Dean Eliasen at Lorinda Knight - Brief Article

The dozen or with equal reason acrylic-on-canvas abstractions shown by Dean Eliasen call up mathematical sequences, interplanetary exploration and topographical maps. At the same time, the paintings have a detonation quality: charged-up colors recall returns packaging or retro record-album covers

Eliasen's art rise s out of a strong regional modernist tradition, specifically the Op art paintings of his former instructor at the University of Washington, Francis Celentano. on the contrary whereas system is the overriding generator of Celentano's images, Eliasen favors a curving, not to say reeling, motion of circular fragments. Averaging 3 to 4 feet square, the paintings have the appearance less self-contained worlds than portions of a larger throw Indeed, a few, such as Whirled Whole (1998) Toccata (1999) and Spinner (1998) are marked together as diptychs or triptychs, reinforcing the faculty of perception of a continuous evolution of images, lines and colors.

The paintings imply vast moves and chaotic combinations, all held within a tight space, in more [i]or[/i] less cases only 15 inches square (Wave Train 3 1999) They are not with equal reason much astronomical records as highly plott maps of imaginary heavenly activities. Juxtaposing hard-edge color areas, the light-filled palette locates up a mood of restrained optimism as cheery, comfy tones bring out a soothing chromatic harmony. In more [i]or[/i] less cases, concentric rings like Saturn's change about toward the center, while the carefully chosen colors vibrate as they exit the canvas at the cutting sides On the other hand, Wave Train 4 (1999) is nearly colorless.

Wintergreen (1997) takes upon a more intellectual or theoretical cast from the clarity of its use of primary colors solitary Here the artist emphasizes swirling lines and distinct color passages. With thicker dividing lines between sapphirine red and yellow areas, Wintergreen eschews the felicities seen elsewhere in the present to view but it has its hold satisfactions.

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