INITIAL WORKS IN PAPER BY DUANE CREGGER
In the spring 2023, I embarked on an exciting new series, albeit with humble beginnings: I was having a Richmond mover-and-shaker to dinner and wanted something new for a wall near the dining room. I’d found three shadowboxes on sale, deciding that vaguely 3D was the way to go. The dinner was a day away (the details of the story are on my Facebook page).
In a nutshell: The Paper Series breathed its first breath, and the dinner party was a success.
Now an entire new series — 25 works to-date known as the Paper Series — will open Saturday, July 22, as a featured exhibition during CAC Gallery Members’ Weekend at Richmond’s Crossroads Art Center.
The technique involves constructing intricate low-relief structures from paper by folding, twisting, weaving, and layering. Compositions are assembled and glued, and many of the forms are wetted and shaped. When dry, the rigid or semi-rigid substrates serve as both background and subject matter to which paint is applied. Subtly-toned sculptural forms hint at metal, wood, plastic, or other materials.
Assembly was at times daunting, particularly during the process of building larger pieces such as Babylon (page 10) and Rook (page 18). Each piece invited exploration of light, shadow, and texture. Limited color enhances the depth of the forms and the dimensionality of the shapes and planes, imparting a sense of drama in some compositions and etherealness in others.
The collection has been a heavy workout for my conceptualization skills in the effort to find my way through a new approach to creating art. But this new series has laid the foundation for further exploration in 3D work. And that’s inspiring.
The work celebrates traditional papercraft and decorative painting and seeks to elevate this combined form to the level of fine art. Exhibition opens July 22.
Paper 1.Mauve-Umber-Lavender
Unframed Set
Chalk paint, metallic glaze, spray paint, and wax on cut pink luster paper with glue / Pierced with quilting pins for display / Signed recto in pencil / Each approximately 6.5 x 6.75 x 2 inches (variable) / 2023
$750 for set of three unframed
Paper 1.Mauve-Umber-Lavender
Framed Set
Chalk paint, metallic glaze, spray paint, and wax on cut pink luster paper with glue / Pierced with quilting pins and framed in white shadowboxes /
Signed recto in pencil / Each approximately 11 x 11 x 2.5 inches / 2023
$925 for set of three framed
Paper Waper (1–6)
Unframed Set
Assemblage of cut paper, glue, powdered pigments, and wax / Initialed recto and signed verso / Each approximately 7 x 7 x 2 inches (variable) / 2023
$750 for set of three / $1250 for set of six
Paper Waper (1–6)
Framed Set
Assemblage of cut paper, glue, powdered pigments, and wax / Pierced with quilting pins and framed in deep black shadowboxes / Initialed recto and signed verso Each approximately 13 x 13 x 3 inches (variable) / 2023
$950 for set of three / $1450 for set of six
Tall Mitre and Tall Mitre 2
Unframed
Acrylic paint, graphite powder, spray paint, metallic glaze, wax, and glue on paper strips / Signatureembossed recto and signed verso / Pierced with quilting pins for display / Approximately 13 x 6.2 x 0.5 inches and 12 x 7 x 0.5 inches, respectively / 2023
$400 each
Tall Mitre & Tall Mitre 2
Framed Pair
Acrylic paint, graphite powder, spray paint, metallic glaze, wax, and glue on paper strips / Signature-embossed recto and signed verso
Pierced with quilting pins and set inside a matte black double-mat and thin gunmetal frame / Each approximately 20.5 x 14.5 x 0.875 inches / 2023
$525 each / $995 for pair
Babylon
Wall hanging
Acrylic paint, spray paint, varnish, and glue on assembled assorted acid-free papers / Signature-embossed recto and signed verso Pierced with quilting pins and mounted to foamcore and a sheet of foam panel insulation / Approximately 42 x 32 x 6 inches / 2023
$1300
‘Pop’ in Orange
Framed
Handcut watercolor paper assembled with glue, wetted, shaped, and embellished with oil pigment, cold wax, flourescent glaze, gold leaf, graphite powder, and an inkjet print of a manipulated conversation bubble from iMessages; the whole then satin-varnished, trimmed, pierced with quilting pins, and set inside a white shadowbox / Signature-embossed recto and verso, additional signature inside shadowbox / Approximately 9.125 x 8 inches, with variable depth, independent of framing / 11 x 11 x 2.5 inches framed
This piece is not available. Commissions of similar work are invited.
EMAIL INQUIRIES
Peregrine
Unframed
Assorted acid-free papers, glue, spray paint, acrylic, and varnish / Signature-embossed recto and signed verso / Approximately 12 x 10 x 2.5 variable (unframed) / 2023
$650
Chartreuse Plate
Framed
Acrylic paint, spray paint, graphite powder, various metallic powdered pigments, oil paint, and glue on assorted papers /
Signature-embossed on background paper and signed verso / Pierced with quilting pins and set into a white shadowbox / Approximately 10 x 9 x 1.5 inches (variable) unframed; 21 x 21 x 3 inches framed / 2023
$725
Chartreuse Plate
Framed
Acrylic paint, spray paint, graphite powder, various metallic powdered pigments, oil paint, and glue on assorted papers / Signature-embossed on background paper and signed verso / Pierced with quilting pins and set into a white shadowbox / Approximately 10 x 9 x 1.5 inches (variable) unframed; 21 x 21 x 3 inches framed / 2023
$725
Indigo Plate
Framed
Acrylic paint, spray paint, graphite powder, various metallic powdered pigments, oil paint, and glue on assorted papers / Signature-embossed on background paper and signed verso / Pierced with quilting pins and set into a white shadowbox / Approximately 10 x 9 x 1.5 inches (variable) unframed; 21 x 21 x 3 inches framed / 2023
$725
Celadon Plate
Framed
Acrylic paint, spray paint, graphite powder, various metallic powdered pigments, oil paint, and glue on assorted papers / Signatureembossed on background paper and signed verso / Pierced with quilting pins and set into a white shadowbox Approximately 10 x 9 x 1.5 inches (variable) unframed; 21 x 21 x 3 inches framed / 2023
$725
Chartreuse Plate, Lavender Plate, Indigo Plate, Celadon Plate
Framed Set
Acrylic paint, spray paint, graphite powder, various metallic powdered pigments, oil paint, and glue on assorted papers /
Signature-embossed on background papers and signed verso / Pierced with quilting pins and set into white shadowboxes
Each 21 x 21 x 3 inches framed / 2023
$725 each / $2500 for set of four
Rook
Sculpture in the round
Assorted acid-free and other papers twisted, holepunched, wrapped, woven, and glued, wrapped around a central foamcore column, spray-painted and sealed, retouched with black gesso; the whole braced by a random ceramic pot that was retrofitted into the interior column for stability.
$1200
Blue Fascinator and Heart Fascinator
Framed
Foil spray paints, fluorescent glazes, acrylics, glue, and satin varnish on strips of Bristol board and colored card stock / Signature-embossed recto and signed verso / Pierced with quilting pins and set into black deep shadowboxes / Approximately 6.5 x 6.5 x 3.5 inches (variable) and 7 x 6.5 x 3/5 inches unframed, respectively; 11.25 x 11.25 x 4.5 inches framed / 2023
Each $595
x One Thousand Assemblage
A worn Hallowe’en mask adorned with Post-it® notes, ornamental flowers, netted holiday ribbon, braided twine, wooden and metal shamrocks, oil paint, spray paint, gold leaf, ,liquid metallic leaf markers, PVC butterflies, wooden craft sign, dollar-store decorative cardinal, and assorted papers / Mounted to a shadowbox frame with a hot glue / Approximately 15 x 18 x 13, variable / 2023
$2200
DUANE CREGGER is an artist working in oils and mixed media. His paintings are visual dialogues, sometimes with past events, but more often with potential futures. His work is visually defined by color, texture, and markmaking. Multiple surface layers suggest an accumulation of subconscious ideas and experiences that beg expression toward a goal of resolving conflict within the psyche. Ultimately, the work is an invitation to contemplate the human experience.
Cregger has a degree in art communications from Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia, and a decades-long career in design and creative direction. He has won awards in various exhibitions, including the juried biennials at Roanoke College’s Olin Hall Galleries and William King Museum. His work is in corporate collections in the mid-Atlantic, in private collections across the United States (including that of actress/director Drew Barrymore), and in Canada and the Caribbean. A triptych from his 2022 Crown series was acquired by a philanthropist for the Roanoke College Permanent Collection.
Cregger’s paintings have been featured in Élan Magazine, American Art Collector, Cottage Style by Better Homes & Gardens, Home & Design, Richmond Home, Traditional Home, and the Better Homes & Gardens Home Decorating Guide. Most recently his work was seen in the Hulu special series, Dopesick, directed by and starring Michael Keaton.
Cregger lives in Richmond, Virginia, and maintains a studio space, open by appointment, at Crossroads Art Center in Building 3.
© Cregger Creative / Duane Cregger. All rights reserved.