News

Elmhurst Artists’ Guild Presents
PolyChromatic:
“Tradigitalist” Paintings by Randal Stringer

The Elmhurst Artists’ Guild (“EAG”) is pleased to announce PolyChromatic, an exciting exhibition featuring eclectic, vibrant works, ranging from architectural to contemporary abstract imagery by prominent Glen Ellyn artist and EAG Board member, Randal Stringer. PolyChromatic will be held in the Elmhurst Artists’ Guild Gallery, located in the Elmhurst Art Museum, 150 Cottage Hill Ave., Elmhurst, IL 60126. The exhibition runs from January 17 through February 17, 2012, 10am-5pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday; 10am-8pm Friday. The public is invited to attend the reception on Saturday, January 21, from 3 to 5 pm where they can meet this cutting edge artist and learn more about his unique artwork.

Although Stringer’s subjects and inspiration varies from recognizable Chicago architectural landmarks to graffiti decorated urban surroundings to peaceful landscapes and themes with spiritual undertones, the common thread is the electrifying assault of vibrant colors. Stringer describes his style as “pushing my creative abilities, blending traditional art techniques with the experimental avenues artists have at their disposal in this digital age. I call my style “tradigitalism,” because I merge traditional art techniques with digital applications.”

Stringer utilizes a multi-level process to create his edgy images, working with pen and ink, watercolor, acrylic, photography, and digital mixed media to produce intensely colored, heavily manipulated concepts that reveal the creative force of the natural and digital world. Some artworks begin as a photograph, upon which he paints, scans and digitally manipulates to create the final abstract output. Others may begin as a traditional painting, and then be put through digital processes; still others are unmanipulated traditionally painted abstract works.

Formally trained in fine arts and graphic design from Southern Missouri State University, Stringer’s fine arts professor told him he would never make it as an artist. Looking at this novel, creative body of work, reflecting upon the professor’s assessment of this career artist pushing new boundaries to contemporary art nearly 20 years later, one is reminded of the report of Fred Astaire’s first screen test: “Can’t sing. Can’t act. Can dance a little.”

Stringer’s breadth of talent is evident in several highlights of the show. Beyond One’s Capacity expresses the ever-changing canvas of the graffiti world. Beginning with a photograph of an infamous alley in Ann Arbor, MI, augmented by painting and digital manipulation, Stringer describes the message of this piece as “beyond one person’s capacity to bring this angel to life, and of death with the underlying connotations of nuclear war.”

Tsunami is an acrylic painting finished several days after the devastating Japanese tsunami of 2011. This textured, abstract painting evokes the destruction, chaos, and energy of nature’s fury – a village being swallowed by the waves, a forest taken out to sea, lives lost. Stringer used a handmade tool to create the effect.
More information is available at www.randalstringer.com
 
About the Elmhurst Artists’ Guild Gallery

The EAG gallery is not-for-profit, operated by the Elmhurst Artists’ Guild. It features original contemporary artworks in a variety of styles and media. Each year it hosts several group shows featuring the artwork of Guild members, an invitational show for a significant local artist, and the National Art Premiere, a nationwide juried group show. Exhibits are partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council.

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