Dichotomy Too, paper cut, 20" x 26 ", July, 2009
In this examiner series "Finding Inspiration", artists' work will be explored to make connections between artists, their work, and the conversations that art pieces have over time, across cultures, and between disciplines. Art inspires art. Creative inspiration flows from many sources.
Richard Shipps is a Chicago based artist currently exhibiting with the Coalition Gallery, 2010 W. Pierce, Chicago, Illinois - the most recent project of The Chicago Artists' Coalition. .jpg)
Shipps' use of cut paper certainly calls to mind the work of Kara Walker found in many museum collections including The Art Institute of Chicago and The Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago. Walker's work confronts the viewer with images about American history and African American experience.
Richard Shipps' work "examines the dynamic tensions between light and shadow and the interplay of negative and positive form. His focus is on the push and pull -- juxtaposition and synergy of image".
The highly detailed patterns connote the complex designs found in lace and other decorative arts surfaces, yet contain none of that symmetry or quaintness . By developing balanced yet asymmetric compositions, Shipps calls attention to the process of cutting the patterns, the concentrated effort of doing the work. These are not machine made cuts. The viewer is dazzled by the complex designs that, in this contemporary context, particularly in the Wicker Park neighborhood, could be seen as tattoo designs, modern mandalas meant for meditation. The framing and presentation of these pieces heightens their object-ness, calling attention to the material and that fact that they are objects in addition to being imagery.
Alexander Calder is certainly an inspiration to Shipps' work in shape, color, simplicity, and mobiles. Throughout Shipps' productive career, he has developed a series of mobiles that take his patterning designs to the air and into three dimensions. In his sculptural work, Shipps' work connects to 
Henri Matisse as an influence - in the sea weed shapes and undulating lines, like those found in "The Knife Thrower, 1947".
Richard Shipp's work will be featured in a three person show at the Coalition Gallery in September along with Jun-Jun Sta.Ana and Vanessa Vargas. The show "Cut & Paste" is curated by Susan Aurinko.
Coalition Gallery
2010 W. Pierce
Chicago, IL
Just southwest of the Damen/Milwaukee/North Ave intersection in Wicker Park
Opening Reception: Thursday September 3rd from 5 to 8pm
Gallery Hours: Wed -Fri 12-7pm, Sat 12-5pm, or by appointment 773-772-2386
Comments
I really like the cut paper art...and the first one reminds me of ying and yang
I feel like this picture contrast dark in light. Negative v.s Postive. Good v.s. Evil, but also free flowing shapes in no perticular direction
The paper art is interesting for its delineated contrast. The extremes of positive and negative light, and positive and negative space gives a density to the art it otherwise would lack. Dichotomy Too has the contrast at work in showing difference, but it is all part of the same circle. The similarities used towards a common shape further stress the light vs. dark motif.
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