At the Border Between the Official and the Excluded 2016

Erik Sigerud made this painting called 'At the Border Between the Official and the Excluded' and what hits me first is the riot of greens and blues, punctuated by these almost childlike daubs of bright color, like the neon sticks at the top left. You can tell right away that Sigerud is an artist who isn't afraid to let the process show, to let the paint do its thing. Looking closer, you notice how the whole scene is built up with layers of thin washes, like watercolors, but then there are also these moments of thick, juicy impasto. Like that tree in the foreground - you can practically feel the weight of the paint, but it's still gestural and fleeting. It's interesting how the color is used to create a sense of depth, even though there are also these moments where the perspective just collapses, like in the reflection of the water. It reminds me a bit of early Tal R, who also likes to mix the innocent with the slightly unsettling. Ultimately, this piece is a reminder that art is a conversation, a back-and-forth between the artist, the materials, and the viewer.