Anne Marchand dives into the dark emptiness of possibility for the fright of absolute freedom—a leap from her structural cityscapes to her new abstract series, “Ellipsis,” featured at the Zenith Gallery from May 5 to June 4. A theme couldn’t be any more expansive than universal space—the primordial splash of Big Bang creation as glimpsed by the Hubble telescope.

Shifting that infinite energy force to a physically confined canvas is as risky as an untethered space walk and Anne Marchand captures much of that force with explosive color that challenges the defined space and compels visual movement with the tension of expanding and contracting light. Each work is a record of Anne’s physical encounter with the surface through pouring, scraping, sanding and employing every makeshift tool in the studio or kitchen. She adds sand, beads, mica and other materials for texture and dimension.

The power of color is understood; the power of line is often not. The spontaneity Anne Marchand achieves with slashes of color or recessive boundaries is essential to the fusion of the visual moment when color and music, ideas and emotion come together. Each line seems to embody the life of the artist. Some are ferocious, some gentle and demure and some as joyful as time itself. They have nothing to do with nature and everything to do with the way we see and feel. They fly, dive and dance—some visible, some not.

Anne is also well known for her murals. She has recently completed a ten panel, 7’x18’ mural at the Tacoma Community Center, commissioned by the DC Commission on the Arts. Born in New Orleans, she received a BFA from Auburn and MFA from the University of Georgia in 1975. She has been a DC resident since ‘78, has a studio in the Dupont Circle area and is a member of the Mid-City artist group. She has been exhibited and collected widely, and has received numerous awards.

“Ellipsis” runs at the Zenith Gallery, 413 7th St. NW, from May 5 – June 4 with opening events on Friday May 5, 6-9 pm , and Sunday May 7, 2-5 pm. Showing concurrently is NASA architect and sculptor Alan Binstock who uses stone, glass and steel to construct conclusions to private questions. See www.zenithgallery.com or call 202-783-2963.

Jim Magner’s Thoughts on Art

It is often said in art classes that lines do not physically exist in nature; they are simply a convenience. Forms appear to have edges and outlines and the drawn line gives character and motion to those forms on paper.

Lines can be descriptive or expressive. Some artists give you the appearance of an arm while others give you the life that pulsates in the arm. The life force comes from the artist as much as the model. (In some works, like Anne Marchand’s, painted or drawn lines may have a purpose of their own.)

There are also invisible lines that run through the whole figure, or object, in ways not dictated by its structure, but by its character. They can be captured as visual devices that unite the arms and legs, or the trunks and branches and interlace in ways that give it visual coherence. It gives you that other dimension, the significance of the whole. There has to be something that engages your interest more than the mere facts of the person or thing in front of you. In writing, letters are combined to make a word, but the meaning is separate. The same is true in drawing; the meaning has to come from the artist as well as the object.

A drawing should not be a copy; it should be an invention. It is your invention, so if it doesn’t look exactly like the “thing,” that’s fine. If it has your life and energy, that is wonderfully enough. 

At the Museums

Divine and Human
Women in Ancient Mexico and Peru
National Museum of Women in the Arts
1250 New York Ave NW
Closes May 28, 2006
Divine and Human is based on the rethinking that has evolved in recent years about the roles that women played in pre-Columbian cultures.

It is essentially a story of class more than gender. The expectation of the common woman was bearing, raising and teaching children, along with weaving and making ceramics. At the same time, women from families of high social standing were involved in business, agriculture, art and even war. Political power grew over time, demonstrated grandly by excavated tombs. They were buried as goddesses, priestesses and persons of great stature.

A constant theme in these evolving cultures was duality: moon and sun; drought and abundance; life and death, and of course, man and woman. Copulation was commonly depicted in their arts—not as pre-Columbian porn—but representing the “primordial and cosmic union itself.” It is the coming together of all things in the earth and sky: the creation duality. That women played so critical a role in these societies is not surprising. It is only surprising that we did not always think so

But more than anything, Divine and Human is a tribute to the incredible creativity of the human mind. You can put a few humans in the jungle—mountains, river valleys, islands or wherever—and in a short time you have wonderful temples, statues, ceramics, painting, crafted gold and silver jewelry, glorious textiles and arts of all kinds. It is a reminder that what we call art is the essence of the human experience and goes beyond the desire to decorate bodies and buildings to the spirit world and an expression of the immortal. The explosion of beauty and creativity in these evolving civilizations, so aptly exhibited throughout the show, is alone worth the visit. www.nmwa.org.

The Renoir Returns
The Phillips Collection
1600 21st Street NW
Through June 30
The new wing of the Phillip’s Collection, the Sant building, has opened and the main body of masterworks from the Phillip’s permanent collection has come home to celebrate the space. The centerpiece is the “Luncheon of the Boating Party” by Auguste Renoir, the most celebrated work in the whole collection. For those of you who find it a smidge too sweet, there is Van Gogh, Constable, Picasso and many others.

The new space does what museums are supposed to do—allow you to look at the art in the best possible light with the least amount of distraction. High ceilings and longer views give air to the large contemporary works that were difficult or impossible to exhibit previously. The configuration of the rooms may be a bit disorienting at first; I needed directions a few times, but the first-class education space and auditorium are great additions.

To Duncan Phillips, the visual experience was primary and the Sant Building, in spite of the frustrating architectural restrictions in the neighborhood, continues the Phillip’s Collection identity.

Openings of Interest

Steve Alderton
Interiors/Exteriors
Touchstone Gallery
406 7th Street, NW
May 10 - June 4
Steve Alderton explores the ways recognizable objects can be constructed and reconstructed as geometric forms in Interiors/Exteriors. The Interior half of the show deals with tighter, more constructed space, with styles that range from straight edge to abstract expressionism.

The Exterior paintings step back from the objects or scenes, providing a more expansive visual perspective. The styles here are also varied and play with geometric forms. The overall affect is a progression through a range of painting techniques to capture the feeling of interior and exterior spaces

The opening reception is Friday, May 12, from 6-8:30 PM. The gallery will also be open for “3rd Thursday,” May 18, 6-8:00 PM. For more information: www.touchstonegallery.com.

"Secret Garden"
Capitol Hill Art League
545 7th Street SE
May 13-June 2
The Capitol Hill Art League may be still the best-kept secret in town…even on the Hill. The quality of the juried shows is good and getting better. All artists in the Washington area are invited to join and submit up to three works for each show. The League now has about 100 members and 80-100 works in different media are submitted for each month show. From 25 to 30 are selected by a guest “Juror.” The prices are generally too low, in my estimation anyway, and certainly there is plenty of professional art at very reasonable cost: painting, photography, watercolor, and sculpture. Most of the members exhibit in other galleries and more than a few participants are area instructors.

The “openings” are fun events that always include a discussion by the juror regarding the pieces selected, and a chance to talk with the artists. The opening for the May show, “Secret Garden,” juried by local painter, Delna Dastur, is “Second Saturday,” May 13, 5-7pm. It is on the same day as the Capitol Hill Restoration Society’s 49th Annual House and Garden Tour, so this is a great time to drop in anytime Saturday. This is the last themed show until October. For general hours and information call 202-547-6839.

"New Growth"
Maria-Lana Queen
District Fine Arts Gallery
1726 Wisconsin Ave. NW
To May 26
Maria-Lana Queen’s new solo exhibit "New Growth" has opened in the District Fine Arts Gallery in Georgetown. The title reflects a collection of new abstracts “inspired by the splendor of spring.” Maria-Lana Queen works large, with dominant forms in contrast with line and color shifts. www.artbymlq.com.

“Padre e Figlia”
Washington Works on Paper
3420 9th Street, NE
Through June 3
Drawings on paper and papyrus by Daniel Shay and recent photographs by Ginevra Shay are featured in “Padre e Figlia” (Father and Daughter) at the Arts & Culture Community Space at Washington Works on Paper, in Brookland. Hours: Wed., Fri., & Sat., 12-4 pm. Thurs. Evening. 4-8. It is near the Brookland /Catholic University metro. 202-526-4848, for more information.

Jim Magner is a Capitol Hill artist and writer. He can be reached at Artandthe City05@aol.com