Composition 

Curator: Stepping closer to "Composition" by John Ferren, I am struck by the almost otherworldly palette. Editor: It feels aquatic, like gazing into a deep ocean where sunlight flickers and distorts familiar shapes. The overlapping forms create a dynamic tension. Curator: Ferren’s abstract language, with the oils so meticulously applied, invites us to assemble the imagery ourselves. His involvement with European modernism shines through. Look at that central form – does it evoke machinery, landscape, or some hybrid? Editor: The real labor here seems to be in achieving that seamless graduation of color. Is it about concealing or revealing brushstrokes? Perhaps concealing the means of production aligns it with “high” art instead of craft. But isn't that choice in itself revealing? Curator: Maybe Ferren reveled in that duality! There's a playfulness here that belies the seriousness we often project onto abstract work. The hard angles bumping up against softer edges evoke an inner argument, and yet, a beautiful accord. Editor: True. There's a subtle contrast that feels utterly intentional. Were they pre-mixed or applied and mixed directly on the canvas? And consider the choice of canvas itself – that particular weave and weight surely influenced the painting process. Curator: Perhaps, thinking about it as labor is valid in a way! It all hints at Ferren’s unique ability to fuse rigorous thinking with almost intuitive brushwork. Editor: It feels like the materials guide him toward the form rather than him dictating every angle with perfect geometric precision. Curator: Ultimately, to understand this abstract piece, you’ll need to give yourself over to that play and appreciate his masterful manipulation of materiality. Editor: Exactly, by attending to Ferren's choice of media and process, we uncover this “composition” which has so much more to say than we initially supposed.