J. Jordan Bruns: Unveiling the Magician’s Trick

The Glen Echo Park Partnership is pleased to present J. Jordan Bruns: Unveiling the Magician’s Trick. In this exhibition of assemblage still life works, Bruns – a Glen Echo Park Resident Artist – aims for absolute truth in painting, uniting still life objects, painting surfaces, and the painting palette. Still life paintings are sandwiched between the still life object above and the artist palette used to make the painting below. These assemblages are constructed in the artist’s studio and then painted in the gallery space. Bruns will paint the work throughout the duration of the exhibition in a form of performance art. Normally, viewers of art typically only see the “lie” of the final product. The means to complete the painting, what the subject matter looks like, the location the painting was conceived, and the lighting conditions the subject was viewed in are all part of the painter’s world. Observational painters often benefit from the subject matter never being seen by their audience, allowing the viewer to fill in the gaps with their imaginations when the painter didn’t provide all the information. Yet when the subject, location, and lighting are all exhibited alongside the painting, the expectations for the painting changes. The art becomes about the painter’s ability to interpret the subject rather than the actual completed painting. To some, the painting may be better than the original subject. To others, the painting may fall short of the original subject. To some, the object may have more meaning seen through the eyes of a painter. To others, the fascination with the painting process is enough to make the work extraordinary. The fact that the viewer can stand in front of the painting and see “truth,” exactly what the painter saw – and can see the color choices and mixtures used – may enhance or diminish the final product.