Speaking of Art

Various tornado paintings by Jeff Regensburger

If you've been following my blog posts, you know that I currently have a selection of paintings on display at the Dayton Visual Arts Center. These are on view along with the work of Michael Bashaw as part of "Something This Way Comes", a tornado themed exhibit held in conjunction with the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center. In support of this exhibition, I was invited to give a gallery talk last night. This is something I enjoy as it provides a chance to address many of the underlying ideas behind the work. While it's obvious what the paintings are (tornadoes), the way they're arrived at isn't.

Tornado Installation (detail) by Michael Bashaw

As I've developed this body of work, I've worked through questions about photography (and it's role in painting), art history, American landscape painting, and the role of painting as a form of documentation. In my mind at least, the works are much more complicated than what you see. Since creating these works is a mostly solitary venture, I find it refreshing to share what goes into them with others (and sorry if I rambled too long...).

Tornado Installation by Michael Bashaw

I'll again thank the staff and friends at the DVAC. Jane, Janelle, Patrick and Ursula have proven to be knowledgeable, gracious, and professional. Michael Bashaw was a terrific gallery partner as well. His installation provided a counterpoint in scale that works well in the space.

I'll mention also that it was the idea of DVAC staff to hang many of my paintings "salon style" (that is, stacked on top of each other as seen in the top photo). While this was a display method that had never occurred to me, I'm very happy with the results.

The show runs through March 6th, so if you're in Dayton, please make a point to visit.