(WEST WINDSOR, NJ) -- Acclaimed abstract artist Douglas Witmer will offer his insight into the creative process and how art responds to the dynamic conditions of the 21st century as part of the Distinguished Lecture Series at Mercer County Community College (MCCC) Friday, February 7, 2024 followed by the opening reception of his exhibit “Currents” at the Gallery at Mercer.
Witmer’s talk, “Painting Do-er: A Reductive Abstract Artist In Response to Conditions of Our World,” begins at 11:45am on Friday, February 7 in the Communications Building, Room CM108 on MCCC’s West Windsor Campus. Witmer will share insights into his creative philosophy and how art responds to the dynamic conditions of the 21st century.
Rooted in "painted presence," Witmer's recent works activate the composition with sensuous color and improvised actions, operating within a formalist abstraction framework. The talk will provide a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of his artistic focus, creative process, and extensive exhibition history.
The public is also invited to the opening reception of Witmer’s exhibit “Currents” from 5:30pm to 7:30pm on February 7 at The Gallery at Mercer, also on the MCCC campus. Witmer's work explores the materiality of the painted object through refined processes within the framework of reductive abstract painting. The subject of his work is presence, creating a visual place that invites a personal experience of seeing and feeling. This is evident in his largest work exhibited at MCCC, “Forty, For You.”
“Forty, For You” combines Witmer's painting and music composition. Initiated in 2019, it responds to Instagram's format with 40 square paintings and unique ambient music compositions. Released daily from Feb. 26, 2020, during the pandemic, the series explores varied color compositions. The series, titled Day 1, Day 2, etc., showcases diverse variations with rich color and structured compositional strategies. The music may be accessed via QR codes, optimized with headphones or earbuds. The complete set and a PDF book of artwork are available here. The exhibit runs through March 29.
Witmer is based in Philadelphia and is internationally known within the field of reductive geometric abstraction. He holds a B.A. from Goshen College and an M.F.A. from The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and continues shaping abstract painting’s discourse through curated exhibitions and a philosophical approach to art making. Witmer’s extensive exhibition history includes solo shows at prestigious institutions globally and his work is featured in prominent collections.
Gallery hours are Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays from 9:30am to 4:30pm and Wednesdays from noon to 7:00pm. For updates, directions, and other information, visit www.mccc.edu/gallery.
The MCCC Gallery is located on the second floor of the Communications Building on the college’s West Windsor Campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road. Directions to the campus and a campus map can be found at www.mccc.edu.
The MCCC Distinguished Lecture Series is supported by an MCCC Foundation designated fund.
Established in 1966, Mercer County Community College is a publicly supported comprehensive institution that provides opportunities for higher education through an open-door admission policy. The scenic 292-acre West Windsor Campus was opened in 1972 to serve the needs of Mercer County residents. MCCC’s James KerneyCampus, located in downtown Trenton, serves as an educational and cultural hub for city residents that meets the changing needs of thousands of students and community members seeking educational fulfillment and personal and career growth. Deborah E. Preston, Ph.D., President.
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