New June Exhibit at Gallery A3: Painting by John Krifka
John Krifka, Holiday Studio, oil on canvas. Photo: Gallery A3
Source: Gallery A3
With his selection of old and new paintings at Gallery A3 in June, John Krifka reflects on his evolution towards abstraction. Gallery A3 is located at, 28 Amity Street 1D, Amherst. Hours are Thursday-Sunday, 2 p.m.-7:00 p.m. There will be an opening reception on Thursday, June 6 from 5-7 p.m. and a free online art forum (preregister at www.gallerya3.com) on Thursday, June 20 at 7:30 p.m, Opening Reception: Thursday, June 6, 5-7:00 pm. The exhibit will run from June 6-29.
In his first solo show at Gallery A3, John Krifka brings together an array of work that documents his exploration of pictorial space and that demonstrates various ways he has been “moving differently forward” as he shifts his style in painting over three decades. As he explains, his earlier works, such as Holiday Studio, often incorporate a wide-angle layout of furnishings with the display of everyday objects either spreading out or closing in. This, he notes, is a more traditional view of the picture plane.
In contrast, in his newer work, such as Lv Rm, he distorts the picture view and moves toward increased abstraction. He may compress shapes together or expand them larger, using lines and planes of color to imaginatively redefine an interior space. “Having lived 30 years in New York City, the rhythm, rigor, and pace of that environment no doubt influenced my earlier work,” says the artist. “Now, living in western Mass., that pace and a delineation of exactness may no longer matter.”
Art Forum OnLine
On Thursday, June 20, Krifka will present an online Art Forum and show images of the paintings in the exhibit. Referencing the phrase “moving differently forward”, he will discuss his shift towards a more abstract form of figuration in his work. This Art in Community II program is supported in part by grants from the Amherst Cultural Council and the Springfield Cultural Council, local agencies, which are supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
About Gallery A3
Gallery A3 is a contemporary, fine art gallery in the Cinema Complex in downtown Amherst, Massachusetts. Members of the artist-run cooperative include painters, sculptors, photographers, printmakers, fiber artists, and mixed media artists.
The gallery was founded in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on 9/11. A group of local artists believed art to be essential to the health and healing of a community and began the gallery as a place to share ideas and artistic support. Since that time, the gallery has been home to over 60 artists and is now celebrating 22 years of monthly shows with opening receptions and community forums, all free and open to the public, and an annual juried show that supports regional artists.