Exhibit Preview/Studio Visit: Drew Peterson, “A Moment Stays” at Burnet Gallery

Drew Peterson’s art is familiar. I’ve seen it before, many times.  In fact I’m quite fond of his prints. With the intense colors and well-crafted layers, precise lines and controlled energy… it’s exciting, stimulating, perfect.  It does no wrong except that it is always it’s best or seems that way.

How do you make yourself a better version of your best self? If you’ve been doing “you” for as long as you can remember, how do you let it all go…without abandoning all the good parts you’ve worked so hard to cultivate?

And why would you want to let go?

Because simply, at the root of creativity is re-invention. While an artist may finally find that signature, sound, or stamp that they can without doubt claim as their own, they will eventually face that moment when they must decide to grow or remain. Remaining is safe, it works and it feels comfortable. People like it (and that is the ultimate confirmation) or better, people buy it!  But any true artist knows it’s not about money (ok, sometimes it is) but more romantically, it’s all about the challenge of finding something new to like if not equally, even more. It’s even better if that something new is coming from a place of self-driven mastery, skill and experience.  This of course is more easily said than done.

Back to Drew’s art (actually this was all about Drew’s art but I’ll be more direct now)… in some ways, his upcoming solo exhibit “A Moment Stays, “ is about letting go. But don’t expect to see a whole new Drew. It’s not time for that quite yet, and detachment requires contentment. So along with his tried and true come new surprises. As he does with his art, he fittingly moves forward while standing perfectly still.

Inspired by Japanese woodblock prints, ikebana (Japanese flower arranging) and a readiness to abandon his signature imagery, Drew nonetheless lets go slowly and elegantly. In a careful step towards a purging of his typical machine-like structures… he pulls individual elements from his previous imagery and utilizes them to create new bouquet-like structures that are no less intricate but somehow calmer, balanced, refined. The result is an unexpected new softness. Another change is open space. Where previously Drew would have layered and layered until the background seemed an afterthought, he now gives the viewer a composed place to rest their eyes. His brilliant color selection is given the space to show off. Colors and layers are more deliberately placed so that a deep lilac and muted gray-blue can be admired just for looking that good next to each other.  Breathing room must have felt right, because some of the larger pieces in the exhibit are simply two colors.

Printed with silver ink on a rich cobalt blue is a piece that is more about the negative space than anything. It’s quite a departure from his previous work, but the path to achieve a piece like this comes only from a certain mastery of printmaking technique.  Acceptance of the limits of his imagery and willingness to find new space gracefully lands him in uncharted and exciting territory. The cobalt blue that floods the negative space is simply stunning because the “double drop” print of flat blue is flawless, not an easy feat. The tone of blue offsets the overlay of silver inked shapes so that the piece glows just enough to resemble something that feels like the darkest night within a bright moonlit sky. It’s hard to look away.

The only downside to the apparent changes in Drew’s work is that it makes his more classic pieces in the show seem slightly less exciting. They are no less impressive… and showcase his impeccable ability to balance a procession of layers and restrain chaos within order. However, the new techniques and risks he takes with other pieces pay off so well, you’re left wanting more of that instead. This is certainly not a bad thing for an artist.

With change comes hesitancy, so for now this exhibit will deliver everything that you would expect of a Drew Peterson solo show. Yet while his signature is fully present, he also shares something exquisitely fresh. Exploration is evident but satisfaction is clear. Perhaps then, this is the perfect moment to let go.

-Tricia Khutoretsky

“A Moment Stays” solo exhibition by Drew Peterson.  

Burnet Gallery, Le Méridien Chambers, 901 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, Minn.

FREE Opening Reception 6-9 p.m., Fri., Jan 13. Exhibition runs through, Feb. 26, 2011. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily