"I Look to You"

INSPIRATIONAL JUICES

Entering the cold, dim lit room this passed Saturday night at the Hibbleton gallery in downtown Fullerton, where several artists were displaying an exhibition on contemporary French art, people were greeted with a smile from Mike, one of the artist at the gallery, and a room temperature bottle of beer.

On of the highlights of the exhibition was when Mike announced that as a special feature of his show he wanted to show a clip from the man that “sparked his inspirational juices.” The film was titled “Toute La Mémorie Du Monde” (All of the memory in the world) it was written and directed by Alan Resnais in 1956. It was a French film that descripted the library system in France in the 1950’s. Many people found the film to be interesting by nodding and giggling. Mike said that he had studied French art for 5 years before, he came back to the United States and started painting. He found this film to be particularly inspiring because it did not show anything extraodinary but he admire the ordinary of the film. Mike stated that the aspect of orinary life was what he found fascinating.

Once the film was over, the 12 or so (including the couple that brought their small black dog) dispersed to fill the 6 halls that displayed painting from different contemporary artists. All of the paintings were different when it came to style of painting but they all presented depictions of humans.

HEADING TO THE MAIN EVENT

There were many painting that filled the halls but one that was intriguing was that of a man waiting on by a subway station called “I look to You” The painting was small not bigger than 8x10. It was painted in with oil on Masonite. This method of painting was developed in the 50’s and painters are starting to use it a lot more on their contemporary art instead of painting on canvas. The colors that were used were mostly dark, shades of gray, black, and copper. The painting displayed the back of the man’s head, his shoulders, and back. The person in the painting seemed to be old and his baldness and the white hair that was remaining on his h

ead showed this. The painting when looking at it from a fare and a glace it appeared distorted and blurry, it isn’t until you come up to it closely that you can see clear that there is a subway in the background that is leaving the train station.

Many of the other paintings that were featured, were made with the same material and all had depictions of the common life. One was of a man leaning against a wooden post. It was a beautiful painting, because you could feel a vibe of "talking down the street" and being a bystander to strangers.

BYSTANDER'S PERSPECTIVE

“Its really an exquisite painting, very peaceful” said Paul the 78 year old man that came in that night with his wife. Paul and his wife had been coming to this gallery for about a year now to bring free entertainment to their lives. Paul was an artist himself, and said that he really enjoyed that this galley had opened so close to his home in Orange. Most of the attendants that night were in their mid twenties and thirties, so it was refreshing to Paul that he could integrate and enjoy young art. Paul said that in the past couple of years Downtown Fullerton had really improved in making changes to the city that allowed galleries like this to open.

Over all the night was a success the exhibition allowed people young, and old to come into the gallery and enjoy talented artists art, and paintings. It was refreshing to see that artist Mike, was able to assimilate his modern ideas and be able to mix them with some in the past, and it was especially nice to see an older generation being able to appreciate the newer generation’s art.