More Scenes From “Our Addictions to Fictions”: New and recent paintings by Michael Davidson at the Caestecker Gallery, Ripon College

Frank Juarez

The last time I saw Michael was probably two and half years ago and seeing his work in person was May 26, 2018. When I received notice that he was going to have a solo exhibition at the Caestecker Art Gallery in Ripon, I knew I had to go.

I have always enjoyed listening to Michael talk about his work, ideas, and explorations. For every exhibition, he presents new work and his talks reflect it, which are insightful, honest, and engaging. They make you think about art, life, and our place in the [art] world.

Before his talk, I got a sneak peek of his exhibition, More Scenes From “Our Addictions to Fictions”.

About More Scenes From “Our Addictions to Fictions”

Stacking influences and ideas from incredibly diverse sources, Davidson interrogates his watercolors. This excavation is done through techniques of addition and subtraction, through a variety of means of imparting colored viscous fluids to a flat surface- both direct and indirect. This process often involves forays from analog to digital and back to explore possibilities and assist a given work’s often circuitous investigation.

Imagined as scenes, transitions, sets, and singular moments in an epic and ongoing fictional theatrical production, Davidson’s paintings operate between the specific and the obscure. The veils of paint form a scaffolding of convincingness and a sensual believable landscape. Yet, simultaneously, these are paintings whose symphonic curiosity constantly flirts with incessantly questioning doubt. These paintings amplify the role of the artist as conjurer of both the real and the elusive. “Art is a critically important refuge for mystery, art gives mystery a place to live.” Source: https://ripon.edu/caestecker-gallery/

If you go

More Scenes From “Our Addictions to Fictions”: New and Recent Paintings by Michael Davidson

Caestecker Gallery, Ripon College

300 W. Steward Street, Ripon, Wisconsin 54971

September 3 – October 14, 2021

“Our Addictions to Fictions”. New and recent paintings by Michael Davidson.

Published by Artdose Magazine

Founded in 2013, Artdose Magazine LLC is an independent print and digital art magazine committed to connecting and supporting the visual arts in the Midwest. Published by Frank Juárez, the magazine is premised on the belief that we all share common goals of introducing, engaging, and offering diverse art experiences. Artdose Magazine LLC appears in print as a bi-annual art magazine, through a weekly art e-newsletter and on Instagram and Facebook. About Frank Juárez Frank Juárez is an award winning art educator, artist, publisher, art coach, and former gallery director living and working in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.. Organizing local and regional art exhibitions, community art events, facilitating presentations, supporting artists through professional development workshops, use of social media and networking has placed him in the forefront of advancing and promoting local artists and attracting regional and national artists to collaborate, network and exhibit in Wisconsin. View more posts