Chris Kahler: Proximity

CHRIS KAHLER

Proximity

bruno david gallery

Chris Kahler

Proximity

January 27 - March 13, 2021

Bruno David Gallery

7513 Forsyth Boulevard

Saint Louis, Missouri 63105, U.S.A. info@brunodavidgallery.com www.brunodavidgallery.com

Founder/Director: Bruno L. David

This catalogue was published in conjunction with the exhibition “Chris Kahler: Proximity” at Bruno David Gallery.

Editor: Bruno L. David

Catalogue Designer: Samantha Wood Designer Assistant: Claudia R. David Printed in USA

All works courtesy of Chris Kahler and Bruno David Gallery

Photographs by Bruno David Gallery

Cover image: Morphotype 13 (detail), 2021 Acrylic and ink on panel

40 x 30 inches (101.6 x 76.2 cm)

First Edition

Copyright ©2021 Chris Kahler and Bruno David Gallery

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written permission of Bruno David Gallery

AFTERWORD

BY BRUNO L. DAVID

CHECKLIST AND IMAGES OF THE EXHIBITION

BIOGRAPHY

AFTERWORD

BY BRUNO L. DAVID

I am pleased to present, Proximity an exhibition by Chris Kahler. This is his eleventh exhibition with the gallery.

This new series of abstractions further expands upon the dynamic interplay between organic linear networks and hard-edge geometry that has come to characterize the artist’s unique work.

David B. Olsen writes about Kahler’s new works: “When you see them now, them, the elements of Chris Kahler’s new paintings seem especially close. If we’ve become acutely aware of distance in daily life, these paintings depict the ebullient opposite of that. Forms both amorphous and geometrical alternately shift, batch, and huddle upon the surface; lines touch, intersect, and overlap, at once running up against and counter to each other. Kahler’s new visual vocabulary is productively, gorgeously claustrophobic in the same way that a map, when viewed from a reasonable distance, suggests that everything is actually pretty close, an entire world within reach. These works anticipate the figuration of our fraught times while also reminding us of the prime mover of painting as such—the containment of that which is viscous, three-dimensional, and fluid.”

Chris Kahler is the Chair of the Department of Art + Design, Associate Director of the School of the Arts and Professor of Painting at Eastern Illinois University. He received his B.F.A. at Ohio Wesleyan University and M.F.A. from Northwestern University, Chicago, IL. Kahler has been the subject of numerous one-person exhibitions at venues including the Richard Ross Art Museum, Delaware, OH (2014); Anita Wooten Gallery, Valencia College, Orlando, FL (2011); John P. Weatherhead Gallery, University of Saint Francis, Fort Wayne, IN (2009); Museum of Surgical Science, Chicago, IL (2002).

Support for the creation of significant new works of art has been the core to the mission and program of the Bruno David Gallery since its founding in 2005. I am deeply grateful to Samantha Wood, who gave much time, talent, and expertise to the production of this catalogue. Invaluable gallery staff support for the exhibition was provided by Jordan Lee, Grace Ray, Lily Hollinden, and Nina R. Huang.

CHECKLIST & IMAGES OF THE EXHIBITION

Morphotype 15 2021

Acrylic and ink on panel 40 x 30 inches (101.6 × 76.2 cm)

Morphotype 16

2021

Acrylic and ink on panel 24 x 18 inches (60.9 x 45.7 cm)

Morphotype 17 2021

Acrylic and ink on panel 30 x 24 inches (76.2 x 60.9 cm)

Morphotype 18

2021

Acrylic and ink on panel 30 x 24 inches (76.2 x 60.9 cm)

Acrylic and ink on panel 16 x 16 inches (40.6 × 40.6 cm)

CHRIS KAHLER

EDUCATION

M.F.A. 1995, Painting/Printmaking concentration, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois

M.A. 1992, Painting/Drawing concentration, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Illinois

B.F.A. 1991, Painting concentration, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio

1990, Study Abroad, Parson’s School of Art and Design and The American University, Paris France

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2021 Bruno David Gallery, Chris Kahler: Proximity, St. Louis, Missouri (catalogue)

2020 Bruno David Gallery, Chris Kahler: SHIFT, St. Louis, Missouri (catalogue)

2019 Brainard Gallery, “In Conversation” (with Anne Vieux), Tarble Art Center, Eastern Illinois University

2018 Contemporary Art Center, Critical Mass, Peoria, IL

2017 Bruno David Gallery, Chris Kahler: Permutate, St. Louis, Missouri (catalogue)

2016 Bruno David Gallery, Chris Kahler: Metaphemeral, St. Louis, Missouri (catalogue)

2015 Bruno David Gallery, Chris Kahler: On Paper, St. Louis, Missouri (catalogue)

2014 Richard M. Ross Art Museum, Chris Kahler, Delaware, Ohio

Bruno David Gallery, Chris Kahler: Dialumens, St. Louis, Missouri (catalogue)

2013 Bruno David Gallery, Chris Kahler: Disequencing, St. Louis, Missouri (April) (catalogue)

2012 Bruno David Gallery, Chris Kahler: Recent Paintings, St. Louis, Missouri (March) (catalogue)

2011 Anita S. Wooten Gallery, Valencia College, Chris Kahler: Duality, Orlando, FL

2010 David Richard Contemporary, Bio-Dynamic, Santa Fe, NM. (catalogue)

2009 Bruno David Gallery, Chris Kahler: Hybrid Dynamic, St. Louis, Missouri (November) (catalogue)

The John P. Weatherhead Gallery, Chris Kahler: Interconnectivity (August-October), University of Saint Francis, Fort Wayne, Indiana

2007 Bruno David Gallery, Chris Kahler: VIRAL, St. Louis, Missouri. (catalogue)

2006 Bruno David Gallery, Impulsive Systems: The Works of Chris Kahler, Saint Louis, Missouri

2004 Elliot Smith Contemporary Art, Chris Kahler: Recent Works October - November, Saint Louis, Missouri

2002 The International Museum of Surgical Science, Chris Kahler: ANATOMICA, February 22-April 28, Chicago, Illinois

1997 John Almquist Gallery, Dismantling Beauty: Christopher Kahler, Winnetka, Illinois

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2021 Bilingual: Abstract & Figurative, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO Rouge/Red, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO

2020 OVERVIEW_2020, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO

ABSTRACTION, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO

2019 Weird & Erie, Daum Museum of Contemporary Art, Sedalia, MO

MARKS, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO

Mentor / Mentee, Tarble Art Museum, Eastern Illinois University, IL Small Worlds, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO

2018 OVERVIEW_2018, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO

Critical Art Center, Critical Mass, Peoria, IL

2017 Art & Design, Tarble Art Museum, Eastern Illinois University, IL

2016 Chicago Paints, The University of Ohio Art gallery, Athens, OH

Burst of Memory, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO

2015 AND / OR, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO (catalogue)

OVERVIEW_2015, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO

2014 Analogons, Daum Museum of Contemporary Art, Sedalia, MO

OVERVIEW_2014, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO

2013 Chroma Exploda: Contemporary Paintings, River Art gallery, Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO

BLUE-WHITE-RED, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO

2012 W.O.P. I, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO

2011 OVERPAPER, with Carmon Colangelo, William Conger, Alex Couwenberg, Jill Downen, Yvette Drury Dubinsky, Beverly Fishman, Joan Hall, Ann Hamilton, Kelley Johnson, Chris Kahler, Matthew Penkala, Judy Pfaff, Paul Henry Ramirez, and Buzz Spector. Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, MO (catalogue)

2010 Gallery Artists, Bruno David Gallery (Project Room), St. Louis, MO

2009 NEXT, Art Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, (Bruno David Gallery)

Overview_09, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, Missouri

2008 Synchronous Events, Works of Chris Kahler and Charles Schwall, Purdue University, Patti and Rusty Rueff Galleries, Lafayette, Indiana New Paintings, IL+MO, Edwardsville Arts Center, Curated by Daniel Raedeke, Edwardsville, IL

Controlled Chaos, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, Missouri

Overview_08, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, Missouri

2007 ArtsDesire, Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri. Biennial 24, South Bend Museum of Art, Curated by Meg Sheehy and Myra Casis, South Bend, Indiana Paper Now, I Space, Chicago, Illinois

Overview_07, Bruno David Gallery, St. Louis, Missouri

2006 Drawing & Watercolor, Tarble Arts Center, Charleston, Illinois

Overview_06, Bruno David Gallery, Saint Louis, Missouri

2005 Inaugural Exhibition, Bruno David Gallery, Saint Louis, Missouri Le Papier, Gescheidle Gallery, Chicago, Illinois

The (In)Visible Body. Curated by Heather Weber, NIU Gallery, Chicago, Illinois Noire, Curated by Bruno L. David, Elliot Smith Contemporary Art, Saint Louis, Missouri

2004 Abstract Painting: Six Points of View, Curated by Belinda Lee, RAC Gallery, Saint Louis, Missouri

1984-2004 Twentieth Anniversary Celebration, Curated by Bruno L. David, Elliot Smith Contemporary Art, Saint Louis, Missouri Art St. Louis XX, Curated by Chakaia Booker, Art St. Louis Gallery, Saint Louis, Missouri

Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Art..., Elliot Smith Contemporary Art, Saint Louis, Missouri Size Matters, Curated by Bruno L. David, Elliot Smith Contemporary Art, Saint Louis, Missouri

Midwestern Exhibition, Rockford Art Museum, Rockford, Illinois

Art St. Louis Selections, Schmidt Art Center, Belleville, Missouri

2004, Curated by Mel Watkin, Art St. Louis Gallery, Saint Louis, Missouri

2004 Greater Midwest, International Exhibition XIX, Art Center Gallery, Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg, Missouri

Works on Paper, I-Space Gallery, Chicago, Illinois

2003 Systematic, Cade Center for the Fine Arts Gallery, Anne Arundel Community College, Arnold, Maryland

Art St. Louis XIX, Art St. Louis Gallery, Saint Louis, Missouri

Ready for War, University Galleries, Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois

Southern Illinois Artists Exhibition, Mitchell Museum, Mount Vernon, Illinois

2002 Polka-dots and Squiggly Things, Gescheidle Gallery, Chicago, Illinois

Inspired in Illinois, Lakeview Museum of Arts and Sciences, Peoria, Illinois

2001 Artists-Alumni: Masters of Fine Arts from Northwestern’s Department of Art Theory and Practice, Block Museum, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois

Nineteenth Biennial Southern Illinois Artists Exhibition, Mitchell Museum, Mount Vernon, Illinois

The 13th Biennial Drawing/Watercolor: Illinois Exhibition, Tarble Art Museum, Charleston, Illinois

2000 The 2000 Rockford-Midwestern Exhibition, Rockford Art Museum, Rockford, Illinois

Americas 2000, Northwest Art Center, Minot State University, Minot, North Dakota

Seventh Biennial Regional Arts Exhibition, University Museum, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois

1996 Gary Justis Appoints Three: Regina Allen, Chris Kahler, and Brian Schuetz, Lineage Gallery, Chicago, Illinois

GRANTS & AWARDS

2015 Distinguished Alum Exhibition Award, Ohio Wesleyan University

2013 Emerging Arts Administrators Fellowship, National Council of Arts Administrators

2011 Redden Grant, Eastern Illinois University

2010 Redden Grant, Eastern Illinois University

2008 Painting’s Edge Residency, Idyllwild, CA

2007 Painting’s Edge Residency, Idyllwild, CA

2004 Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Vermont. Artist Grant

Art St. Louis XIX, Art St. Louis Gallery, Saint Louis, Missouri, Award of Excellence

2003 Southern Illinois Artists Exhibition, Mitchell Museum, Mount Vernon, Illinois, Painting Honorarium Award

1997 Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Vermont, Artist Grant

24th Bradley National print and Drawing Exhibition Award

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Olsen, David B.. “Chris Kahler”, Catalogue Essay, Bruno David Gallery Publications, June 2021 Hollerbach, Bryan A. “Bruno’s Back”, Ladue News, September 4, 2020 Smith, Jad. “Chris Kahler”, Catalogue, Interview, Bruno David Gallery Publications, December 2017 Marks, Kerry. “Women Wrapped in Bows, Transitional Imagery, and Celestial Art”, HEC-TV, October 17, 2017 Barber, Rehema. “A Conversation”, Catalogue, Bruno David Gallery Publications, February 2017 Marks, Kerry. “November Exhibitions”, HEC-TV, November 2016 Beall, Dickson. “Moving Ahead in Time”, West End Word, November 19, 2016 Langdon, Paul. “Opening at Bruno david Gallery”, HEC-TV, November 2016 Spector, Buzz. “Chris Kahler: Of Luminescences”, Catalogue, Essay, Bruno David Gallery Publication, May 2015 Golden, Conor. “A Fusion of Function in New Exhibit”, The Transcript, September 11, 2014 Krainak, Paul. “Chris Kahler”, Catalogue, Essay. Bruno David Gallery Publication, March 2014 Smith, Jad. “Chris Kahler”, Catalogue, Essay. Bruno David Gallery Publication, April 2013 Swenson, Eric. “Chris Kahler: Disequencing”, Video-Interview (4:05 min.), April 2013 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRdpZRAyGO4&list=UUKAC75pa4JEEq8ta48pmluQ

Iannaccone, Carmine. “Picture Creation”, Catalogue, Essay. Bruno David Gallery Publication, March 2012 Gordon, Kara. “Kairos”, Catalogue, Essay. Bruno David Gallery Publication, March 2012

Abatemarco, Michael “Chris Kahler: Bio-Dynamic”, The Santa Fe New Mexican, September 2010

Singh, Abhilasha “Bio Dynamic”, ARTslant-Santa Fe, September 2010

Pagel, David “Forever Now”, Catalogue Essay: Bio-Dynamic, David Richard Contemporary Publication, October 2010

Cooper, Ivy “Chris Kahler: Bruno David”, Art in America, February 5, 2010

Baran, Jessica “Chris Kahler: Hybrid Dynamic”, Riverfront Times, November 25, 2009

Cooper, Ivy “Bright Spots”, St. Louis Beacon, November 23, 2009

Moynihan, Miriam “Chris Kahler Exhibit Shows Artist’s Study of Color”, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 18, 2009

1995 Annual All-Illinois Graduate Art Exhibition, Jones Resident Prize 1993 Department of Art Theory and Practice, Northwestern University, TA Scholarship (2 years)

Yood, James. “Chris Kahler: Hybrid Dynamic”, Catalogue, Essay. Bruno David Gallery Publication, November 2009

Cooper, Ivy “Edwardsville Show Includes Some of the Area’s Best”, St. Louis Beacon, June 18, 2008

Beall, Dickson. “Live Virus”, West End Word, November 7, 2007

Artner, Alan. “Paper Now”, Chicago Tribune, September 21, 2007

Houston, Joe. “Chris Kahler: Viral”, Catalogue, Essay. Bruno David Gallery Publication, October 2007

Bonetti, David. “Biology in art”, St. Louis Post Dispatch, March 29, 2006

Downen, Jill “Chris Kahler: Impulsive Systems”, Catalogue, Essay. Bruno David Gallery Publication, March 2006

Bonetti, David. “Chris Kahler: Impulsive Systems”, St. Louis Post Dispatch, March 9, 2005

“Five Galleries Not to Miss.” Where Magazine, March 2006

Miller, Rob. “Over hung’ show or ‘Hung over’ critic?” Saintlouisart, November 17, 2005.

Cooper, Ivy. “Bruno David Gallery: Inaugural Exhibition”, Riverfront Times, November 9, 2005.

Bonetti, David. “Bruno David Gallery”, St. Louis Post Dispatch, November 9, 2005

Crone, Tomas. “Bruno David to Open on Friday”, 52nd City, October 2005, http://blog.52ndcity.com/archives

Beall, Hugh. “The Bruno buzz”, West End Word, October 26, 2005

Miller, Rob. “Bruno David Gallery: Inaugural Exhibition”, Saintlouisart, October 25, 2005.

Beall, Hugh. “Bruno David Gallery: Inaugural Exhibition”, Illusion Junkie, October 25, 2005. Web Video. http://illusionjunkie.blogspot.com/2005/10/bruno-david-inaugural-exhibition.html

Bonetti, David. “Bruno David Gallery: Inaugural Exhibition”, St. Louis Post Dispatch, October 20, 2005

Sieloff, Alison. “Grand Grand Center”, Riverfront Times, October 19, 2005

Bonetti, David. “Gallery musical chairs”, St. Louis Post Dispatch, October 1, 2005

Murphy, Anne. “Art News”, The Healthy Planet, September 2005,

Cooper, Ivy. “Abstract Painting: Six Points of View”, Riverfront Times, November 10-16, 2004, p. 40, St. Louis, MO. Callahan, Teresa. “Abstract Painting: Six Points of View”, West End Word, October 27-November 2, 2004, p.13. St. Louis, MO.

Weir, Alex. “The Symbiosis of Pride and Biology”, Riverfront Times, October 20-26, 2004, p.32, St. Louis, MO. “Hot Picks”, Vital VOICE, October 8-22, 2004, p. 15. St. Louis, MO.

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Martelli, Rose. “Smith Elliot: The Gallery Looks In The Mirror For Its 20th.”, Riverfront Times, September 15-21, 2004, p. 32. St. Louis, MO.

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Artists/Alumni: Masters of Fine Arts from Northwestern’s Department of Art Theory and Practice. The Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art Press, Exhibition catalogue, Northwestern University, 2001. 72-3, 109.

Guo, Yang Chang. “Christopher B Kahler,” Vermont Studio Center Press, Liao Ning Fine Arts Publishing House, 2000, pp. 145-151.

McConnell, Gordon. Americas 2000. Minot State University Press, Exhibition Catalogue, Minot State University, ND, August-September 2000.

17th Harper College National Print and Drawing Exhibition, Harper College Press, Exhibition catalogue, Harper College, Palatine, IL, 1993.

PUBLISHED WRITING

Beyond the Afterglow, catalogue essay, Justin Henry Miller exhibition, October 2012, Tarble Art Center, IL

Systematic Deconstruction, catalogue essay, Thomas Sleet exhibition, January 2008, Bruno David Gallery Publications, St. Louis, MO

Rockwoods Reservation, catalogue essay, Ken Worley exhibition, February 2006, Bruno David Gallery Publications, St. Louis, MO

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

Milwaukee Art Museum, WI

Daum Museum of Contemporary Art, Sedalia, MO

Cortex Building, St Louis, MO

Reich LLC, Ashville, NC

Schattdecor Corp., St Louis, MO

Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, MO

Bradley University, Peoria, IL

OTHER

2019 – Present Chair and Director of the School of the Arts, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Illinois

2015 – 2019 Chair, Department of Art +Design, Professor, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Illinois

1999 – Present Professor, Painting, Department of Art +Design, Professor, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Illinois

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ARTISTS

Sara Ghazi Asadollahi

Laura Beard

Heather Bennett

Lisa K. Blatt

Michael Byron Bunny Burson

Judy Child

Carmon Colangelo

Alex Couwenberg

Terry James Conrad Jill Downen

Damon Freed

Yvette Drury Dubinsky

Douglass Freed

Richard Hull

Kelley Johnson

Chris Kahler

Leslie Laskey

Justin Henry Miller

James Austin Murray Yvonne Osei

Patricia Olynyk Gary Passanise

Robert Pettus

Charles P. Reay

Daniel Raedeke

Tom Reed

Frank Schwaiger

Charles Schwall Christina Shmigel

Thomas Sleet Buzz Spector Mark Travers Monika Wulfers