William Rainey
AN EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS ABOUT NOTHING Solo Exhibition 2018
118 Southwest Blvd Kansas City, MO 64108 816.527.0823 BlueGalleryOnline.com
AN EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS ABOUT NOTHING The title of this show came to me as I was reworking some old paintings in the studio. It reinforced to me that it is all about the act of painting. All old paintings are just the beginning of new paintings. It is the continuation of time and the event that occurred when I performed that act of putting paint on canvas that moment that hour that day. Quite a few of the works in the show are ones I continued to paint. Until I stopped. I guess this means I am an “action painter”. I stand to paint, spray, scrape, rub, dribble and dance around… to put whatever my subconscious feels like doing. I like big paintings for that reason. It is body in motion. Rather than a single moment in time captured by photography and realism, you are getting me up there or on there. That makes me a “gestural painter” too. I am a “colorist” as well. Color moves me and comes as close as I can to painting emotions on a canvas. There are a few primitive symbols and identifiable things in there. They are often deep metaphorical symbols of humanity. They can mean many things. There isn’t any central figure in my paintings. The positive and negative space, the middle and the edges of the canvas, all are important to the overall expression. Some might argue that make me an “abstract expressionist”. My art is viewer dependent. In other words, the viewer must look, think, feel and react. Many people say to me “ I see different things in your paintings every time I look at them.” I like to hear that. I don’t care what you think about my work as long as you think about it. William Rainey’s acrylic on canvas paintings grasp the imagination and transforms it to every day life, emotions, and beliefs. The paintings move into the subconscious much like improvisational jazz; melding reality and fiction with a fascinating journey of color, movement, and shapes. Describing art is about the left side of the brain. Making it represent something, philosophizing about it is all in the left side. Abstract art like mine is a right brain activity. Sensing, responding, feeling and even having a relationship. So, I invite you to get in your right mind while you experience my art. Rainey received he first art award 50 years ago and since has attended Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Snowmass Village, CO and the Santa Fe Institute of Fine Arts, Masters Program. Represented exclusively by Blue Gallery since 2000, William Rainey’s paintings can be found in private and corporate collections worldwide. Select corporate collectors include; Shook, Hardy & Bacon, Kansas City, MO, Data Systems International, Kansas City, MO, Restaurant Management Company, Wichita, KS, Missouri Bank, Kansas City, MO, Lanard Toys Ltd., Hong Kong, and The Conafay Group, Washington, DC.
William Rainey AN EXHIBITION OF PAINTINGS ABOUT NOTHING Opening Reception + Artist’s Talk Thursday, October 4, 2018 6–9 pm Artist’s talk begins at 7 pm First Friday, October 5, 6–9 pm artist will be in attendance both nights exhibition runs through October 27, 2018
Tic, Tac acrylic on canvas 67" x 62" fr. $9000
All or Nothing acrylic on canvas 66" x 60" fr. $8600
The End of Verbal Communication acrylic on canvas 60" x 52" fr. $6700
The Deep End of the Pool acrylic on canvas 52" x 60" fr. $6700
One Potato, Two Potato acrylic on canvas 56" x 50" fr. $6000
Hallelujah Redo acrylic on canvas 54" x 48" fr. $5500
Blood Money acrylic on canvas 52" x 48" fr. $5300
The Last Battle, July Fourth acrylic on canvas 52" x 44" fr. $5300
Operating by Hook or Crook acrylic on canvas 48" x 44" fr. $4500
Say It Ain’t So acrylic on canvas 40" x 46" fr. $3900
Ain’t Nobody’s Business acrylic on canvas 44" x 42" fr. $3900
Contemplating a Compromise acrylic on canvas 42" x 38" fr. $3300
Walked It Back acrylic on canvas 44" x 32" fr. $2900
The Past Is Past acrylic on canvas 34" x 38" fr. $2700
A Cast of Thousands acrylic on canvas 38" x 32" fr. $2500
Biscuits and Gravy Redo acrylic on canvas 38" x 32" fr. $2500
Stuck in Neutral acrylic on canvas 32" x 38" fr. $2500
Upside Down acrylic on canvas 52" x 24" fr. $2500
Our Fifty First State acrylic on canvas 24" x 51.75" fr. $2500
Deflecting Rumors acrylic on canvas 28" x 28" fr. $1600
No Ifs, Ands, or Butts acrylic on canvas 26" x 22" fr. $1100
One Two Buckle My Shoe acrylic on canvas 26" x 22" fr. $1100
Three Four Shut the Door acrylic on canvas 26" x 22" fr. $1100
Down But Not Out II acrylic on canvas 30" x 16" fr. $900
No Pun Intended acrylic on canvas 24" x 20" fr. $900
A Green Cheese Moon acrylic on canvas 20" x 24" fr. $900
Nothing Matches acrylic on canvas 24" x 20" fr. $900
Portfolio No. 21 acrylic on canvas 13.75" x 13.75" fr. $500
Portfolio No. 22 acrylic on canvas 13.75" x 13.75" fr. $500
Portfolio No. 1 acrylic on canvas 11.75" x 11.75" fr. $450 Portfolio No. 4 acrylic on canvas 11.75" x 11.75" fr. $450
Portfolio No. 2 acrylic on canvas 11.75" x 11.75" fr. $450 Portfolio No. 5 acrylic on canvas 11.75" x 11.75" fr. $450
Portfolio No. 3 acrylic on canvas 11.75" x 11.75" fr. $450 Portfolio No. 6 acrylic on canvas 11.75" x 11.75" fr. $450
Portfolio No. 7 acrylic on canvas 11.75" x 11.75" fr. $450 Portfolio No. 10 acrylic on canvas 11.75" x 11.75" fr. $450
Portfolio No. 8 acrylic on canvas 11.75" x 11.75" fr. $450 Portfolio No. 11 acrylic on canvas 11.75" x 11.75" fr. $450
Portfolio No. 9 acrylic on canvas 11.75" x 11.75" fr. $450 Portfolio No. 12 acrylic on canvas 11.75" x 11.75" fr. $450
“William Rainey’s canvases are like maps of human experience or thought process, where all of the input and reactions are mixed and meshed, then organized and synthesized into bite-size chunks. It is wonderful to see an artist who shows such strength in abstraction and takes such original joy in the act of painting” – Dustin Johnson, REVIEW Magazine, Dec. 2005 Born Joplin, Missouri - October 21, 1943 Education Anderson Ranch Arts Center, Snowmass Village, CO 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1992 Santa Fe Institute of Fine Arts, Masters Program, Santa Fe, NM, Selected to study with Nathan Olivera, 1992 Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, KS, 1990 Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield, MO, 1965-67 Jasper County Junior College, Joplin, MO, 1963-64 University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 1962 Business Experience 1989 - present: Full-time artist 1969-1988: Owner and operator of mens and womens clothing stores. Select Exhibitions September 2018, William Rainey, An Exhibition Of Paintings About Nothing, Solo Exhibition, Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO September 2016, William Rainey, Shampoo Rinse Repeat, Solo Exhibition, Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO September 2014, William Rainey, DANGER: Don’t Try This at Home!!!, Solo Exhibition, Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO October 2012, William Rainey, Featured Artist, Ariodante Gallery, New Orleans, LA October 2011, William Rainey, All the Colors in My Paintbox, Solo Exhibition, Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO September 2010, Homecoming: William Rainey Retrospective, Spiva Center For The Arts, Joplin, MO November 2009, William Rainey, Magic Show, Solo Exhibition, Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO August 2007, William Rainey, Solo Exhibition, Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO August 2005, William Rainey, Carnival, Solo Exhibition, Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO October 2002, William Rainey, Mary Kline-Misol, Wonderland, Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO December 2000, William Rainey, Paintings From The Land of Oz, Solo Exhibition, Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO Juried Shows MOAK 4 State Regional Exhibition; Springfield Art Museum, Springfield, MO - November 2002. Juror: Marcia Manhart, Executive Director; Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa, OK Watercolor U.S.A. 1997 National Competitive Exhibition; Springfield Art Museum, Springfield, MO - June 1997. Juror: Thomas R. Toperzer, Director; Fred Jones, Jr., Museum of Art, University of Oklahoma Dinnerware Contemporary Art Gallery 7th Biennial 7-State Juried Exhibition, Tucson, AZ – Feb. 1997. Jurors: Debra Hopkins, Curator of Photography, Scottsdale Center for the Arts; Jeffrey Moore, Director, Bluestar Art Space, San Antonio, TX Tubac Center of the Arts Winter Juried Exhibit, Tubac, AZ–Jan. 1997. Juror: Lee Karpiscak, Asst. Director, University of Arizona Museum of Art, Tucson, AZ 11th Annual Juried Competition: The Fine Arts Center, Lubbock, TX–Nov. 1996. Juror: Frances Culpitt, Assoc. Professor Art History, University of Texas 46th Spiva Annual Juried Competitive; George Spiva Center For The Arts, Joplin, MO–March 1996. Juror: David Turner, Director Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center Cheekwood National Contemporary Painting Competition, Nashville, TN, Nov.–Dec. 1995. Jurors: Inge-Lise Eckmann, Deputy Director of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art – Robert Ryman, Artist, New York 13th Annual River Market Regional Exhibition, Kansas City, MO – June 1995. Juror: Marti Mayo – Director, Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston, TX 12th Annual Art in the Woods Juried Exhibition, Overland Park, KS – May 1995. Juror: Christopher Brown, Artist and Educator, San Francisco, CA 53rd Annual Juried Exhibition; Sioux City Art Center, Sioux City, IA – April 1995. Juror: Sheila Stewart-Leach, Director of the Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland, FL 45th Spiva Annual Juried Competitive: George Spiva Center for the Arts – March 1995. Juror: Warren Rosser, Chair; Department of Painting-Printmaking, Kansas City Art Institute 44th Spiva Annual Juried Competitive; Spiva Art Center, Joplin, MO – March 1994. Juror: Warren Rosser, Chair; Department of Painting-Printmaking, Kansas City Art Institute River Market Regional Exhibition; Kansas City, MO – June 1993. Juror: Susan Sterling, Curator Contemporary Art, The National Museum of Women in the Arts 14th Salina Art Center Annual Juried Body of Work Show; Salina, KS – 1993. Juror: Inge-Lise Eckmann, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
MOAK 4 State Regional Exhibition; Springfield Art Museum, Springfield, MO – Dec. 1992. Juror: Thomas R. Toperzer, Director; Fred Jones, Jr., Museum of Art, University of Oklahoma Re: Members ‘92 Kansas City Artist Coalition; Kansas City, MO – Oct. 1992. Juror: Dr. Novelene Ross, Chief Curator, The Wichita Art Museum Northern National Art Competition, Nicolet College, Rhinelander, WI – July 1992. Juror: Carole D. Barnes, Artist New American Talent National Competition; Laguna Gloria Art Museum, Austin, TX – May 1992. Juror: Madeleine Grynsztejnm Curator, San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art Aesthetics ‘92 Juried National Exhibition; McPherson, KS – April 1992. Juror: Linda Faw-Light, Artist 42nd Spiva Annual Juried Competitive; Spiva Art Center, Joplin, MO – March 1992. Juror: Martha Gerlarden, Director, Ford Gallery, Eastern Michigan University Re: Members ‘92 Kansas City Artist Coalition; Kansas City, Mo – March 1992. Juror: Ree Schonlav, Director, Bemis Foundation, Omaha, NB The Delta Art Exhibition; Arkansas Art Center, Little Rock, AR – Oct. 1991. Juror: George Adams, Frumkin/ Adams Gallery, New York City River Market Regional Exhibition; Kansas City Mo – June 1991. Juror: Neal Benezra, Curator Twentieth Century Painting, The Art Institute of Chicago 41st Spiva Annual Juried Competition; Spiva Art Center, Joplin, MO – March 1991. Juror: Deborah Jordy, Associate Curator Contemporary Art, Denver Art Museum Springfield Art Museum Biennial Exhibition; Springfield, MO – Dec. 1990. Juror: Harry Krug, Chair Art Department, Pittsburg State University 40th Spiva Annual Juried Competitive; Spiva Art Center, Joplin, MO – March 1990. Juror: Gary Coulter, Artist Spiva Art Center May Competitive, Joplin, MO – May 1967 1st Annual Missouri State Student College & University Art Competition 1967 Awards and Honors Watercolor U.S.A. Honor Society Purchase for the Museum :Collections, June, 1997 Watercolor U.S.A. Awarded 3rd Cash Award, June, 1997 11th Annual Juried Competition, The Fine Arts Center, Lubbock, TX. Awarded Juror Choice Award, Nov.–Dec. 1996 MOAK 4 State Regional Exhibition, Springfield Art Museum. Awarded 1st Cash Prize – Dec. 1992 New American Talent National Competition, Austin, TX. Awarded inclusion into traveling show – May 1992 Aesthetics ‘92 Juried National Exhibition, McPherson, KS. Awarded 2nd prize – April 1992 42nd Spiva Annual Juried Competitive, Joplin, MO. Awarded 3rd prize – April 1992 Spiva Art Center May Competitive Awarded 3rd prize and purchase award – May 1967 1st Annual Missouri State College & University Art Competition. Awarded 2nd prize. – May 1967 Member, Delta Phi Delta Honorary Art Fraternity – 1966/67 Select Corporate Collectors Foland, Wickens, Eisfelder, Roper and Hofer, PC – Kansas City, MO Lanard Toys Ltd. – Hong Kong Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP – Kansas City, MO Data Systems International – Kansas City, MO Restaurant Management Company – Wichita, KS Missouri Bank – Kansas City, MO The Conafay Group – Washington, DC
118 Southwest Blvd
Kansas City, MO 64108
816.527.0823
BlueGalleryOnline.com