This month, the College of the Canyons Art Gallery will present the group exhibition “Obsessive Reductive” featuring the work of five diverse artists who have created a collection of abstract paintings and sculptural wall reliefs which each explore a rich, post-minimalist pictorial terrain.

“While at first glance many of the exhibition’s works appear to share the same cool, detached quality that characterizes much minimal work, upon closer examination all these pieces are clearly made by hand,” said Larry Hurst, Art Galley director. “However, the resulting imperfections don’t hinder the result, but in fact are essential to its effect, with each handmade surface giving the work a warmth and depth that belies its formal rigor.”

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The exhibition “Obsessive Reductive,” is being co-curated by COC art department faculty member Michael McCaffrey and artist Peter Barrett, who is one of the five artists who will also have work on display.

Other participating artists include:

·      Peter Barrett — This artist works principally in painted reliefs – paintings that edge into the third dimension without becoming fully sculptural. He creates hybrid forms that push painting into the third dimension without giving up its essential nature.

·      Cecilia Biagini — This artist’s shim pieces use off-the-shelf materials to create playfully elegant forms that transcend their humble origins.

·      Peter Fox — This artist lets gravity pull his paint toward the floor as he applies it to the picture surface, intervening as it drips, to create fascinating intricacies where hand, accident and physics all contribute.

·     Heather Hutchison — This artist’s work displays a meticulous use of materials, and a balance between the hard-edged (plywood, plexi) and the liquid (wax, paint) elements in her work, which allows her to wring a startling variety of experiences from just a few elements.

·      Miki Lee — This artist uses a deceptively simple device: non-repeating colors defined by undulating contours. The varied results show just how much energy can spring from adjusting a few parameters.

“This exhibition will offer viewers a cutting edge experience, as they witness first-hand some of the techniques that contemporary artists use to explore color, shape and material, and investigate new artistic possibilities in the process,” McCaffrey said.

“Obsessive Reductive” will open Thursday, May 26, and run through Thursday, June 23. An artist’s reception and discussion will be held from noon to 2 p.m. the afternoon of May 26, in the COC Art Gallery.

The College of the Canyons Art Gallery is open 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Visitors unable to visit the gallery during these hours are welcome to call (661) 362-3612 to make a viewing appointment. All gallery exhibitions and related events are free and open to the public.

For more information about the College of the Canyons Art Gallery or the exhibition “Obsessive Reductive,” please visit www.canyons.edu/artgallery/.