Colors of Summer 2014

Curator: What a vibrant piece. Bernadette Resha created "Colors of Summer" in 2014, using acrylic paint in a boldly contemporary style. My immediate impression is one of playful abundance; a mandala form overflowing with shapes and saturated color. Editor: Mandala indeed! It makes me think about who has access to art spaces, historically. Seeing abstraction done in acrylics feels so direct, compared to traditional oil paintings. Do you think Resha makes the artwork accessible, in its color choice and style, to viewers? Curator: Absolutely. Acrylic lends itself to a certain immediacy and flatness that aligns well with a contemporary ethos. Also, the geometry feels hand-rendered rather than mechanically produced, suggesting labor. I think the application of acrylic is also key to the social history of painting: we see the accessibility of acrylic coinciding with the boom of pop art, which speaks to consumer culture and its integration with art in galleries and museums. Editor: It’s interesting how the seemingly simple shapes—the stars, hexagons, paisley-like forms—gain complexity when considered in the context of contemporary abstraction. Are these simple geometric shapes meant to mimic a certain thing in the world? Is there an interplay between symbolism and formal exploration here, shaping how art is consumed by viewers? Curator: Symbolism is interesting, given abstraction is the theme, and this piece can invite different perspectives from its audience members. These forms don’t seem specifically symbolic, more like elements in a visual language the artist has constructed. Consider, too, the institutional framework for showcasing contemporary abstract art. How are galleries shaping our interpretation of the art? Editor: It prompts one to consider the socio-political dimension. Perhaps it reflects our cultural need for structure and the search for universal truths through geometric design. Curator: Food for thought. Thinking about the process, materiality and potential social context behind this colorful geometric acrylic, it offers an optimistic note to end our exploration. Editor: Indeed! Thinking about the social elements surrounding its production, presentation and consumption sheds light on how artworks shape cultural narratives.