shades of color. Definitely a show worth checking out.

-Susanna Tu

Review #2

When I first entered the Witt Gallery, I was immediately drawn to a blue and white flowing, abstract painting. I could slightly make out a figure that held a paint brush and it was a very warm welcome to the flowing colors and figures that I would soon discover. There were many paintings that were colorful, but I was disappointed that they did not have the element of mystery and configuration of the first that I had seen. They were colorful, but a bit empty. Overall I think that this showing was interesting and bright in contrast to the white walls that cover the gallery.

-Leah Jackson

Review #3

At first glance Laurie Lemon’s buttery and playful paintings are abstract. They are not just a play of colors though, they are like shifting clouds on an alien sky that continuously reveal different forms as you look at them. There are figures, figures within those figures and plenty of fodder for podiatrists and foot worshipers alike. Paintings like Untitled 5 recall the angelic elegance of an El Greco composition. Some of the smaller work is troublesome, with figures clumsily relying on line to create form. The richness of the paintings as a group make for an interesting visit. Will we ever see a Lemmon/ McGowan show? DON’T MISS IT.

-P. Castellanos

Review #4

Interview with viewer Claudia Castaneda

“I really enjoyed the colors, and the unplanned and organic aspect. Some people saw figures that others did not. The sketched out forms were not as pleasant (as in Morning Stretch). Art Student was my favorite. I would suggest music because the work has a musical and lyrical quality.”