Finding depth in flatness

At first glance, the artists in “Young Moderns,” the exhibit that opens today at the Gallery of Contemporary Art, don’t necessarily look like a good fit for an exhibition.

True, Sarah Braman, Todd Chilton and John McEnroe are all relatively young, at least from my perspective. Chilton just turned 30, and Braman and McEnroe aren’t much older. And all are undeniably modern.

But Braman is a New York City installation artist whose favorite materials include cardboard, plywood and plexiglass; Chilton is a Chicago-based painter whose specialty is large geometric patterns; and McEnroe (no relation to the tennis player) is a Denver-based artist who works in a variety of media, but whose works in this exhibit will consist of pure paint that he’s applied to, and peeled from, large slabs.

Gallery of Contemporary Art curator Christopher Lynn said there’s a reason behind his choice: Together, these artists provide valuable insight about modern art.

“They exhibit specific aspects of early modernist painting,” said Lynn. “For example, there was a great push toward flatness.”

Flatness was the darling of critic Clement Greenberg, who said painters should no longer strive to create the illusion of space.

“Paint was no longer expected to look like something, said Lynn. “Paint was free to be and look like paint.” The most classically flat work here is Chilton’s oil paintings. “The eye holds on to the surface of the canvas,” said Lynn. Lynn chose Braman and McEnroe for the ways in which they explore — and challenge — this notion. “Greenberg’s argument was really more about the canvas than the paint,” said Lynn. “But McEnroe removes the canvas,” exhibiting the paint on its own.

Lynn said the results “hover somewhere between a painting and a sculpture as the sheets of paint ripple against the wall and drape over hooks and bolts.”

Braman’s work is simultaneously flat and three-dimensional: “Even though her work is sculptural, it’s all about flat planes, how they interact with each other and with the paint she applies,” said Lynn.

Of course, Lynn has more than theoretical interest in these artists. He likes the wry humor of Chilton’s work, as drips and other accidents upset the geometric patterns.

Lynn said McEnroe is one of the state’s most stimulating contemporary artists.

“The paintings are just a small aspect of his more sculptural work,” he said.

Braman will be creating a new installation for the exhibition, with materials supplied by the gallery.

“This will probably be larger than anything she’s done before,” said Lynn.

“I think she has some ideas, but you have to get into the space and start mucking around with it to see what will work. We’ll have no idea what it’ll be until probably Friday morning.”

details

“Young Moderns: Sarah Braman, Todd Chilton and John McEnroe”

When: Opening 7-9 p.m. today (5:30-7 p.m. for gallery supporters and University of Colorado at Colorado Springs students); regular hours 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 1-4 p.m. Saturdays, through Feb. 9

Where: Gallery of Contemporary Art, UCCS, 1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway

Admission: Free; 262-3567 or www.galleryuccs.org