| Name | John Bonner - Streetwise |
| Brief Description | Opening Reception - New Paintings by John Bonner |
| Type | Attraction |
| Category | Merrimack-Valley New Hampshire Art Gallery |
| Description | In recent years Bonner has been experimenting, doing what he called “some wild stuff.” The results left him with the feeling he was “just going through the motions.” Inspired by Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, John re-focused on the micro-view rather than the macro-view of his environment. “I sort of set myself a rule that I mustn't do anything outside the confines of a small reclaimed area known as the Bulfinch Triangle, and doing that, the work began to flow again. It was like I was back in business.”
Finding beauty in a restricted area meant that Bonner honed in on the mise en scene of his urban surroundings. In “Hopper’s Hydrant” a yellow capped hydrant conjures up a lone figure on a winter sidewalk. The long shadow and warm light helps to define the form of the black hydrant against its black background. This reduced palette allows Bonner to modulate the background into a variety of grays and purples that add interest to the stark composition. “The Last Pile of Snow” depicts a dirty and forgotten pile of snow. The warm light, orange pylons and pedestrian enliven the gritty scene. The painting is reduced to broad brush strokes as much about the act of painting as the artist’s ability to describe a scene.
John Bonner’s strength is in observing his natural surroundings and interpreting it in a way that makes the viewer see the beauty in the dirty and broken down corners of our world. What some might consider unattractive and unworthy of scrutiny, John turns into delights of color, form and emotional content. Streetwise will enchant the most winter weary amongst us.
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| Address | 2 Phenix Ave. |
| CSZ | Concord |
| Phone 1 | (603) 225-2515 |
| Email | gallery@mcgowanfineart.com |
| Handicapped Accessible | Yes |
| Website | www.mcgowanfineart.com |
| Last Updated | 5/8/2018 |
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