SEEKING FORM AND LIGHT

Paintings by Jacque Clements (1925 – 2019)

Two shows, one artist.
A  collaborative exhibition with
Phillips Fine Art & Frame 1115 E. Main St. door #9, (585) 232-8120
&
Axom Gallery 661 South Ave. 

September 11 – October 31, 2020 in both locations.
* Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there will not be a public opening reception.
*Masks required* 

 Seeking Form & light

        Jacque Clements was a colorist whose work explored the relationships of color, shape and line in his compositions. The Warren Phillips Gallery will be featuring a selection of paintings from 1963 through 1992. These works are representational abstractions of landscape and still life and floral subjects, resulting in thoughtful compositions of simplified shapes and colors representing the imagery from which they were distilled.  The exhibit at Axom Gallery will be featuring paintings from 1990 through 2013. In a sense these works grew out of the earlier paintings seen in the Phillips Exhibit. In this body of work Clements turns his attention to non-objective abstractions as he continues to explore  line, shape and color to create compositions where the work suggests light, form and even depth of field. In these paintings he does so without representing any actual object. The work may evoke images, but those are subjective to the individual viewer and not by the artist’s intention.

      Upon receiving his BFA at Rochester Institution of Technology in 1967, Jacque Clements was hired to teach at Monroe Community College. At the time the art department was primarily in support of the recreation department. MCC was in transition and had just moved to its new campus.

      In 1970 he was made chairman of the art department. As chairman, Jacque set up a democratic atmosphere among the faculty, in which all members of the department were equal and voted on every decision. The department wanted to create a system of foundational courses that integrated with four year colleges in the area.  The faculty worked with Dr. Barkin at R.I.T. and the chairpersons of art departments in many area schools such as The University of Rochester, Nazareth College, the State University colleges at Geneseo, Brockport, Oswego, Fredonia, and others. This substantially changed the direction of the department of MCC as an opportunity for those students who had not previously been focused on themselves and their interest in school.  The MCC art department helped many students to discover art and their own talents. And this helped them to continue their education at four year colleges. Many of these artists are now part of Rochester’s creative community.

      A guiding question for Jacque’s life has been; “What kind of paintings would Jacque make?” When he had a show, his thoughts gravitated to what he thought others wanted and expected of him and that took the joy out of what he was trying to do. Eventually he stopped showing but he didn’t stop producing paintings. This is the First solo exhibition of his work in several decades.

     Included in the exhibitions at both galleries will be a selection of figurative sculptures, both human and animal, for which Jacque Clements is also quite well known. These charming works, give a nod to American folk art, while firmly holding their place in the Post war Modernist movement.