Artist Bruce Adams Exhibit Opens New Year at GCC's Roz Steiner Art Gallery

'Untitled' Pieces "Allow the Work to Evolve Without Underlying Construct"

Batavia, NY (08/08/2019) — On Tuesday, August 20, 2019 when the Roz Steiner Art Gallery opens its doors for the 2019-2020 academic year, guests will be treated to the work of conceptually-based figurative painter Bruce Adams. The 'Untitled' exhibit will be on display at Genesee Community College in Batavia through September 19, 2019.

Art enthusiasts and critics are invited to a special artist talk by Adams on Thursday, August 22, 2019 at 12:30 p.m. inside the Roz Steiner Art Gallery. Receptions will follow at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to give guests a chance to meet the artist and hear how he explores the act of painting as he peels back the layers of meaning inherent in art making and viewing.

In the artist's statement, Adams reveals that this work "focuses on process, which incorporates collaboration and chance." Citing a theory presented in David Byrne's book How Music Works, Adam's explains his "intent is to make paintings that generate emotional responses, what Byrne calls, 'devices that tap into our shared psychological make-up'."

He continues to explain his artistic process, "Sometime ago I began working with "models," partly out of concern for copyright infringement issues. Friends and acquaintances volunteer as artistic collaborators, bringing their thoughts to the process. In the studio we converse and improvise hundreds of poses and situations, using props and clothing (and the nude figure) provided by the model, which I photograph. From these, images are selected for their evocative quality, and digitally manipulated and meticulously combined with other visual elements. I use Photoshop to do what earlier artists did with preparatory sketches.

"The resulting work references a variety of sources, interests, and personal penchants, including historic portrait and landscape painting, film, popular culture, gender identity, the male gaze, and graphic design. The resulting imagery is transformed again through the process of painting. Throughout this fluid process, the work is continuously and freely evolving, with the goal of evoking multiple interpretations and narratives. The choice to call the series "Untitled" reflects my decision to allow the work to evolve without a single underlying construct."

Formally trained in art education at Buffalo State College, Adams extended his education as an artist through his involvement in Western New York's contemporary art scene, starting in the 1980s as director/curator of a small storefront gallery called peopleart bflo, then with Hallwalls Contemporary Art Center as an Artist Advisory Committee co-founder, long-time board member and board president.

Adams' work also includes installation and performance art. He has years of experience as an art educator, and more recently a critical writer. He has exhibited extensively locally and nationally, and his work is included in numerous private and museum collections including the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Castellani Museum, UB Anderson Gallery and Burchfield-Penney Art Center. His installations and performances have been staged in public venues such as Buffalo's First Night, the Urban Art Project, and most notably the public art event Artists and Models Affair.

The Roz Steiner Art Gallery is open to the public Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The gallery is also open during special events as published at www.genesee.edu/campuslife/arts.

Admission is free. For more information, contact Gallery Coordinator Mary Jo Whitman at (585) 343-0055 ext. 6490, or via email: mjwhitman@genesee.edu.

# # #

Editor's Note:

A digital graphic promoting the Bruce Adams Untitled exhibit is available at:

http://marketing.genesee.edu/images/BruceAdamsExhibit_2019.jpg

Media Attachments