Newspaper Page Text
April 22,1992
Flagpole Magazine
Page 9
t
"Empty-minded, “ by Nancy Chen
Art Encounters
Nancy Chen...
Nancy Chen had an opening reception at The Downstairs on Fri.
April 17. It's funny, at a Graduate Exhibit in the Visual Arts building
a few months ago, she was one of the artists that I literally took note
of, quickly scribbling down her name, and a description of her
painting so that I would remember her.
Nancy does large portraits, generally in acrylic on paper or
canvas, that are very interesting to me. She has a direct sense of
humor and a sincere, nonthreatening confidence in her work.
"Grin," and “Empty
Minded" were my two
favorite pieces at the
show. Nancy Chen's
portraits all have intngu-
ing stares that cannot
be connected with par
ticular emotions They
grab the viewer's atten
tion in the same way that
complex and troubled
human beings do, and
are just as unreadable
You can do nothing but
identify, observe, and
appreciate their unex
plained anxiety.
I pulled her to one of
the little tables in the
front room, and spoke
with her about her fa
vorite painting, “Empty Minded," a double portrait of Andy and Joe.
“It is one of my favorite pieces because I did it very quickly," she
said. “I finished it in about 30 minutes. It is my styl9 of painting. I also
like it because, to me, it looks too serious... enough to inspire
laughter. The title isn't very nice, but I was just using these two
people in the picture. My paintings show the psychological effect
of the individual on me, at that moment. In my paintings, the
emotions are not obvious. I use photographs for the majority of my
paintings. I look at the photo and try to figure out what I can
exaggerate. Also, I don’t do sketches before the painting. I'm afraid
that if I do that, I will be overworking it. I don't use very many colors,
but I squirt lots of paint on my palette..."
Nancy Chen's work is still being exhibited at The Downstairs. It
would be a good idea to visit the place before the end of the week.
Yvonne Grzenkowicz
"Stare, ’ by Nancy Chen
Have Faith...
There's yet another new band in Athens. Faith and Labor,
combining the talents of Jay Dow, John Gray Walker, F.A. Smith
and Mike Moreu. They call their music “work ethic rock" and
borrowed their name from a “discarded Neil Kmnock slogan. ‘ They
also claims their music has that unique sound "best described as
'guitar-driven, white collar, booty-bouncin' music...’" Whatever they
say. But the only
way to find out
what these guys
really come off as
is by paying hom
age to Club Fred
on Monday night,
April 27. Dizzy, yet
another new Ath
ens band, opens
up for ’em. (HM)
Crand Opening ♦ Friday. April 24
The Bean Men From Atlanta Have Come To Athens!
SERVING BURITOS,
QUESADILLAS, TACOS, SALADS
AND.ICE COLD BEER.
OVER A BILLION. BEENS SERVED
• SINCE 1986
tSw over a billionbeens served
■ • SINCE1986
|i|]|HK( . HOURS: 11A.M. - 2 A.M.
149 N. Lumpkin St. • ■208-1328
Proouced by Peter Buck. Mark Heard and VOL From Fingerprint Records /
April 24 and 25 ^
The Flying Buffalo
95 Hoyt Street
Special Athens-only release party. The rest of the country has to wait until September.
Shows start at approximately 9 PM. $4.00 cover charge. CD's & Cassettes available at shows.
You Are Invited
to
Vigilantes Of Love
Release Party and Show