RichRichRich: the third show

RichRichRich is almost coming to an end. Last night was the third opening out of the four summer shows planned. The gallery is slowly transforming from a messy construction site of scrap materials and hidden artwork to a clean strip mall store with pristine white gallery walls and artwork hung on them. The progression of the space is as much as art as the pieces in it! This show marks a more noticeable transition with the paintings of ny artist Wendy white and also Ann arbor artist Glenn Curtis' works that reflect previous found object installations. Now the piles of art are much more noticable and defined and the bits and pieces on the floor seem less intentional and more a hazard of working in a space that is in transition. I am still intrigued with the process and transformation of the gallery but I found that the work left me questioning less than in previous shows. It is not a question however, of whether white's pieces are successful because I believe they are pleasant to look at and white has all the marks for a great painter, they just didn't take me to the next level. Painting is a tricky thing sometimes because it can be visually pleasing yet fail to stimulate the senses. It might be a personal thing...or something that as a painter I am concerned with. What makes a painting, a painting! and another just a pretty picture? The pieces that have key chains and other objects like letters attached become almost hideous but in an "art cool" way. They remind me of the pieces in other shows that have been reassembled and then attached to the work in a way that your grandmother would turn what you consider junk into craft treasures. RRR is like a good movie where the viewer is at the part where they see the end coming but are starting to miss the build up the final outcome. I love the space and the idea behind it, I am just sad that it will soon become another strip mall storefront and knowledge of any sort of gallery will only be a memory!

curtis glenn

wendy white