Tribute to Dr. Barnes
Quintessentially French
10 Selected Works
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Man in Hat
Dr. Barnes was an innovative art collector who came under much criticism from the art world for collecting avante-garde artists who had lived in Paris, such as a Picasso, Matisse, among others... This work of art embodies the quintessential French avante-garde style. At a glance, this vibrant work appears unabashedly "childlike" with basic shapes, such as circles, cylinders, and triangles. However, notice they were inspired by "sacred geometry", conveying raw emotional authenticity of expression in the man in a hat in red white and blue. There's something more in the painting than meets the eye. It's much more apparent when seeing this work of art in person. It has a "life force". However, usually only an artist has the ability to see and feel it..
The Dancing Art Gallery
As mentioned previously, Dr. Barnes created gardens outside his home and museum. Like Dr. Barnes, I have also spent several years expanding my garden with bronze statues and fountains and planting many species of exotic flowers in my own gardens outside the American in Paris Gallery. My flowers often show up in my works of art. This French expressionist painting was inspired by flowers that were displayed in a vase inside the American in Paris Gallery. This painting is a variation of a theme, however. Notice that the the Can-Can Dancer is coming out of the walls of the gallery to dance with the flowers in the vase. As you can see, that's why the large flower is now the skirt of her red dress. She is literally coming off the walls to dance with the vase of flowers in the American in Paris Gallery. This painting has turned the American in Paris Gallery into a dance hall. "The Dancing Art Gallery" is a painting within a painting!
Mother & Child Circus Performers
When I lived in Paris I was always interested in seeing how circus performers and their families lived in tight-knit communities. When I returned from living in Paris, I went though a blue period where I was painting circus themes. This mother and child scene clearly reveals my fascination with the circus and the performers I met in Paris.
"Femme Trapeze"
The Femme Trapeze is clearly one of the most important works of art from my American in Paris collection. The painting represents the Paris cabaret and my time spent with performance artists in Paris.
Elsa
This painting from the American in Paris collection was also inspired by my early life living as An American in Paris. This woman standing in front of the bar was actually someone I knew...
The Mexican
As I was organizing this exhibition, I came across this self portrait of a Mexican with a green mustache done in an unabashedly fauvist manner. In the Spanish language, the word Mexican came from mexcla (mixture). A Mexican is both a European and native American of Spanish descent. That's why the mixture of colors are harmonious together respecting the purity of reds, yellows, and greens of latin America. Notice, however, that the bold, tribal strokes on the painted face in yellow. His painted face honors the tradition of all native indigenous cultures around the globe... Yet, this tribal shaman is living as both a Romantic & Realist in both a dream world and the real world, with one eye wide looking out to the outer world of reality. To be an artist is to walk this tightrope of living in the outer world while honoring the majesty of the world of the inner imagination...
The Red-Haired Scholar
This large oil painting of a red-haired girl is a recent expressionist work. It was created in a classical style yet staying true to the fiery temperament of Fauvism and Expressionism.
The Harlequin Girl
During my early years in Paris I spent much of my time running through the streets of Paris with visual artists and performance artists. After our performances, I would collect coins in my bowler hat and go from one square to another, often ending up in the Paris night life in Paris cafés and in private soirés with other artists. This painting was inspired by a friend and fellow street performer in Paris.
"Life is a Bowl of Fruit"
A work of art is a reflection of the artist's personal perspective on life. Likewise, this vibrant oil painting was of a bowl of fruit in my home with vibrant colors, painted in solid, primary colors, depicting my personal philosophy that Life is a Bowl of Fruit.
Madame Zermeno
This large figurative work of art was created in my flat style, developed from when I began painting. This large painting titled "Madame Zermeno" is one in a series. If you look closely, there is a male and a female, and the nude flesh tones are blended and performing together as one. Viewers of this painting have seen other figures in it. What do you see?
