(RED BANK, NJ) -- The Oyster Point Gallery is pleased to publicly show The Cut-Outs by Gary Steven Groves for the first time. They are a departure in technique and material from his paintings, although Gary's signature use of bold colors and hard-edged shapes is evident. The exhibit runs from January 24 through February 11, 2025.
The public is invited to the opening on Friday, January 24th, 2025 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. The Oyster Point Gallery is located at at 146 Bodman Place in Red Bank, New Jersey. Free parking is available.
Gary Steven Groves (b. 1955) is a painter, photographer, and art dealer living in New Jersey. He is known for abstract configuration, landscape, and collage photography. He studied photography at the San Francisco Art Institute and graduated in 1984 with a BFA in Photography.
Artist Statement:
"As a painter, I primarily use acrylic paints. I express my subjects through a minimalist approach, utilizing color, line, texture, and shape to evoke the desired emotional response and convey my interpretation of the subject.
"This individual experience brings me the most joy. Inspiration often starts with a subject already in mind or is gathered from various sources, such as personal experiences, reading, music, or discussions. I typically use brushes on canvas, sometimes beginning with minimal preliminary drawings.
"Over time, I have found that my painting process has become slower. I sometimes change my mind midway through the work, leading me to overpaint or scrub the paint out entirely. This can alter the texture of the canvas, allowing the underpainting to reappear, which is not always my intent. To address this, I discovered that by using colored paper to cut out shapes quickly, I could select the colors I wanted and arrange them on a board. This allows me to experiment with different compositions, re-cut, and start over until I am satisfied.
"This revelation freed me to move more quickly with the ideas I wanted to express and to experiment more freely. I have been reading about scientific concepts and have wanted to visually express these ideas, which have become the focus of many recent paintings. Once I complete the ‘study’ using cut paper, I transition to creating an acrylic version as my final artwork. I also discovered that the paper cutouts are visually appealing and can stand alone as independent works of art. This exciting process enables me to work through my ideas more rapidly and produce more artwork."
Oyster Point Gallery Exhibitions, originally conceived by President Kevin Barry, and currently curated by Ellen Martin, provide a prestigious and viable alternative gallery venue to artists from New Jersey and nearby locations.
Both emerging and established artists, many of whom are award-winning, have been included in the exhibitions that are shown in the public spaces of the first two floors of the Hotel.
The work is primarily two-dimensional and encompasses painting, photography, wall-mounted sculpture, collage, and collaborative work. The Gallery is an asset both to our community and guests of the Hotel.
Works shown are by Gary Steven Groves
