 Portal X, 2006 |
 Portal XIV, 2006 |
 Portal XIII, 2005-06 |
 Portal IV, 2005-06 |
 Portal VII, 2005-06 |
 Portal XIII, 2004-06 |
 Portal IX, 2006 |
 Portal V, 2006 |
 Portal IV, 2006 |
 Portal IV, 2003-06 |
 Portal VII, 2006 |
 Portal VIII, 2006 |
 Portal XI, 2006 |
VARIATIONS
Marlene Capell's recent abstract paintings refer to remnants of ancient structures as the source for her compositions. Much like ancient archeological sites, the canvases reflect the passages and process of time as the surfaces are built up with paint, layer over layer, obliterating and reworking, concealing the past but leaving hints of what came before. Ultimately, it is this evidence of the painting process that becomes the focal point of her paintings.
Capell says of her work, " I visualize these paitings as a reflection of life as well as a connection to our ancient beginnings and other cultures throught time. I begin by building non-objective architectonic forms, which evolve from my fascination with Stonehenge and Lion Gate of Mycenae. I use a specific kind of formal structure to provide order out of the vast multitude of available choices. Rather then perceptually rendering or recreating the appearance of these monolithic structures, working non-objectively allows me to speculate, change and uncover.
Just as each civilization is built upon the structure of previous ones, I believe our lives are a process of building one experience upon another. As many of these paintings are painted over previous ones, revealing the history of themselves, they become a metaphor for growth and evolution. For me this is also the exchange between the careful rational mind and the desire for spontaneity and a measure of surprise. The challenge becomes just how much freedom I can allow myself.
BORN: Los Angeles, California
EDUCATION:
University of California, Los Angeles
Study with Martin Lubner, Lubner Studio, Los Angeles, California
PARTICIPATING ARTIST:
Los Angeles County Museum of Art - Art Rental/Sales Gallery
GALLERY REPRESENTATION:
FIG Gallery, Santa Monica, California
Gloria Delson Contemporary Arts, Los Angeles California
Film Art LA, Los Angeles, California
ArtDimensionsOnline.com
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS:
2007 - FIG Gallery, Santa Monica, California
2004 - FIG Gallery, Santa Monica, California
2002 - FIG Gallery, Santa Monica, California
2000 - FIG Gallery, Santa Monica, California
1999 - FIG Gallery, Santa Monica, California
1998 - Simon/Schade Gallery, Los Angeles, California
1998 - FIG Gallery, Santa Monica, California
1994 - Susan Street Fine Art, Solana Beach, California
1994 - Deborah Schiller Hadl Art, Culver City, California (2 person)
1992 - City of Los Angeles Cultural Affairs Department,
1992 - West Los Angeles City Hall Gallery, Los Angeles, California, "Portals"
1989 - Art Space Gallery, Los Angeles, California, "Paintings"
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
2004
FIG Galley, Santa Monica, California
2003
FIG Galley, Santa Monica, California
2002
Rio Hondo College, Whittier, California
2001
FIG Galley, Santa Monica, California
2000
Finegood Gallery, West Hills, California - Juror: Ruth Weisberg
Don O'Melveny Gallery, West Hollywood, CA
FIG Galley, Santa Monica, California
1999
Joy Taylor Gallery, California
The Studio Gallery, Los Angeles, California, "Grand Openning"
1998
Gallery 825, Los Angeles, California, "Brushstrokes"
Long Beach Arts, California, "93rd National-Open"
1997
City of Brea Gallery, Brea California - Juror: Noel Korten, "Made in California"
Gallery 825, Los Angeles, California - Juror: Scott Canty, "Objects / Images / Ideas"
1996
Gallery 825, Los Angeles, California - Juror: Peter Frank, "Gallery 825 1996 Open"
Gallery 825, Los Angeles, California - Juror: Bruce Everett, "New Works"
U.C.L.A. - Hammer Museum of Art, Los Angeles, California, "LA Current: The Female Perspective"
Cypress College Fine Arts Gallery, Cypress, California
1995
Palm Springs Desert Museum, California - Juror: Dr. Henry T. Hopkins, "26th Annual Juried Exhibition"
Long Beach Arts, California - Juror: Dr. Henry T. Hopkins, "92nd National Open Exhibition"
1994
Torrance Joslyn Fine Arts Gallery, Torrance, California, "Portals"
Deborah Schiller Hadl Art, Culver City, California
Valerie Miller Fine Art, Palm Desert, California
1993
Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, California - Juror: Dr. Henry T. Hopkins
Gallery 57, Fullerton, California - Juror: Dr. Henry T. Hopkins, "Intimate Spaces V"
Boise State University, Boise, Idaho
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, "Rental #7", California
University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota , "1993 National Art Competition"
1992
Community Visual Art Association Jackson Hole, Wyoming - Juror: Charles Garabedian, "Artwest Open National Competition"
Finegood Art Gallery, West Hills, California - Jurors: Josine Ianco-Starrels and Scott Canty, "Emerging Perspectives of California Artists"
Art Store Gallery, Los Angeles, California, "Selections from the Lubner Studio"
Berkeley Art Center Association, Berkeley, California, "8th Annual National Juried Exhibition"
Seattle Art Fair, Seattle, Washington
1991
Art/LA 91, Los Angeles, California
Mt. San Antonio College, Walnut, California, "New Connections"
County of Los Angeles Century Gallery, Sylmar, California, "Passages: From Abstraction to Realism"
Art Space, Los Angeles, California, "An Opening and a Closing"
Contemporary Artists' Arts, Los Angeles, California
Westwood Place, Los Angeles, California, "Recent Paintings"
Southern California Womens' Caucus for the Arts, Los Angeles, California - Juror: Noriko Gamblin, "Annual Juried Exhibition"
Westmorland County Community College, Youngwood, Pennsylvania, "Westmorland Art National"
1990
Los Angeles Open Arts Festival, Los Angeles, California
Southern Utah State College, Cedar City, Utah
"Greater Midwest International V", Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg, Missouri
1989
"8th Annual Competition," Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria, Louisiana - Juror: Neal Benezra
1988
Long Beach Art Association, California - Juror: Carol S. Eliel
STUDIO LECTURES/TOURS:
1999 Sylvia Greer Artworks, "Open Studio Tour", Los Angeles, California
1993 Nemiroff Deutsch Fine Arts, Santa Monica, California
1991 Suzanne Siegel, "Current Art in Los Angeles," U.C.L.A. Extension, Los Angeles, California
1990 Maxine Rubenstein Nemiroff, "The Art of Collecting Art," U.C.L.A. Extension, L.A., California
Carol Friedman, "Visits to Artists' Studios and Galleries", Los Angeles, California
HONORS/RECOGNITIONS:
1995 Second Award, Palm Springs Desert Museum - Juror: Henry T. Hopkins (Chair, U.C.L.A. Art Department; Director, U.C.L.A. at the Armand Hammer Museum of Art & Cultural Center)
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Reviews:
Artweek Magazine - April 2001, Vol 32: Issue 4 - Lois Allen
Los Angeles Times - June 30, 1989 - Marlena Donahue
Catalogues:
Southern Utah University, Cedar City, Utah, "Architecture: Artists - Interpretations" April 1 - April 30, 1993
University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, "1993 National Art Competition" April 1 - May 1, 1993
Boise State University, Boise, Idaho April 2 - April 23, 1993
Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg, Missouri "Greater Midwest International V" January 16 - February 16, 1990
Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria, Louisiana "8th Annual September Competition", August 5 - September 9, 1989