Paris Star Dream 2006

Jack Armstrong’s painting, Paris Star Dream, looks like it’s been made with oil on canvas, with a lot of energy. I see the thick application of paint, and it makes me think about process: how one action informs the next, a kind of back-and-forth between intention and accident. The way the red paint seems to drip and splatter across the surface gives it a spontaneous, almost chaotic feel. It’s like Armstrong is letting the paint do its thing, surrendering control and embracing the unexpected. Then, look at the lower left corner, with its swirl of white and red. There's a sense of movement there, as if the paint is still in motion, swirling and churning before our eyes. Maybe Cy Twombly was an influence? There's a similar sense of freedom and experimentation. Ultimately, this painting is less about fixed meanings and more about the ongoing conversation between artist, material, and viewer.