Selected Works on Paper Exhibition at MCASD, La Jolla

Richard Diebenkorn, Untitled, 1970

The Museum of Contemporary Art's latest exhibition shows works on paper by a selection of contemporary artists. These works, exhibited at the La Jolla museum, include drawings, photographs, paintings on paper and prints. The select works are from the MCASD collection and are on display until September 2, 2012.

Included in this exhibition are two prints by the contemporary painter Richard Diebenkorn. This 20th century American artist was associated with abstract expressionism and is best known for his "Ocean Park" paintings. The two pieces exhibited at MCASD, La Jolla, were made in 1970, close to when the artist first moved to Santa Monica’s Ocean Park neighborhood. Looking at these works we witness his turn to an abstract style, moving away from his previously figurative works. Caught between Diebenkorn's figurative and abstract periods, these prints can be seen both as part of his departure from his 1960s work within the Bay Area Figurative Movement and his journey towards his celebrated "Ocean Park" works.

In these two works we can see the influence of the Californian landscape in which he was living. Also, in 1970, Diebenkorn was documenting water reclamation projects in Arizona and Colorado, with the U.S. Department of Interior's Bureau of Reclamation. The effect of viewing the valleys and extreme landscapes through the helicopter window had evidently affected the artist's vision and were visible in his work.

On visiting the MCASD in La Jolla be sure to also see works by local urban artists at Thumbprint Gallery, on 920 Kline Street. Thumbprint Gallery shows lowbrow and urban art works that range from contemporary surrealism to graffiti inspired illustrations. Visit the art gallery’s website here.

Source: http://www.mcasd.org/exhibitions/selected-works-paper