by donald dusinberre imartsyfartsy@gmail.com
I’ve been to the Jane Gray Gallery quite a few times now, and I’ve never once noticed any artwork by Daryl Bunn. That might not seem unusual if you consider that there is an endless list of artists whose art I’ve never seen there, but Daryl Bunn owns the building and lives upstairs. That’s unusual, especially since many artists are at least a little egocentric.
I’ve been up in his apartment, too. I’d never even met the guy, but I’ve wandered through the room where I like to imagine he watches Family Guy and eats peanut butter off a spoon. The place is a highly stylized apartment studded with art, antiques and other unique items, so I might be a little off about the peanut butter thing. If he displays his work on the walls of his own home, I’ve missed them every time.
My most recent visit to the Jane Gray Gallery was this past Saturday evening, when they hosted a lavish opening to celebrate Daryl Bunn’s photographic gicleés and serigraphs. From now until September 7th, Bunn’s work will hang in the gallery with aplomb. I guess it’s about time.
What struck me most about Bunn’s photographic work was its precision and simplicity. On display are giant gicleé prints of lilies, roses and orchids, more luminous and clear than you could ever believe possible. A gicleé is a computer-printed copy of a photograph. The image quality is usually very high, and artists often limit the number of copies they make so as to keep each image’s uniqueness intact. Seeing ten-inch wide roses is quite a stunning sight; it is amplified nature.
Also on display are Bunn’s new series of serigraphs. Serigraphy is a silkscreen printing process using photographic emulsifiers to create an image transfer onto paper. He spoke of his recent return to the medium: “I was doing serigraphs in ‘76. I sort of dropped it out of necessity of being a busy photographer. Right before December of last year I missed doing that and made my frames and stretched my silks and I am just having a ball. All of this pent up creative energy just came out of me, and here is the result.”
A work of art is typically judged by its successful execution of certain visual elements. Good artists know that their artwork is an expression; moreover, it is a form of communication with at least some of its viewers. Effective expression and communication- in art just as it is in writing- requires a command of language. On the work itself, artists can use color, composition, shape, light, allegory, perspective, and other visual language tools to communicate with their intended audience.
The only element that will always be completely subjective is its meaning. For instance, an image of an arrow pointing up might indicate heaven to one person and the ceiling to another.
Bunn’s serigraphs have a peculiar appearance. It is quite evident that he knows the techniques and language of good art, and his compositions are flawlessly designed. As with his photographs, they are sharp, succinct and simple. Each one clearly exhibits Bunn’s mastery over color, composition, and notan (the play between black and white), but they are difficult to relate to as a viewer. Their perfection of design seems to have taken away their depth. Even though I can see the results of brushstrokes from earlier in their creation, they seem more computer-generated than the photographic gicleés.
Whether my impression is valid or not, you must go see for yourself. It’s still art, even if I don’t get it. Nevertheless, I am convinced that Daryl Bunn is a prime example of an artist who knows his craft. You’ll be hard pressed to find artwork that is more meticulously crafted, and that is reason enough to go see his work.
The Jane Gray Gallery at Darryl Bunn Studios is located at 643 Edison Street in Jacksonville, near the Blue Cross/Blue Shield tower. Learn more about Daryl Bunn by visiting darylbunnfineart.com.
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