SURFACE TREATMENT: 'Extraordinary Visions'

VALIS or The Empire Never Ending, acrylic on canvas

Sauce, oil on canvas

Kalidio, acrylic on canvas

Alice, oil on canvas

The Dude, acrylic on canvas

Justin Wright is a self-taught artist with an eclectic vision. “Extraordinary Visions,” an exhibit featuring his paintings, will be on display for the summer at the South Texas College NAH and Tech Campus Library Art Galleries.

An Alamo artist, Wright began by painting portraits of his friends; they now inhabit various scenarios of his imagining. Sometimes the scenarios are easy-to-relate-to scenes; other times they more than border on the fantastic. The influences that inform Wright are many, and they brashly infiltrate his work. His worldly landscape is a multi-varied mix of fine art, movies posters, video games, and everything else that he sees during his travels through daily life. Using various mediums to create his artwork such as collage, screen-printing, spray paints, oils, acrylics, and watercolors, the people around him become the lead players in his eclectic contemporary visions.

“I try to capture the fun of the world around me,” said Wright, “the people that inspire me, the things I love, and try to give it a sense of humor and a little drama. I am influenced by everything from Caravaggio to Frazetta, from movie posters to video games.” The oil painting, Sauce, captures the sensual pleasure of the last bit of flavorful sauce left on the lip after a delicious repast. In a Caravagioesque perspective, a young woman looks down at us suggestively, her tongue gently licking her upper lip.

Kalidio embodies Wright’s artistic philosophy. The solitary figure is derived from the Hindu goddess, Kali, associated with eternal energy. Representing annihilation and death, she is traditionally depicted with decapitated heads around her neck. Wright gives her a necklace of skulls, more amenable to our culture. He has updated the means of death that she holds: the classic asp is included, but also a switchblade and a set of brass knuckles. She is sporting awesome tattoos.

VALIS or The Empire Never Ending is an acrylic painting inspired by the Philip Dick science fiction novel, “VALIS.” In Wright’s interpretation, VALIS is receiving a pink laser beam to transfer information and project holograms on Earth, and to facilitate communication between an extraterrestrial species and humanity. The laser beam is being shot from an endless geometric optical design surrounded with a webbing of fine pink lines. This web is then seen slowly developing on Wright’s primary subject. His color palette is perfect for this vision.

There are eight works being exhibited at STCNAH, and from observing these, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish the fine line between art and illustration. At times, Wright seems to maintain a fragile balance. But wherever that line might fall, the works are well done and speak of contemporary life in our complex and global 21st world/landscape.

“Extraordinary Visions” exhibition by Justin Wright

• Where: STC Nursing and Allied Health Campus Library Art Gallery, 1101 E. Vermont Ave., McAllen STC Technology Library Art Gallery, 3700 W. Military Hwy, McAllen.
• When: Through Sept 10, 2010
• Info: 956-872-3488 or email: libraryart@southtexascollege.edu  www.southtexascollege.edu/libraryart.

 Nancy Moyer, Professor Emerita of Art from UTPA, is an art critic for The Monitor. She may be reached at nmoyer@rgv.rr.com