I found this rather interesting article about JWRs recent show (at James Kelly in Santa Fe) the other day. I have to say its a rather interesting take on a his exhibition. This passage in particular:
Too often artists rely on the sum of an exhibition to create the sense of a greater whole, even if the individual pieces fall flat. With Deep Creek Seeps, however, the desire is to get rid of the exhibition and focus on a singular work.
I can understand the approach the reviewer takes, especially in light of the few really powerful solo shows that have only had one work (in my mind the Eric Fischl show at Mary Boone in the early eighties comes to mind – among others). That said, its really quite a treat to read quality art criticism in a regional newspaper.
One last thing, I don’t see the “Rothko-ness” in JWRs work – I don’t see or feel the same approach to the spiritual or even the personal anxiety, just the opposite JWRs work seems calmer and more at ease with itself than Rothkos. Not that makes one better or worse, just different.
Johnnie Winona Ross, Dark Creek, 2008