Brilliant Optics: A Spectrum of Mediums and Color

Brilliant Optics is an exhibit of contemporary work by national artists that hinges on the dominant theme of color. A common thread in each of the works is the bold palette and an underlying static/movement to the art. Through an array of values of intense colors, the ocular cavity is stimulated by each of the works in the show, as well as the larger group of works that create the exhibition experience. Each of the exhibiting artists are unafraid of brightness, vibrant hues, and pumping up color saturation. The art in this exhibition share intense layers of color for an invigorating optical experience.

This exhibit revolves around a single word, color, a simple word but a complex theme. This concept was the guiding force for Zimmerman’s curatorial journey throughout the United States to find the most adventurous use of color by today’s artists. What he found in the best work was that great use of color transcended mediums, and that subject matter and genre wouldn’t be the things unifying the work.

Nine artists from four states, Australia, and Canada use acrylic, oil, screen-printing, aerosol, photography and ink to demonstrate Zimmerman’s cohesive vision of color. With this vision of unbound color to govern his curating, an unexpected pattern started to emerge from this collection of work. Because of the bold colors, each artist’s subject matter was that much more active and dynamic, forming a kinship between these artists that until this exhibition, was unknown.

Zimmerman says, “Color has the power to seduce us and the power to repulse us. What we know is that color can be a powerful symbol that plays a critical role our visual world. Color makes us love things we see or it can do the opposite. Like an upbeat song with heartbreaking lyrics, bright, bold color can dramatically alter how we perceive the subject matter of artwork.”

This exhibit has been curated by Josef Zimmerman in conjunction with the Fort Wayne Museum of Art.

Brilliant Optics exhibiting artists:

Kristin Cammermeyer
Jeff Depner
Daniel Dienelt
Kay Gregg
Justin Miller
Dabs Myla
Michael Porten
Britt Spencer
Alex Ziv