by Daniel Huberman
Daily Lobo
Jonson Gallery's new exhibit is as close to home as it gets.
The exhibit is the second installment of the Jonson by Decade series, which showcases paintings by the gallery's founder Raymond Jonson from 1920 through 1929.
Jonson, who studied art at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts and the Art Institute of Chicago, made contributions to theatrical sets and lighting design in Chicago, inventing the nine-switch dimmer board that allowed lighting to serve as a dramatic element for the first time. Still, his greatest contributions were through his paintings. Inspired by the Southwest landscape, he moved to Santa Fe in 1924. He began teaching at UNM in 1934 and established the Jonson Gallery in 1950.
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Jonson's painting style can be described as transcendental, said Chip Ware, curator at Jonson Gallery.
"He distinguished between abstraction and nonrepresentational painting," Ware said.
Ware said like other artists in the Transcendental painting movement, Jonson used an abstract form of symbolism.
"In effect, it is the pursuit of one's own personal truth through the use of personal symbols," he said. "Nonrepresentational painting comes from within, instead of from without. It comes from the spirit."
The exhibit contains earlier paintings and sketches more representative of Jonson's abstract style, which reflects his personal interpretation of the New Mexican landscape. A 1929 three-dimensional piece titled "Space Abstraction (A Concentration)" shows Jonson's progression toward fully nonrepresentational paintings.
The exhibit shows a key point in Jonson's artistic development, Ware said. The paintings and sketches included in this installment illustrate the jumping-off point from which Jonson developed his later works.
Ware said a significant portion of Jonson's work was inspired by Southwest landscape. An example would be No. 6 of Jonson's Earth Rhythms series, which is included in the exhibit.
"The painting gives a good idea of Jonson's response to the Southwest landscape," Ware said.
Another large collection of Jonson's work is displayed at the Payton Wright Gallery in Santa Fe and covers some of his works from 1922 until 1976. The Albuquerque Museum of Art and History also includes some of his work as part of its permanent collection.
Until Aug. 18, the Jonson Gallery will include an installment of his later works titled "One Work One Wall," which contains a selection of his fully nonrepresentational works. The Jonson by Decade series will continue to highlight his work through the winter of 2007, spanning Jonson's career.
Jonson's 1920s installment will be featured through October. It will feature extended background information and insight into the meaning of each individual work.
"This is a small but very attractive exhibition," Ware said. "We hope that people will enjoy it."
Jonson by Decade
Jonson Gallery
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