Ben Kelley at the Reser Center for the Arts
Ben Kelley at the Reser Center for the Arts
Part of "A Community is a Small Town"
Its been so good to see Ben's work at the Reser Center for the Arts as a part of "A Community is a Small Town," on view through March 6:
The vibrant colors and energetic compositions found in Ben Kelley’s paintings make it difficult to believe that he only began painting seven months ago. Using vivid color schemes and text as shapes, Ben Kelley creates energizing harmonies on canvas. They often emerge as fascinating landscapes, and he chooses the colors and shapes “just from his memory.” For example, his painting "Mr. C" (a small square painting with red, orange and yellowhues) “is ants on an ant farm.” This painting shows that while he is unafraid of indulging in the entire rainbow, he shows restraint and choice in his palette and imagery. He explains that he chooses his colors based on memory, and that “my mind just said ‘go for it!’” when he started painting. Another painting entitled “Two Big M’s” has two glowing M’s suspended on top of one another over a lavender color field with a creamy green border. His work holds echoes of color theorist Joseph Albers, but with a more organic and free approach that borders on narrative with the jumbled letters that show up. Interestingly, his drawings yield something completely different! With pencils and markers on paper, he creates frenetic scenes of centipedes and spiders in a chaotic garden party, with decisive edges and an almost narrative scene. Regardless of his chosen medium though, Ben Kelley treats the entire page with attention and care, inviting us into a world of memories soaked in color and texture.
-Rachel Mulder