Hyper realistic paintings by Rod Penner take us on a road trip through Texas Hill Country and the greater Southwest. The infinite details using acrylics reflect images in stagnate puddles, hum the glow of neon lit signs, capture the broken down and needy corners of lonely towns. It’s all too believable, take a double look…was that a photo? Something so common makes us think someone might not really take the time to reproduce such a desolate parking lot torn up by tire tracks, or that old sign marketing to no one, neither the abandoned businesses nor fragments of a community once alive and pumping. However, you can see the beauty in the ashes so to speak where the common sights across much of America defines our past abuse, our current pride and endurance no matter how we got here. The artist has vividly portrayed American stamina through these trials, how life goes on. In his own words, “I’m interested in the look of things and the quality of being there, a moment that is completely frozen with all the variety of textures; rust on poles, crumbling asphalt, light hitting the grass. The finished paintings should evoke contrasting responses of melancholy and warmth, desolation and serenity”. On exhibit through November 23rd at New York, New York Ameringer/McEnery/Yohe.
Images courtesy of Miles McEnery – © Ameringer/McEnery/Yohe
