Prints by Gene Flores
Damn everything but the circus!
...damn everything that is grim, dull,
motionless, unrisking, inward turning,
damn everything that won't get into the
circle, that won't enjoy, that won't throw
its heart into the tension, surprise, fear
and delight of the circus, the round
world, the full existence...
— e.e. cummings
The circus has always been a source of fascination and fear, and these two artists present the humor and the dark side in their paintings and prints. They portray the facade and magic that is involved and the need for an audience to be entertained, thrilled and perhaps fooled.
Deborah Spanton has enjoyed being an artist in many media for her entire life. She grew up in northern California and attended the San Francisco Art Institute where she studied painting. For 15 years she created fantastical original art dolls. Her work has been shown in galleries and shows in New Mexico, California, Oregon and London. In the last ten years she has again focused on painting and now printmaking has been added to the mix. She is inspired by the ironies of the real world and by the fantasies we create to manage these ironies. Deborah lives, works and gardens in southwest Portland.
Gene Flores was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. He received his BFA from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and his MA and MFA from the University of Iowa with an emphasis in Printmaking. He began his teaching career at UTEP in 1996 where he taught basic drawing courses part-time. He was hired full-time in 1997 as Gallery Director for the Department of Art and continued to teach drawing courses. He was Director for three years and then decided to move back to Iowa City, Iowa, where he taught life-drawing part-time for a semester at the University of Iowa and also worked at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art as a Preparator. He currently lives in La Center, Washington and teaches drawing, printmaking and life-drawing courses at Portland Community College in Portland, OR. He continues to exhibit his works at various galleries throughout the country.
April 29-May 25, 2010
Opening and artists' reception: April 29, 6-9 PM
Gallery hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 11-6, Sunday 12-4
