The Arthur Roger Gallery is pleased to present New Orleans From Above, an exhibition of paintings by John Hartman. The exhibition will be on view at Arthur Roger@434, located at 434 Julia Street, from October 5 – November 23, 2013. The gallery will host an opening reception with the artist in attendance, Saturday, October 5 from 6-9 pm in conjunction with “Art for Arts’ Sake.”
John Hartman, one of Canada’s most renowned contemporary painters, conceives of cities not as man-made anomalies but rather as provocative landscapes. With a unique and vibrant color palette, astral-like perspective and obvious deference, he captures the essence and lifeblood of the chosen terrain.
Hartman typically draws inspiration and direction from photographs and sketches he makes aboard chartered flights above the urban landscapes. He states, “With me there’s an awful lot of research about the cities, much that doesn’t get used. But even if I am very familiar with the subject I let each painting develop in unusual and unexpected directions. I paint from top to bottom, leaving what I’ve finished as a kind of cinema that’s unfolding.”
New Orleans From Above presents aerial views of the city and surrounding areas through the artist’s distinct voice. The compositions include New Orleans from above Algiers, the CBD and Mississippi; as well as Bayou Lafourche, Delacroix, Port Fourchon, Yscloskey and Shell Beach. The exhibition is comprised of large- and small-scale oil paintings on linen and birch panel, as well as watercolor on paper.
