Artist Talk and Book Signing with David Row and Suzette McAvoy
Rockland, ME, September 12, 2021— The Center for Maine Contemporary Art (CMCA) invites the public to join us for a dialogue between artist David Row and exhibition curator Suzette McAvoy, discussing the artist’s landmark solo exhibition, The Shape of Things. This closing event will be followed by a reception where David will sign copies of the newly released catalog accompanying the exhibition.
This event is being offered free of charge and will be held in-person from 2:00 – 4:00pm in CMCA’s Main Gallery and streamed to Facebook Live.
This is the final in person viewing of The Shape of Things (https://cmcanow.org/event/david-row-the-shape-of-things/) , S.B. Walker | Nor’east (https://cmcanow.org/event/sb-walker-noreast/) , Will o’ the Wisp (https://cmcanow.org/event/joy-feasley-paul-swenbeck-will-o-the-wisp/) , and SCREEN: Cherrie Yu (https://cmcanow.org/event/screen-cherrie-yu/) , as these CMCA exhibitions close at 5pm. Our galleries will reopen October 1.
About the catalog
The Shape of Things catalog – $70 The 96-page, fully illustrated, hardcover catalog features a foreword by exhibition curator Suzette McAvoy, and essays by artist Ken Greenleaf and art critic Karen Wilkin. Pre-orders of the catalog are available in our online shop at cmcanow.org/shop and visitors will be able to buy the catalog at CMCA’s gift shop starting September 12.
About the exhibition
The Shape of Things is the first major exhibition of painter and master printmaker David Row’s work in his home state. Born in Portland, in 1949, Row is a multi-generational Mainer. Known for his use of irregularly shaped canvases and rich colors, Row manipulates symbols of infinity and juncture—ellipses and x’s—to create spatially complex compositions that transform the illusory two-dimensional painted plane into multi-perspectival infinite space. Citing the unabashed physicality of Row’s work, art critic Stephen Maine has described it as “calisthenic abstraction.” Acknowledging his interest in the enigmatic, Row states: “For some time my work has focused on the tension between fragments and wholes. I’m not exactly sure why I’m drawn to this except that it seems to reflect the disparity between what we desire—wholeness—and what we experience—fragment. There is a mysterious and magical line between a group of separate parts and a group that becomes one whole.”
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ABOUT CMCA
CMCA is a contemporary arts institution presenting year-round exhibitions, engaging events, and educational programs for all ages on site and online.
Location: 21 Winter Street, Rockland, Maine. Hours: May 28 – September 12, 2021, Monday – Saturday, 10am to 5pm; Sunday, noon to 5pm. Closed Federal holidays. Admission: $8, seniors $6; children under 18 free, CMCA members free.
Below from top: 1. Preview cover image of The Shape of Things catalog. 2. Installation view, CMCA Main Gallery.
