New Palo Alto Art Center Exhibition Explores the Power of Color

As part of its 45^th anniversary celebration and vibrant service to the Palo Alto community, the Palo Alto Art Center presents Spectral Hues: artists + color, an exhibition featuring the work of more than 20 artists who share an interest in the power of color, and employ strategic choices about the use of color, in their works. The free exhibition runs at the Art Center from January 21–April 9, 2017.

“Color can have personal, institutional, formal and intuitive meanings,” says exhibition guest curator Sharon E. Bliss. “Artists use color to reflect feelings, evoke emotional responses, and sometimes dazzle the eye. As well, color pervades the vernacular—we can feel blue, be green with envy, or have a green thumb, for example. The exhibition’s title, ‘Spectral Hues,’ refers to the colors of the rainbow, the different elements of white light refracted through a prism: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. These optical sources of color present a vital intersection between the studies of optics (science), art and life.”

Many of the artists in Spectral Hues: artists + color are occupied by a busy confluence of colors, while others offer contemplation of a single hue. Some of these works evoke musical scores, while others suggest an abstracted landscape, architectural blueprints, or a prism’s rainbow. All speak to the relationship between light and color.

“This winter, the Palo Alto Art Center galleries will come alive with paintings, sculpture, photography, and installation in a diverse range of colors and hues,” says Art Center Director Karen Kienzle. “Visitors to the exhibition will be awed by the creative and broad approaches to exploring the power of color in contemporary art, and will hopefully be inspired to add more color to their own lives.”

Artists exhibiting in Spectral Hues: artists + color include: Ann Appleby, Leo Bersamina, Omar Chacon, Freddy Chandra, Amy Ellingson, Eden V. Evans, Kristin Farr, Anoka Faruqee, Marguerite Fletcher, Stephen Giannetti, Mike Henderson, Karrie Hovey, Henry Jackson, Mitchell Johnson, Amy Kaufman, Keira Kotler, Richard Mayhew, Ron Nagle, Ruth Pastine, Mel Prest, Ken Price, Meghann Riepenhoff, Tamra Seal, Jenny Sharaf, Lisa Solomon, Victoria Wagner, and Nancy White.

A special Friday Night at the Art Center opening celebration will be held on January 27, 2017, 7-10 p.m., featuring an opportunity to meet some of the exhibiting artists, artmaking activities, food truck fare and drinks for purchase. Visit www.cityofpaloalto.org/artcenter for more information.