Connie Noyes - Gestural abstract painting

Elements and e-motion

Having a background in dance and psychology as well as visual arts, I am compelled to view these paintings as organic, moving pictures which spring from the idea of chaos theory.

The work comprises itself of a series of random interactions and gestures, with no preconceived idea of what should exist on the canvas beforehand. Like trying to understand the subtle movements that create ripples in a lake, shifting sand or fierce thunderstorms, I am interested in how applied movement and gesture influences the creation of my work; how exploration of new and culturally distinct movement will impact the emotionality and gestures of my painting; or perhaps, to simply discover the implied movement inherent in the work on an unconscious level – the movement as filtered through my life experiences.

My work begins with a gesture, which is then preserved under a layer of wax. Working in the moment, layers of wax are built up with time and subtracted with heat, fusing wax to canvas. In the fusing process, portions become transparent and new lines may appear as the wax moves with the influence of heat. Or, the wax may obscure the drawing with its opacity. Graphite powder in rubbed into some pieces, which continues the obstruction of the original drawing. Throughout the process the painting is a dance – a reaction or non-reaction to the line and movement organically created by the materials. The simple interaction of gravity and gesture, reaction and non-reaction seems to create a moving picture.

Each painting has its own physicality and unique way of interacting with the elements and materials at play on the canvas. I am intrigued by how kinetic the work can appear in one moment and quiet the next - as if the physical energy has been quieted in the process of being created.

2004 Paul Sunderholm Gallery, "Opening Suite", San Francisco, CA "Miniatures", Mark Palmer Gallery, Paducah, KY
2003 "Biennale Internazionale Dell'Arte Contemporanea", Florence, Italy 5th Place Painting, Lorenzo Al Magnifico Award "Selections, 2003", Artspan, San Francisco, CA
2002 "Small Wonders", Hang Gallery, San Francisco, CA "Seeing Red", Hang Gallery, Palo Alto, CA "Postcards from the Edge", Sperone Westwater Gallery, New York, NY "Landscape/Mindscape", Hang Gallery, San Francisco, CA Somarts Gallery, "Open Studios 2002, San Francisco, CA "Pieces", Café Arrivederci, San Rafael, CA "Bay Area Currents", Oakland Art Gallery, Oakland, CA "Major Abstract", Intercultural Museum Art Gallery, Baltimore, MD "East Bay Open Studios", ProArts Gallery. Oakland, CA "Fresh Paint", Hollis Street Project, Emeryville, CA
2001 Somarts Gallery, "Open Studios 2001", San Francisco, CA Gallery Artists, Hang Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2000 "Open Studios 2000", Oakdale Painting Studios, San Francisco, CA Somarts Gallery, "Open Studios 2000", San Francisco, CA
1997 Women's Artist's Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1994 Group Invitational, Weigand Gallery, Belmont, CA
1992 "Touchstone Photographers", Touchstone Gallery, Washington, D.C.
1991 "All-Media Membership Show", The Art League, Alexandria, VA. Award: 1st place, Franz Bader juror "The New Touchstone", Touchstone Gallery, Washington, D.C. "10th Annual Northern Virginia Photography Exhibition", Gallery of the Ellipse, Arlington, VA. Mark Power, juror "Your Shot, Our Show", Tartt Gallery, Washington, D.C "The Annual Art Exhibition at the Athenaeum", Alexandria, Va., Julia Boyd, juror "Gallery West Presents: The Artists of Touchstone", Gallery West, Alexandria, VA
1990 The Art League All-Media Membership Show, The Art League, Alexandria, VA. Award: 1st place, Collage, Jerry Clapsaddle, juror The Gallery at the Ellipse, Arlington, VA Washington Center for Photography, Washington, D.C.
1989 "All-Media Non-Representational Show", Art League Gallery, Alexandria, VA
1982 UMC Fine Art Gallery, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
1981 "Visions From Chicago", Saidye Bronfman Centre Museum, Montreal, Quebec Canada "Furthering Photography", 2nd Street Gallery, Charlottesville, VA Dittmar Memorial Gallery, Evanston, IL.
1980 In a Plain Brown Wrapper, Chicago, IL "Fourteen From Chicago", invitational exhibition, Beloit, WI "Art Attacks: A Social Disease", Moming Dance and Arts Center, Chicago, IL International Festival of Women in the Arts, New York, NY Photoworks Gallery, invitational exhibition, Richmond, VA
1979 Chicago Public Library, Cultural Center, Chicago, IL University of Ohio, Athens OH Herron School of Art, Indianapolis, IN
1978 "Women in the Arts", invitational show, Lynchburg Fine Arts Center, Lynchburg,VA "Virginia Museum Biennial", Virginia Museum of Fine Art, Richmond VA
1977 "S.E. Photographic Competition", Greenville County Museum of Art, Greenville, S.C. Purchase Award Optic Gazebo Gallery, Modesto, CA "The Non-Silver Show", The Light Factory, Charlotte, N.C.
1976 "Virginia Museum Biennial", Virginia Museum, Richmond, VA

PUBLICATIONS

2003 Biennale Internazionale Dell'Arte Contemporanea, 4th Edition, Arte Studio, Florence Italy
2003 Art of Northern California, Alcove Books, Oakland, CA
1991 Photo Review, September issue, Published: Langhorne, PA
1981 Photo, September issue, Published: Paris France
1975 8X10, Lew Thomas Not for Sale Press, San Francisco, CA

GRANTS

2004 Kentucky Arts Council, Professional Assistance Award, Frankfort, KY

COLLECTIONS

Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, IL
Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Greenville County Museum, Greenville, SC
Virginia Museum, Richmond, VA
Virginia Intermont College, Bristol, VA
Numerous private collections

CURRENT REPRESENTATION

SFMOMA Artists Gallery, Building A, Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA
Paul Sunderholm Gallery, 49 Geary, San Francisco, CA
O Gallery, 614 Madison, Paducah, KY, 42001