By Sarah Kinkade
Boston, MA – As the sound of African music flows throughout his studio, Philip Gerstein’s art pieces begin to sing their own songs in a burst of color and textures as their stories unfold. Each stands out in its own distinct way with different mediums and color palates, creating a theme of experimentation and discovery. Gerstein uses mediums of oil stick, glitter, powder pigment and textured gel to give his artwork a 3D perception that insists on a prolonged and closer look.
Many exhibitions focus on a central theme or a particular artistic style; this is not the case with Gerstein. His exhibit “¡Experiment!” at Galatea Fine Art through April 26 showcases his diverse painting styles that range from his tranquil patterns of red in “The Power of Intention” to edgier pieces like “Listen and Ye Shall Hear;” each style is vastly different, yet appears to go hand-in-hand as both sides of a personality come together.
When asked about the process of creating these abstract paintings, Gerstein said he can spend two to five years finishing a piece in his desire to “create work that takes time to see” and recommended that viewers take at least 30 seconds to simply absorb the colors and textures of a piece before attempting to decipher the story within.
It also helps to block out all surroundings, as much as possible, and to isolate all attention on the painting — this is what really brings out the world behind the abstract as all of the energy goes into absorbing the work as a whole. This will help to expand the mind and ensure that it is not limited to one vision or first-impression, which is also the idea behind the titles.
Once a painting has “reached its full potential,” Gerstein’s thought-process for the title begins; again, it must not limit the artwork to one vision. Instead, it needs to leave space for the viewer’s imagination while remaining true to the spirit of the work.
(“Philip Gerstein ¡Experiment!” is on display along with “Hope Ricciardi: A Century of Waiting” and “Michael Shores: Visions of the Otherworld” through April 26 at Galatea Fine Art, 460B Harrison Ave. #B-6, Boston, Mass. Artist receptions will be held on Friday, April 3 and Friday, April 10 from 6-8 p.m. and they’ll be Q&A session on Sunday, April 19 from 2-4 p.m. For more information, call (617) 542-1500 or visit http://www.galateafineart.com.)