Figure Exhibition | Cultural Center Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

March 6th – April 17th, 2015
“Figuratively Speaking”

The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach will open a unique exhibition featuring artist Claire Kendrick, March 6 – April 17th. “Figuratively Speaking” is a series of oil paintings and sketches which studies the human figure. Each year the curatorial committee select artists to exhibit and as study of the nude figure has long been at the heart of traditional education in the arts, it is an important exhibition and shows a real commitment to painting.
This is a contemporary body of work that brings a fresh, modern approach to figure painting. There is a freedom and energy in the way she applies paint and builds the paintings in this series as she pushes the boundaries towards abstract.

“The dialogue is something I strive for–what is spoken and what is left unspoken–it’s the tension and energy between the painting and the private dialogue–the interpretation of the viewer(s)–their need to fill in the gaps. Body language is the unspoken dialogue.” – Claire Kendrick

Artists Notes

“Figuratively Speaking”. — The beauty of being figurative while conversing or writing is that it creates a subtle, special meaning. The nuances of figurative language create associations and suggestions in the listener’s mind that have not been stated implicitly.
When painting the viewer uniquely observes and they in turn have their own private reaction, based on their views, life experience, feeling towards the work.
The paintings capture the private moment between a model and the artist. It’s a non-objective beginning — I never quite know what energy will come across the paintings. I sometimes capture the mood of the model or conversely it’s my reaction to the pose. Of course there is always a part of me in the work but the best paintings have something unintended — an element of surprise and mystery. They are works of art that can never be repeated because of the complex layering of paint.

“This is an exciting exhibition of contemporary figure paintings. It has taken over two years for the series exhibiting at the Cultural Center, to become reality and I’m very excited as it marks an important milestone in my career as a professional artist. Visiting Cape Cod and working with Anne Packard and her daughter Cynthia Packard in 2012 was pivotal in initiating the series.” – CJK

Opening Night Friday March 6th (5.30pm – 8pm)