{"id":96,"date":"2012-10-16T15:21:08","date_gmt":"2012-10-16T19:21:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/?p=96"},"modified":"2013-07-02T15:28:17","modified_gmt":"2013-07-02T19:28:17","slug":"stephen-pentak-at-bonfoey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/2012\/10\/stephen-pentak-at-bonfoey\/","title":{"rendered":"Stephen Pentak at Bonfoey"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Bonfoey Gallery (1700 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH<\/a>) is the kind of establishment I adore: it’s an art gallery in the business of showing real, contemporary artists.  Places like it are rare outside New York City, and I tip my hat to them.  I make a point of visiting every new show as well as browsing their permanent collection in the downstairs galleries.<\/p>\n

Their current show consists of landscapes by Stephen Pentak<\/a>, Professor Emeritus at Ohio State. Pentak displays a lively sense of nature in these autumnal paintings. Although these are oils (on canvas, wood, and paper), they remind one of watercolors.<\/p>\n

Read more<\/span>Cleveland Museum of Art Staff Exhibition<\/span><\/a><\/div>

Each painting shows a wooded scene with a lake or pond.  Landscape elements are mirrored in the water and so the paintings all have a strong horizontal design.  The horizontal motif  is broken by bare, vertical trees, sometimes alone, sometimes two or three together.  Surfaces consist of large flat areas, which further emphasis the geometric “designieness.”  While surfaces are often broken by mottled textures in an attempt to relieve the bare geometry, the effect is lost, perhaps due to a uniform neatness and primness.  So the paintings strongly emphasize the underlying geometry.<\/p>\n

Artists should resist giving in to thoroughgoing formalism, in my humble opinion.  Discovering and resisting geometries is part of the drama and tension of compelling works.  In the works or John Sell Cotman<\/a>, for example, discovering underlying geometries is a true delight.  But if an artist emphasizes the formal, their work suffers unless they tease with it like Cotman, or rage war against it—someone like, say, my old teacher at Brooklyn College Philip Pearlstein<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Read more<\/span>Thumbs-up: van Ruisdael; Thumbs-down: Renoir<\/span><\/a><\/div>

While these paintings are not my cup of tea, they are lively and honest—an important consideration.  I am sure there are those who will find their strong formalism delightful and subtle.  Unfortunately, for me these paintings lack drama—another important consideration.<\/p>\n

At any rate, be sure to explore the gallery’s downstairs rooms after viewing the main exhibition.  Oil paintings are in the $6,000–$8,000 range, if memory serves.<\/p>\n

Update 7\/2\/2013<\/h4>\n
Read more<\/span>Robert Smith<\/span><\/a><\/div>

Stephen Pentak has responded by email to my review of his exhibition. Mr. Pentak has generously agreed to let me post the correspondence.<\/p>\n

S. Pentak wrote:<\/p>\n

Read more<\/span>Dayton Art Institute—Fail<\/span><\/a><\/div>

I just stumbled upon your review of one of my shows at Bonfoey and I want to commend you on the thoughtful approach to the paintings. You were spot on in your observations, and in all honesty I’d rather have a doubtful review that is really observant than a skim coat that only addresses the apparent subject of the landscape.  <\/em>6\/28\/2013<\/p>\n

——————————————————————————————<\/p>\n

Read more<\/span>Mary Cassatt and the Feminine Ideal in 19th-Century Paris<\/span><\/a><\/div>

I responded 6\/30\/2013<\/p>\n

Dear Stephen, <\/em>
\nThank you for your warm note. <\/em><\/p>\n

Read more<\/span>George Mauersberger at Bonfoey<\/span><\/a><\/div>

As a blogger, I do not have to worry about grumpy editors or deadlines, other than self-imposed ones. I have the luxury of reviewing only those shows that interest and grab me. I visited your show several times.<\/em><\/p>\n

——————————————————————————————<\/p>\n

Read more<\/span>Timothy Callaghan—Life Slow Still<\/span><\/a><\/div>

Mr. Pentak wrote:<\/p>\n

Tom, You might be interested to know that the rather strong geometry comes from the marks of the tools… Broad blades and brushes… As well as the inherent geometry of the rectangles. This harkens back to my earliest work in grad school which was influenced by Stella’ Black Paintings and even Steve Reich compositions. Through my years as a painter I have continued to carry on a conversation between construction and depiction. Sometimes it is an internal argument.<\/em>  6\/30\/2013<\/p>\n

Read more<\/span>Thumbs-up: Bonnard; Thumbs-sideways:Vuillard<\/span><\/a><\/div>

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Bonfoey Gallery (1700 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH) is the kind of establishment I adore: it’s an art gallery in the business of showing real, contemporary artists.  Places like it are rare outside New York City, and I tip my hat to them.  I make a point of visiting every new show as well as […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":61,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[5,76,46],"tags":[21,23,22],"class_list":["post-96","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-artists","category-galleries","category-reviews","tag-art-review-2","tag-bonfoey-gallery","tag-pentak"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1850,"url":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/2013\/05\/gary-bukovnik-forever-spring-at-bonfoey-gallery\/","url_meta":{"origin":96,"position":0},"title":"Gary Bukovnik: Forever Spring at Bonfoey Gallery","author":"Tom Hudson","date":"May 11, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday, my son, John-Parker, was incredulous when I told him I\u00a0didn't\u00a0have a favorite among my paintings. \u201cBeing an artist,\u201d I told him, \u201cis similar to being a musician. Sometimes I\u2019m the composer and the theme is very important. Other times I am the performer and don\u2019t care about the subject\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Artists"","block_context":{"text":"Artists","link":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/category\/artists\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Bukovnik Watercolor","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/orange-flowers.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2157,"url":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/2013\/07\/review-joseph-osickey-at-bonfoey-gallery\/","url_meta":{"origin":96,"position":1},"title":"Review: Joseph O’Sickey at Bonfoey Gallery","author":"Tom Hudson","date":"July 16, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Just now there is a lot of news and information about O'Sickey. The Canton Museum of Art is hosting an exhibition of his work through July 21, and the Bonfoey Gallery's exhibition runs through the 13th. The Bonfoey exhibition--Travels: Provence and Maine--consists of an outstanding collection of large works that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Artists"","block_context":{"text":"Artists","link":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/category\/artists\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"osickey1","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/osickey1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2786,"url":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/2013\/11\/phooey-on-bonfoey\/","url_meta":{"origin":96,"position":2},"title":"Phooey on Bonfoey!","author":"Tom Hudson","date":"November 15, 2013","format":"aside","excerpt":"Bonfoey keeps its door locked so visitors have to wait to be buzzed into the gallery. Yesterday, for the third time, I was prevented from entering the gallery because nobody buzzed me in. THIRD TIME. Were they all at lunch? Were they all at a party? My time is precious,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Cleveland"","block_context":{"text":"Cleveland","link":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/category\/cleveland\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2270,"url":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/2013\/07\/stephen-pentak-responds-to-review\/","url_meta":{"origin":96,"position":3},"title":"Stephen Pentak Responds to Review","author":"Tom Hudson","date":"July 2, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Stephen Pentak has responded by email to my review of his exhibition at the Bonfoey Gallery last fall.\u00a0 Because my readers might be interested in the exchange, Mr. Pentak has generously agreed to let me post the correspondence. I have appended the emails to the original review.","rel":"","context":"In "Artists"","block_context":{"text":"Artists","link":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/category\/artists\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":832,"url":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/2013\/01\/carl-gaertner\/","url_meta":{"origin":96,"position":4},"title":"Carl Gaertner","author":"Tom Hudson","date":"January 21, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday was a lucky day--I discovered an artist new to me: Carl Gaertner\u00a0(1898-1952). \u00a0Gaertner's reputation is almost entirely local \u00a0to Cleveland, as \u00a0Robert Smith's is confined to\u00a0Dayton. Gaertner was born in Cleveland and lived in and around there until his death. \u00a0He taught for many years at the Cleveland Institute\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Artists"","block_context":{"text":"Artists","link":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/category\/artists\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Gaertner: oil","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/gaertner-winter.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/gaertner-winter.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/gaertner-winter.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":364,"url":"https:\/\/thomasparkerhudson.com\/wordpress\/2012\/11\/george-mauersberger-at-bonfoey\/","url_meta":{"origin":96,"position":5},"title":"George Mauersberger at Bonfoey","author":"Tom Hudson","date":"November 21, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"I walked into the George Mauersberger\u00a0exhibit at Bonfoey\u00a0expecting to see a passel of prints.\u00a0 Nope.\u00a0 While a few prints are on display, drawings and watercolors make up the lion\u2019s share of the show. \u00a0Even so, Mauersberger has a printmaker\u2019s personality\u2014a love of process and fondness for drawing. 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