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DOYLE GERTJEJANSEN

THE HARBINGER 'S MYTH

January 7th - February 27th

DOYLE GERTJEJANSEN

"Disparate events and experiences, complex and unfathomable amounts of information are flowing around us and through us as we, perched tenuously on the edge of meaning, struggle to form relationships between ideas, phenomena, possibly unknown dimensions, and a list of physical and psychological sensations that are confusing at best.  Somehow we make sense of the moment, and even the long term.  It seems to be our super power.  There’s something grand about our tenacity.  The paintings celebrate the realm of experience that extends from the arbitrary which contains no meaning at all, to the edge of meaning that is barely formed, and on to events that seem tangible and palpable, like forms and forces in the natural world that link to myth and mystery."

DOYLE GERTJEJANSEN - THE HARBINGER 'S MYTH - Viewing Room - Callan Contemporary Viewing Room

Beholding one of Doyle Gertjejansen’s mixed-media paintings is akin to surveying the trajectory of modern and contemporary art in a single glance. Aspects of Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, Color Field painting, Neo-expressionism, and Postmodern pastiche dialogue in his dynamic compositions, which, for all their sophistication, crackle with an elemental, visceral energy. Those senses of eclecticism and vigor underlie the artist’s striking new exhibition at Callan Contemporary, Harbinger’s Myth—a suite of paintings built around washes, marks, and gestures that flow from a confluence of deliberation and spontaneity. More personal and less critique- oriented than much of Gertjejansen’s earlier work, their disparate marks are more dialectical than polarized. Though eclectic, their components speak the same visual and philosophical language, effectively conversing across the picture plane.

DOYLE GERTJEJANSEN - THE HARBINGER 'S MYTH - Viewing Room - Callan Contemporary Viewing Room

To these virtuosic artworks Gertjejansen brings a lifetime of inquiry and scholarship, grounded in a long and distinguished career in the academy. An MFA graduate in painting and art history from the University of Minnesota, he served as Professor of Fine Arts at the University of New Orleans for four decades, thirteen years of which he was department chair. A recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship as well as innumerable grants and awards, he has exhibited his paintings, drawings, monotypes, and sculptures in solo and group exhibitions around the world, with acquisitions into prominent private, corporate, and institutional collections.

DOYLE GERTJEJANSEN - THE HARBINGER 'S MYTH - Viewing Room - Callan Contemporary Viewing Room

The paintings in the current exhibition range from small to large scale, and while they are primarily gestural, they also incorporate recurring motifs that suggest elements of representation and narrative. They exude a confident authenticity, a directness of expression that recalls the drawings of Arshile Gorky. The surfaces are sensual with the varied textures of acrylic paint, charcoal, pastels, and an unusual medium the artist has employed since the mid-1990s: liquid graphite. Painstakingly applied, it manages simultaneously to convey fluidity and granularity, spontaneity and artifice, imparting the appearance of gestures within a gesture. Running parallel to their rich art-historical referentiality is a fresh (and given the trials of 2020, well-timed) infusion of joie de vivre and playfulness, which nevertheless remains linked to the artist’s longstanding preoccupations—particularly his fascination with art-making as a cognitive leap. “How do we make meaning out of the seeming inexplicability of what’s around us?” he poses. “My work deals with that ‘Aha!’ moment when we are on that cusp of experience where a body of information coalesces into an idea. That’s how we as human beings became what we are.” 

 by  Richard Speer

Slide-Show

Slide-Show Thumbnails
Doyle Gertjejansen
Fifteen Favored Marks, 2020
acrylic on canvas
72h x 84w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Fifteen Favored Marks, 2020
acrylic on canvas
72h x 84w in

Inquire
Doyle Gertjejansen
Ida F's Collection, 2020
acrylic on canvas
33.50h x 42.50w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Ida F's Collection, 2020
acrylic on canvas
33.50h x 42.50w in

Inquire
Doyle Gertjejansen
West Facing Cloud, 2020
acrylic on canvas
46 x 46 inches 

Doyle Gertjejansen
West Facing Cloud, 2020
acrylic on canvas
46 x 46 inches 

Inquire
Doyle Gertjejansen
Hawk,and Things That Glow, 2020
acrylic on canvas
58.50h x 70.50w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Hawk,and Things That Glow, 2020
acrylic on canvas
58.50h x 70.50w in

Inquire
Doyle Gertjejansen
Gorky's Dilemma, 2020
acrylic on canvas
58.50h x 70.50w in

 

Doyle Gertjejansen
Gorky's Dilemma, 2020
acrylic on canvas
58.50h x 70.50w in

 

Inquire
Doyle Gertjejansen
Aztec II, 2020, 2020
acrylic on canvas
42h x 42w in

 

Doyle Gertjejansen
Aztec II, 2020, 2020
acrylic on canvas
42h x 42w in

 

Inquire
Doyle Gertjejansen
Strata, 2020
acrylic on canvas
42h x 42w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Strata, 2020
acrylic on canvas
42h x 42w in

Inquire
Doyle Gertjejansen
A History of Painting II, 2020
acrylic on canvas
24h x 30w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
A History of Painting II, 2020
acrylic on canvas
24h x 30w in

Inquire
Doyle Gertjejansen
Small Sources, 2020
acrylic on canvas
34h x 34w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Small Sources, 2020
acrylic on canvas
34h x 34w in

Inquire
Doyle Gertjejansen
The Harbinger's Myth, 2020
acrylic on canvas
72h x 84w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
The Harbinger's Myth, 2020
acrylic on canvas
72h x 84w in

Inquire
Doyle Gertjejansen
Landbridge, 2020
acrylic on canvas
24h x 30w i

Doyle Gertjejansen
Landbridge, 2020
acrylic on canvas
24h x 30w i

Inquire
Doyle Gertjejansen
Misjudging the Location of a Red Bird, 2020
acrylic on canvas
34h x 34w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Misjudging the Location of a Red Bird, 2020
acrylic on canvas
34h x 34w in

Inquire
Doyle Gertjejansen
Tracks of the Yearling Doe, 2020
acrylic on canvas
33h x 34w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Tracks of the Yearling Doe, 2020
acrylic on canvas
33h x 34w in

Inquire
Doyle Gertjejansen
Fifteen Favored Marks, 2020
acrylic on canvas
72h x 84w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Fifteen Favored Marks, 2020
acrylic on canvas
72h x 84w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Ida F's Collection, 2020
acrylic on canvas
33.50h x 42.50w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Ida F's Collection, 2020
acrylic on canvas
33.50h x 42.50w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
West Facing Cloud, 2020
acrylic on canvas
46 x 46 inches 

Doyle Gertjejansen
West Facing Cloud, 2020
acrylic on canvas
46 x 46 inches 

Doyle Gertjejansen
Hawk,and Things That Glow, 2020
acrylic on canvas
58.50h x 70.50w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Hawk,and Things That Glow, 2020
acrylic on canvas
58.50h x 70.50w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Gorky's Dilemma, 2020
acrylic on canvas
58.50h x 70.50w in

 

Doyle Gertjejansen
Gorky's Dilemma, 2020
acrylic on canvas
58.50h x 70.50w in

 

Doyle Gertjejansen
Aztec II, 2020, 2020
acrylic on canvas
42h x 42w in

 

Doyle Gertjejansen
Aztec II, 2020, 2020
acrylic on canvas
42h x 42w in

 

Doyle Gertjejansen
Strata, 2020
acrylic on canvas
42h x 42w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Strata, 2020
acrylic on canvas
42h x 42w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
A History of Painting II, 2020
acrylic on canvas
24h x 30w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
A History of Painting II, 2020
acrylic on canvas
24h x 30w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Small Sources, 2020
acrylic on canvas
34h x 34w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Small Sources, 2020
acrylic on canvas
34h x 34w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
The Harbinger's Myth, 2020
acrylic on canvas
72h x 84w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
The Harbinger's Myth, 2020
acrylic on canvas
72h x 84w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Landbridge, 2020
acrylic on canvas
24h x 30w i

Doyle Gertjejansen
Landbridge, 2020
acrylic on canvas
24h x 30w i

Doyle Gertjejansen
Misjudging the Location of a Red Bird, 2020
acrylic on canvas
34h x 34w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Misjudging the Location of a Red Bird, 2020
acrylic on canvas
34h x 34w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Tracks of the Yearling Doe, 2020
acrylic on canvas
33h x 34w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Tracks of the Yearling Doe, 2020
acrylic on canvas
33h x 34w in

Thumb-Show

Thumb-Show Thumbnails
Doyle Gertjejansen
Fifteen Favored Marks, 2020
acrylic on canvas
72h x 84w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Fifteen Favored Marks, 2020
acrylic on canvas
72h x 84w in

Inquire
Doyle Gertjejansen
Ida F's Collection, 2020
acrylic on canvas
33.50h x 42.50w in

 

Doyle Gertjejansen
Ida F's Collection, 2020
acrylic on canvas
33.50h x 42.50w in

 

Inquire
Doyle Gertjejansen|
West Facing Cloud, 2020
acrylic on canvas
46h x 46w in

Doyle Gertjejansen|
West Facing Cloud, 2020
acrylic on canvas
46h x 46w in

Inquire
Doyle Gertjejansen
Hawk and Things That Glow, 2020
acrylic on canvas
58.50h x 70.50w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Hawk and Things That Glow, 2020
acrylic on canvas
58.50h x 70.50w in

Inquire
Doyle Gertjejansen
Gorky's Dilemma, 2020
acrylic on canvas
58.50h x 70.50w in

 

Doyle Gertjejansen
Gorky's Dilemma, 2020
acrylic on canvas
58.50h x 70.50w in

 

Inquire
Doyle Gertjejansen
Aztec II, 2020, 2020
acrylic on canvas
42h x 42w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Aztec II, 2020, 2020
acrylic on canvas
42h x 42w in

Inquire
Doyle Gertjejansen
Strata, 2020
acrylic on canvas
42h x 42w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Strata, 2020
acrylic on canvas
42h x 42w in

Inquire
Doyle Gertjejansen
Landbridge, 2020
acrylic on canvas
24h x 30w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Landbridge, 2020
acrylic on canvas
24h x 30w in

Inquire
Doyle Gertjejansen
A History of Painting II, 2020
acrylic on canvas
24h x 30w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
A History of Painting II, 2020
acrylic on canvas
24h x 30w in

Inquire
Doyle Gertjejansen
Small Sources, 2020
acrylic on canvas
34h x 34w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Small Sources, 2020
acrylic on canvas
34h x 34w in

Inquire
Doyle Gertjejansen
Bracketing the Main Objectives, 2020
acrylic on canvas
42h x 42w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Bracketing the Main Objectives, 2020
acrylic on canvas
42h x 42w in

Inquire
Doyle Gertjejansen
Misjudging the Location of a Red Bird, 2020
acrylic on canvas
34h x 34w in

 

Doyle Gertjejansen
Misjudging the Location of a Red Bird, 2020
acrylic on canvas
34h x 34w in

 

Inquire
Doyle Gertjejansen
Fifteen Favored Marks, 2020
acrylic on canvas
72h x 84w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Fifteen Favored Marks, 2020
acrylic on canvas
72h x 84w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Ida F's Collection, 2020
acrylic on canvas
33.50h x 42.50w in

 

Doyle Gertjejansen
Ida F's Collection, 2020
acrylic on canvas
33.50h x 42.50w in

 

Doyle Gertjejansen|
West Facing Cloud, 2020
acrylic on canvas
46h x 46w in

Doyle Gertjejansen|
West Facing Cloud, 2020
acrylic on canvas
46h x 46w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Hawk and Things That Glow, 2020
acrylic on canvas
58.50h x 70.50w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Hawk and Things That Glow, 2020
acrylic on canvas
58.50h x 70.50w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Gorky's Dilemma, 2020
acrylic on canvas
58.50h x 70.50w in

 

Doyle Gertjejansen
Gorky's Dilemma, 2020
acrylic on canvas
58.50h x 70.50w in

 

Doyle Gertjejansen
Aztec II, 2020, 2020
acrylic on canvas
42h x 42w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Aztec II, 2020, 2020
acrylic on canvas
42h x 42w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Strata, 2020
acrylic on canvas
42h x 42w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Strata, 2020
acrylic on canvas
42h x 42w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Landbridge, 2020
acrylic on canvas
24h x 30w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Landbridge, 2020
acrylic on canvas
24h x 30w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
A History of Painting II, 2020
acrylic on canvas
24h x 30w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
A History of Painting II, 2020
acrylic on canvas
24h x 30w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Small Sources, 2020
acrylic on canvas
34h x 34w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Small Sources, 2020
acrylic on canvas
34h x 34w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Bracketing the Main Objectives, 2020
acrylic on canvas
42h x 42w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Bracketing the Main Objectives, 2020
acrylic on canvas
42h x 42w in

Doyle Gertjejansen
Misjudging the Location of a Red Bird, 2020
acrylic on canvas
34h x 34w in

 

Doyle Gertjejansen
Misjudging the Location of a Red Bird, 2020
acrylic on canvas
34h x 34w in