“Written all over your face” by Martina Dodd examines six basic human emotions depicted in figurative artwork

Written all over your face

by Martina Dodd

I am fascinated by the way people communicate their feelings, ideas and thoughts.  Through written word, visual art and spoken language information can be shared by one person and interrupted by another.  Our emotional state can also be expressed in a variety of ways but the most universality recognized form is through our facial expressions.   Our body language speaks volumes even when we choose not to vocalize our feelings; from facial expressions to hand gestures, the body is consistently talking.

According to American psychologist, Dr. Paul Ekman, the six most basic emotions which can be easily understood regardless of culture and language are: happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise and disgust. With help from some of the artists represented by Morton Fine Art, let’s see what these emotions look like off the flesh and on the canvas.

Happiness:

Kesha Bruce. That they might be lovely, archival pigment print, 7/15. 12″x9″

Sadness:

 

Rosemary Feit Covey. Self Conscious 141103_1, mixed media 33″x28″

Fear:

 

Laurel Hausler. Blue Beards Place, 2009 oil on canvas with xrays. 40”x30”

 

Anger:

 

Billy Colbert. King County, 2009 mixed media on paper. 29”x22”

 

 

Surprise:

 

Ethan Diehl. Vigilance, oil on canvas. 36”x60”

 

 

Disgust: 

 

Rosemary Feit Covey, Red Handed, dimensions variable

 

Although these emotions are seen as universal, cultural practices and norms can play a role in how emotions are revealed and concealed between different members of the community. For example, the indigenous West African system of writing known as nsibidi employs graphic signs to code and convey concepts. The meaning of these symbols are traditionally restricted to members of all male associations but in Victor Ekpuks’ Asian Ubaoikpa (Hip Sista) series the artist not only creates his own symbols in the same style of  the ancient script, but also situated women in the center of the conversation.  The color and texture evoke a visceral reaction within the viewer rather than illustrating a singular emotion or revealing the meaning of his symbols.

 

 

Victor Ekpuk. Asian Ubaoikpa (Hip Sista) #11. Acrylic on canvas, 60”x48”

 

 

Billy Colbert’s Show Photos from “The Idle Mind is the Devil’s Workshop”

Photos from the event :

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The show will be up for another week and a half! Stop by!

Photos from MFA’s DC NOW Opening – The Washington Post’s “Gallery Event of the Week”

Open Wednesdays – Sundays, 12pm-6pm through 29 April!

Location: Morton Fine Art & *a pop-up project present at Gallery B, 7700 Wisconsin Ave, Suite E, Bethesda, MD 20814

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Curator Displays D.C. Talent at Gallery B on Wisconsin Avenue

Opening Reception for D.C. NOW Exhibition This Friday

• ByEvelyn Rabil for Bethesda Patch
• April 12, 2012

Morton Fine Art brings a mobile art exhibit to Gallery B this month, showcasing work by contemporary D.C. area artists. The exhibition, DC NOW, opened last week but the opening reception will take place during the Bethesda Art Walk on Friday.

“DC NOW is a wonderful opportunity to expose Bethesda residents to our regional fine art superstars,” said curator Amy Morton, founder of Morton Fine Art. “Many of the artists featured in the exhibition are also museum-credentialed.”

One such artist is Maya Freelon Asante, whose latest mono print series is on display for the first time at Gallery B.

Maya Freelon Asante, "Bloom Where You're Planted", condensed tissue paper sculpture, 17"x13"

“I use tissue paper and the ink from bleeding tissue paper to make mono print,” Asante explained. “It’s basically a unique art image created by pressing another type of medium on top of paper.” She made her latest series by spinning the paper on a potter’s wheel to give it a vortex effect.

DC NOW is Morton’s fifth “*a pop-up project” (yes, there is an asterisk in the name), a temporary exhibit she sets up in vacant fine art galleries. This is her first project highlighting artists exclusively from the D.C. region.

“I think Amy picked some of the most dynamic and interesting artists working now,” Asante added.

The youngest artist, Victoria Shaheen, graduated from the Corcoran College of Art and Design last year and has several pieces on display including a three-part work of wood, live grass and ceramics, Morton said.

“I am also showing two oversize mixed media on Mylar pieces by artist GA Gardner who was born in Trinidad. He strikes a wonderful aesthetic experience by creating an interesting, intricate abstract landscape,” she said.

Morton covets two of the pieces in the exhibit for her personal collection, she confided, but did not disclose which ones. All the artwork is for sale and ranges from $150 to $9,250.

“I think the tone set in DC NOW is one of diversity, substance and original voice,” she said. “I like that each artist’s work is entirely distinguishable from the next so there is something to suit everyone’s art preferences.”

Gallery B at 7700 Wisconsin Ave., Suite E, is open Wednesday through Sunday from 12 to 6 p.m. until April 29. The opening reception is Friday from 6 to 9 p.m.

INSTALL Shot of DC NOW in Bethesda

 

Come by to see the show hung to perfection!  Opens today!

Run Dates: Wednesday 4/4 and runs through Sunday 4/29.

Hours: Wednesday – Sunday 12pm-6pm

Reception: Friday 4/13, 6pm-9pm (in conjunction with the Bethesda Art Walk)

Address: Morton Fine Art presents *a pop-up project in Galley B, 7700 Wisconsin Ave, Suite E, Bethesda, MD 20814.

Other: Right across the way from The Original Pancake House!

Featured in today’s Washington Post: LAUREL HAUSLER’s “Vera”

Washington Post, March 30, 2012

On display at MFA & *a pop-up project’s show DC NOW,  opening Wednesday 4/4/12  at Gallery B in Bethesda. Including artwork by MAYA FREELON ASANTE, BILLY COLBERT, ROSEMARY FEIT COVEY, LAUREL HAUSLER AND VICTORIA SHAHEEN.

Where?  Gallery B, 7700 Wisconsin Ave, Suite E, Bethesda, MD 20814

When? April 4th – April 29th, 2012

Hours? Wednesday-Sunday 12pm-6pm

OPENING RECEPTION: FRIDAY, 13 APRIL 2012, 6pm-9pm

*in conjunction with the Bethesda Art Walk

 

Get to know artist BILLY COLBERT

Take a peek at this informative video on MFA artist Billy Colbert as he discusses the inspiration for his amazing mixed media works.

 

Introducing MFA Artist BILLY COLBERT

Billy Colbert's 'Watching Something Happen When You Know You Should Stop It'

Billy Colbert has exhibited all over the country. His most notable solo exhibitions have been museum shows at the African American Museum in Dallas, Texas and the Delaware Center for Contemporary Art in Wilmington, Delaware. Colbert has used popular culture, personal experiences and cultural leveraging to serve as narrative for his 2D and 3D mixed media works.  A few of his public collections include the University of Wisconsin at Madison, the National Academy of Sciences, Museum of South Texas, Corpus Christi, Texas and The African American Museum in Dallas, Texas. His work is in numerous private collections including noted actor, Jeffery Wright, prominent art collector and former NBA player and Coach, Darrell Walker.
In 1999 Colbert won the Mixed Media Purchase Prize and was chosen Best in Show at the Carroll Harris Simms National Black Art Exhibition at the African American Museum in Dallas, Texas. The show was curated by the late artist and Mac Authur  Fellow, John T.Scott.
Colbert works and resides in Washington, D.C.. He received his MFA in painting from the University of Delaware in 2000, where he was a Presidential Fellow.