"Centerfocus"
by Tom Coffin
Joe's Movement Emporium
Friday, March 15, 2002 from 7-9
pictures from the opening
I would like to invite you and all of your friends to
a very special opening of paintings at Joe's Movement Emporium
in Mt. Rainier Md. Friday March 15th, 2002 from 7-9 hosted by the World
Arts Focus. At Joe's Movement Emporium, I currently have on exhibit
two large paintings on burlap ripe with symbol and energy.
It is my intention that through dancing with these yantric images,
peaceful and loving feelings will come to everyone.
Joe's Movement Emporium is the coolest place I have found in
DC and the energy which comes from the people and programs
is at a very high level. So... even if you miss my art reception
I encourage you to check Joe's out:
Joe's Movement Emporium
World Arts Focus
3802 - 34th Street
Mt. Rainier MD 20712
tel: 301.699.1819
http://www.worldartsfocus.org/
info@worldartsfocus.org
Artist's Statement:
These two paintings have a history (in other words they have
been hanging out in my attic for a while now.) Their most prestigious
viewing until today at Joe's Movement Emporium was in 1992
were they appeared at the John David Mooney Foundation in
Chicago, Illinois for my Laredo Taft Prize Exhibition. The origins
of these two paintings are from south of here in Durham, North
Carolina where I held a studio for a quick 6 months at the
Venerable Building. The Venerable was an old tobacco plant
converted into artist studios and miscellaneous ventures. One of
these ventures was a coffee roasting place. They would receive bag
upon bag of coffee beans from all over the world. These burlap
bags were strewn about all over the place and essentially
being thrown out. The burlap material had such an interesting textural
quality that I couldn't help but collect many of the bags for
artistic pursuits. This rough texture provided exactly the hot
quality I was looking for to hold my cold geometric imagery. The
imagery, stemming from countless studies on the computer, really
enjoys the freedom that these rough textures provide. Playing on
the interaction and play of opposites has always been a theme
in my work if not life. These paintings reflect that interplay through
the materials techniques and images involved. I hope you all enjoy
looking at and dancing with these images. I hope that the energies
you make together create a life force which brings peaceful and
loving feelings to everyone.
Thank you, Joe's, for letting me hang my hat here.
Tom Coffin
coffin@art.net
art.net/coffin